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Valerie Mahaffey, ‘Northern Exposure’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’ Actress, Dead at 71

Valerie Mahaffey, the Emmy-winning actress known for memorable roles on shows such as ‘Northern Exposure’ and ‘Desperate Housewives,’ has died at 71.

Valerie Mahaffey, the Emmy and Obie Award-winning actress known for playing eccentric characters on shows including Northern Exposure and Desperate Housewives, died on Friday. She recently appeared in Apple TV+ series Echo 3, and played Madame Reynard in the 2020 film French Exit, starring opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hodges, for which she received an Independent Spirit award nomination. She played a variety of characters in scores of popular television series, including The Powers That Be, Seinfeld, Wings, ER, The Mindy Project, Glee, Hannah Montana, Cheers, Newhart, Ally McBeal, Law & Order: SVU, and CSI.

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