The Original Superman Movie’s Eve Teschmacher Star, Valerie Perrine Dies at 82

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Valerie Perrine, the actress famous for playing Eve Teschmacher in the Superman movies and for her Oscar-nominated performance in Lenny, has died at the age of 82. A friend shared the news on social media, stating she had been living with Parkinson’s disease for over ten years. Perrine passed away at her Los Angeles home on Monday, March 23rd.

Stacey Souther, a friend of Valerie Perrine, shared the sad news of her passing. Souther wrote that Perrine faced Parkinson’s disease with remarkable bravery and kindness, always maintaining a positive attitude. She was an inspiring person who truly embraced life, and her absence will be deeply felt.

She shared that Perrine’s last wish was to be buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery. However, after a 15-year battle with Parkinson’s disease, Perrine’s funds are depleted. To help cover the costs, she started a GoFundMe campaign hoping to raise $35,000, and has already received over $6,000 in donations.

Valerie Perrine, Original Eve Teschmacher, Dies at 82

Valerie Perrine was born in Galveston, Texas, on September 3, 1943. She hadn’t planned on becoming an actress, but after being spotted by an agent at a party, she landed the role of Montana Wildhack in the film version of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. This role helped launch her career, and two years later she starred in the 1974 biopic Lenny, about comedian Lenny Bruce. Alongside Dustin Hoffman, Perrine played Bruce’s wife, Honey. The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and a Best Actress nomination for Perrine herself. Remarkably, this was only her third acting role, yet she earned an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, and won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Four years after her initial success, Valerie Perrine landed a surprising role in Richard Donner’s Superman. Her character, Eve Teschmacher, wasn’t based on any existing DC Comics figure—Donner and screenwriter Mario Puzo created her specifically for the film. As Lex Luthor’s assistant and love interest, Teschmacher has a memorable moment where she turns against Luthor and ultimately helps save Superman.

Margot Kidder returned for Superman II, but didn’t appear in any further Superman movies. Her version of the character was unusual for comic book adaptations because it was based on the movie script itself, not the original comics. Later, Eve Teschmacher was added to the DC Comics universe and even made a cameo in last year’s Superman film, played by Sara Sampaio.

Valerie Perrine continued acting for many years, appearing in films such as The Cannonball Run, Boiling Point, and What Women Want. She also made guest appearances on several popular TV shows, including Northern Exposure, ER, Homicide: Life on the Street, and Nash Bridges.

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2026-03-23 22:14