Superman actress Valerie Perrine, who played Gene Hackman’s love interest in films, dead at 82 after health battle

Oscar-nominated actress Valerie Perrine, who played Lex Luthor’s girlfriend Eve Teschmacher in the Superman movies, died at the age of 82.

Perrine’s friend Stacey Souther announced the loss online, writing on GoFundMe that Perrine died at home “surrounded by love” on March 23 after a “quiet and courageous fight against both Parkinson’s disease and debilitating central tremors.”

Perrine’s exemplary acting career included roles in Slaughterhouse-Five, The Electric Horseman, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the 1974 film Lenny, one of Hollywood’s biggest awards.

The star also became known as a sex symbol, having posed for Playboy twice.

“It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away,” Souther wrote on his social media accounts. ‘He faced his Parkinson’s disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining.

‘He was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest and what an amazing life it was. The world feels less beautiful without it.

Perrine played Lex Luthor’s (played by Gene Hackman) love interest in the Superman films.

Perrine opposite Christopher Reeves in 1978’s Superman

‘I love you, Valerie. See you on the other side.’

Souther also created a GoFundMe to help fulfill Perrine’s dying wish to be buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, which had depleted her finances during her health battle.

‘Please consider donating to his funeral GoFundMe, sharing and helping spread the word. His dying wish was to be buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after battling Parkinson’s disease for more than 15 years, his finances were exhausted. Let’s come together to make his last wish come true; he really deserves this.’

The fundraiser reveals Perrine’s health struggles over the past 15 years.

‘Around 2011 Valerie began to experience the first symptoms of the foundational tremors; The involuntary tremor that slowly begins to play the instrument on which he built his life: his body, his presence, his ability to perform. He laughed about it in public. But the reality behind closed doors was devastating,” the GoFundMe read.

‘The tremors were accompanied by the relentless progression of Parkinson’s disease. The career that had defined his life was no longer possible.

‘As roles have dried up, so has the financial security that should come with a lifetime of extraordinary work. Determined to fight, Valerie spent what she had on medical care. He fought for fifteen years. He never complained. He kept smiling.”

Souther documented Perrine’s life in the documentary Valerie, a film that focuses on her strength after her Parkinson’s diagnosis. Independent.

In the original Superman and its sequel Superman II, Perrine played Eve Teschmacher, Lex Luthor’s personal assistant.

For the last 15 years, he suffered from Parkinson’s disease, which prevented him from acting.

Perrine with Steve Guttenberg and Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner) in 1980’s Can’t Stop the Music

The actress was known as a sex symbol throughout her life

Luthor was played by Gene Hackman, and when the actor passed away last year at the age of 95, Perrine paid tribute to him.

“The great Gene Hackman has passed away,” he shared on social media. ‘He was a genius and one of the greatest to ever grace the silver screen. I had the honor of working with him on Superman. Their performances are legendary. His talent will be missed. Farewell, my sweet Lex, until we meet again. Valerie.’

Perrine also took center stage with the late Christopher Reeves, who came to Superman’s rescue in the first film.

She was considered a sex symbol throughout her life and even posed for Playboy.

Perrine’s acting career began after she moved to Las Vegas to work as a showgirl; This move ultimately led to him taking on his first acting role in the 1972 film Slaughterhouse-Five.

At a dinner party, she met an agent who wanted to cast her as softcore porn actress Montana Wildhack in the film—a role that went to Perrine.

“That’s how I became an actor,” he said in an interview in 2025. Deadline.

Perrine was filmed at Spago in West Hollywood in 1986.

Perrine paid tribute to Hackman after his death at 95

This role was just the beginning of a remarkable acting career.

Just two years later, she was awarded the Best Actress Oscar, one of the industry’s biggest awards, for her role in Lenny, a biopic about comedian Lenny Bruce.

Perrine played Bruce’s wife, Honey Bruce, in the film, which also starred Dustin Hoffman and was directed by Bob Fosse.

While he lost the Oscar, he received honorary awards from BAFTA and Cannes Film Festival for his project.

With the highs came career lows—in 1980, Caitlyn Jenner starred alongside Steve Guttenberg and The Village People in Can’t Stop the Music, which won Razzies for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay.

“It ruined my career, then I moved to Europe, I was so ashamed,” he said. Hollywood Reporter.

Hackman actor in Superman

He recovered from this defeat and continued to work in Hollywood for years; this includes her role in Nancy Meyers’ hit film What Woman Want.

His last credited role was in the 2016 comedy Silver Skies.

Perrine had no children and was never married, but she was engaged to gun collector and importer Bill Haarman and died in a gun accident in January 1969, just a month before she was due to walk down the aisle.

She also dated the late hairstylist Jay Sebring, who was one of the six people killed by the Manson Family at Sharon Tate’s home in 1969.

According to The Independent, Perrine was originally supposed to attend Sebring for dinner at Tate’s house on the night of the tragedies, but was unable to attend due to work.

‘I remember Jay Sebring today. We went out. Perrine wrote to X: I was supposed to be at Sharon Tate’s house with her.