Valerie Mahaffey

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Valerie Mahaffey
CFC In LA 2012 3.jpg
Valerie Mahaffey at the Canadian Film Centre in March 2012
Born (1953-06-16) June 16, 1953 (age 71)
Sumatra, Indonesia
Alma mater University of Texas at Austin (BFA)
Years active1976–present
SpouseJoseph Kell
Children1

Valerie Mahaffey (born June 16, 1953) [1] is an American character actress and producer. [1] She began her career starring in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors (1979–81), for which in 1980 she was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Contents

In 1992, Mahaffey won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the CBS drama series Northern Exposure . She later won fame through her performances in television shows such as Wings , Desperate Housewives , Devious Maids and Big Sky . Mahaffey also appeared in a number of movies, including Senior Trip (1995), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), Jack and Jill (2011), Sully (2016), and most notably French Exit (2020), for which she received critical acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Early life

Mahaffey was born in Sumatra, Indonesia, [1] to a Canadian mother and a Texan father who met in New Brunswick, Canada. [2] When Mahaffey was 16, the family moved to Austin, Texas, where she graduated from Austin High School. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1975 [2] [3] and later made her Broadway debut in the musical Rex . [1]

Career

Mahaffey was a regular cast member in the soap opera The Doctors from 1979 to 1981, which earned her a nomination for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1980. [4] She starred in the film Women of Valor in 1986 and while the characters are fictitious, it portrayed women's roles in the Philippines during World War II. Also in 1986 Mahaffey co-starred in the cult satirical TV miniseries Fresno , which parodied popular TV soaps of the day.

Valerie Mahaffey at the Governor's Ball after the 1992 Emmy Awards Valerie Mahaffey Emmy.jpg
Valerie Mahaffey at the Governor's Ball after the 1992 Emmy Awards

In the late 1980s, Mahaffey began acting in television comedies, like Newhart , Cheers , and Seinfeld . From 1992 to 1993, she starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom The Powers That Be and in the CBS sitcom Women of the House alongside Delta Burke in 1995. She played Tracy Milford in the 1995 film National Lampoon's Senior Trip and Jan Kempster in the 1997 film Jungle 2 Jungle . In 1999, she had a recurring role on ER . In 2003, she co-starred in the film Seabiscuit . In 2009, she appeared in seven episodes of Showtime comedy series United States of Tara . Her stage credits include Eastern Standard , Talking Heads , Top Girls , and Rex .

Mahaffey won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as the chronic hypochondriac Eve in the CBS series Northern Exposure in 1992. [5] Mahaffey was the only actor from the series to win an Emmy Award.[ citation needed ]

Mahaffey played Alma Hodge in season 3 of ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives from 2006 to 2007. Mahaffey made guest appearances on Quantum Leap , L.A. Law , Ally McBeal , Judging Amy , The West Wing , Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , Frasier , CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , Private Practice , Boston Legal , Without a Trace , and Raising Hope . [6] She appeared on Glee as the mother of Emma Pillsbury from 2011 to 2013. [7] Mahaffey co-starred as Fran Horowitz in short-lived TNT medical drama Monday Mornings in 2013. [8] From 2013 to 2015, she had a recurring role on Lifetime Television comedy-drama series Devious Maids as Olivia Rice. [9]

In 2016, Mahaffey played a supporting role as Diane Higgins in the biographical drama film Sully directed by Clint Eastwood. In 2017, she began appearing in a recurring role in the CBS comedy series Young Sheldon . From 2019 to 2022, Mahaffey had a recurring role as Lorna Harding, Christina Applegate's mother-in-law in the Netflix comedy-drama series Dead to Me . [10] [11]

In 2020, Mahaffey starred opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in the comedy-drama film French Exit playing widow Madame Reynaud. Mahaffey received positive reviews from critics for her scene-stealing comedic performance in film. [12] [13] [14] She has been listed as a contender for a nomination in the 2021 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress category. [15] Later in 2020, Mahaffey was cast in a series regular role in the ABC crime drama series Big Sky . [16]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977Tell Me My NameAlexandra/SarahTelevision film
1979–1981 The Doctors Ashley BennettNominated—Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1980)
1984 Tales of the Unexpected JaneEpisode: "The Open Window"
1986Mr. Bill's Real Life AdventuresMrs. Bill
1986 The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket Alice
1986 Fresno Tiffany KensingtonTV mini-series
1986 Women of Valor Lt. Katherine R. GraceTelevision film
1987 Newhart JoleneEpisode: "Love Letters in the Mud"
1987 Jack and Mike ColleenEpisode: "Till Death Do Us Part"
1987Her Secret LifeBecky
1989 Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder D.A. Barbara AugustTelevision film
1989 Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin D.A. Barbara AugustTelevision film
1990An Enemy of the PeopleMrs. StockmanTelevision film
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Justine HemmingsEpisode: "The Solid Gold Headache Mystery"
1990 Quantum Leap Mary GreelyEpisode: "The Boogieman - October 31, 1964"
1991 Cheers Valerie HillEpisode: "Achilles Hill"
1991 The Young Riders LottieEpisode: "The Talisman"
1991 Baby Talk Tammy MorrisonEpisode: "One Night with Elliot"
1991 Seinfeld PatriceEpisode: "The Truth"
1992 Till Death Us Do Part Gail Bugliosi
1992 Dream On Helen HarleyEpisode: "Up All Night"
1992–1993 The Powers That Be Caitlyn Van Horne21 episodes
1993 They Chris SamuelsTelevision film
1991–1994 Northern Exposure Eve5 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1992)
1994 L.A. Law Andrea RossoffEpisode: "Cold Cuts"
1994 Witch Hunt TrudyTelevision film
1995 Women of the House Jennifer Malone6 episodes
1996 Senior Trip Miss Tracy Milford
1993–1996 Wings Sandy Cooper3 episodes
1995–1996 The Client Ellie Foltrigg4 episodes
1996 Caroline in the City Alicia Crawford-LaneEpisode: "Caroline and the Therapist"
1997 Jungle 2 Jungle Jan Kempster
1997 George & Leo MarthaEpisode: "The Thanksgiving Show"
1999Dinner at Fred'sSusan
1999 ER Joi Abbott4 episodes
2000 Love & Money Gloria BarrellEpisode: "Guess Who's Paying for Dinner"
2000 Ally McBeal Dr. Sally MugginsEpisode: "I Will Survive"
2001 That's My Bush! Janet RoveEpisode: "Trapped in a Small Environment"
2001 Night Visions Sally OsgoodeEpisode: "Neighborhood Watch"
2001 After Amy Virginia HytnerTelevision film
2001 Judging Amy Ms. MorlockEpisode: "The Unbearable Lightness of Being Family"
2001 The West Wing Tawny Cryer, Appropriations CommitteeEpisode: "Gone Quiet"
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Brook ThornburgEpisode: "Justice"
2002Par 6Pecan Hegelman
2003 Seabiscuit Annie Howard
2003 Frasier PeggyEpisode: "Maris Returns"
2004 Without a Trace Bonnie TolandEpisode: "Shadows"
2005 Out of Practice BarbEpisode: "...and I'll Cry If I Want to"
2006 Crumbs Carolyn PierceEpisode: "Friends in High Places"
2006 My First Wedding Grace
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dora PomerantzEpisode: "Happenstance"
2006–2007, 2012 Desperate Housewives Alma Hodge9 episodes
2007 Raines ArleneEpisode: "Pilot"
2007 Private Practice Marilyn SullivanEpisode: "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole"
2008 Boston Legal Mary WinstonEpisode: "Mad About You"
2008 A Previous Engagement Grace
2009 United States of Tara Dr. Ocean7 episodes
2010Summer ElevenLinda
2010 Better with You ArielEpisode: "Better with Road Joel"
2010 Hannah Montana Ms. JamesonEpisode: "I'll Always Remember You"
2010 Raising Hope MargineEpisode: "Meet the Grandparents"
2011 Jack and Jill Bitsy Simmons
2012 If I Were You Lydia
2012 Crazy Eyes Mo
2012 The Exes AnneEpisode: "He's Gotta Have It"
2011–2013 Glee Rose Pillsbury3 episodes
2013 Monday Mornings Fran Horowitz6 episodes
2013, 2015 Devious Maids Olivia Rice8 episodes
2013 Grey's Anatomy Donna KaufmanEpisode: "Somebody That I Used to Know"
2014 Kirstie VictoriaEpisode: "The Dinner Party"
2014 Hart of Dixie Mae3 episodes
2015 Workaholics CelesteEpisode: "Blood Drive"
2015 Impastor Susie KerryEpisode: "Honor Thy Boyfriend's Father and Mother"
2015 No Pay, Nudity Lisa
2016 Sully Diane Higgins
2016 The Mindy Project JulietEpisode: "So You Think You Can Finance"
2017 The Man in the High Castle SusanRecurring role, 3 episodes
2017–2020 Young Sheldon Ms. MacElroyRecurring role
2018The Witch FilesClaire's mom
2019–2022 Dead to Me Lorna HardingRecurring role, 9 episodes
2020–2021 Big Sky Helen PergmanMain role (season 1)
2020 French Exit Madame ReynaudNominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
2022 Echo 3 Ms. Chesborough
2023GRQ the MovieAunt Emily

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Valerie Mahaffey". Internet Broadway Database (The Broadway League). Archived from the original on May 26, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Robertson, Nan (April 1, 1983). "Tigers or 'Top Girls,' Valerie Mahaffey Adapts". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Hollywood Horns". The Alcalde. 88 (4). University of Texas: 38. March–April 2000.
  4. ↑ "1980 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest . New York City: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ "VALERIE MAHAFFEY". Television Academy.
  6. ↑ "Valerie Mahaffey Credits". Tvguide.com. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ Glee Exclusive: Meet Emma's Parents Archived 2013-11-11 at the Wayback Machine , TV Guide
  8. ↑ Geoff Berkshire (February 4, 2013). "'Monday Mornings' review: David E. Kelley and Sanjay Gupta's medical drama off to a shaky start". Zap2It. Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  9. ↑ Masaki, Lyle (July 5, 2013). "TV Marathons Jump the Shark and Does "Bunheads" Still have a Chance?". Thebacklot.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  10. ↑ Shaffer, Claire (April 24, 2020). "A Murder Is Hidden, Hijinks Ensue in 'Dead to Me' Season 2 Trailer". Rolling Stone .
  11. ↑ O'Brien, Tom (June 22, 2020). "Emmy spotlight: Can 'Dead To Me' bring Valerie Mahaffey back to the winner's circle?".
  12. ↑ Ewing, Jeff. "NYFF 2020: 'French Exit' Is An Excellent Absurd Romp With Memorable Performances". Forbes.
  13. ↑ Han, Karen (October 10, 2020). "French Exit doesn't quite know what to do with its talking cat". Polygon.
  14. ↑ Hammond, Pete (October 11, 2020). "Michelle Pfeiffer Delivers Oscar-Worthy Performance In Dazzling New York Film Fest Closing-Night Film 'French Exit' – Review, Analysis & Interview".
  15. ↑ Davis, Clayton (October 15, 2020). "Oscars Predictions: Best Supporting Actress – Yuh-Jung Youn Set to Take on Overdue Veteran Glenn Close".
  16. ↑ Petski, Denise (August 6, 2020). "'Big Sky': Valerie Mahaffey Joins David E. Kelley's PI Drama Series For ABC".
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