Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy-Winning Northern Exposure Actress Also Known for Starring in Young Sheldon and Big Sky, Dies at 71

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Valerie Mahaffey died in Los Angeles on Friday, Might 30, in line with her husband, Joseph Kell, per Selection
The Big Sky actress was 71 and had been recognized with most cancers
She famously gained the Excellent Supporting Actress Emmy for her function in CBS’ Northern Exposure in 1992

Valerie Mahaffey, the Emmy-winning actress identified for her roles in Northern Exposure and Big Sky, has died. She was 71.

Mahaffey’s husband, Joseph Kell, informed Variety that she died on Friday, Might 30, after being recognized with most cancers.

“I’ve misplaced the love of my life, and America has misplaced certainly one of its loveliest actresses. She shall be missed,” Kell stated in a touching tribute, per the outlet.

Mahaffey’s publicist Jillian Roscoe additionally confirmed the information of her loss of life to The Hollywood Reporter.

Mahaffey in ‘Big Sky’.

Sergei Bachlakov/ABC by way of Getty

Mahaffey starred in a number of notable performing roles all through her profession, showing on exhibits together with Northern Exposure (1991—1994), Determined Housewives (2006-2012), Young Sheldon (2017-2020), and Useless to Me (2019-2022). She additionally starred in the flicks French Exit (2020) with Michelle Pfeiffer, Sully (2016), reverse Tom Hanks, Seabiscuit (2003) and Jungle 2 Jungle (1997).

Mahaffey was born in Indonesia to a Canadian mom and Texan father and raised there till the age of 11. She later moved to Nigeria and England earlier than lastly relocating together with her household to Austin, Texas, the place she graduated from highschool and attended the College of Texas, per Selection and THR.

Mahaffey bought her break as an actress starring on New York Metropolis’s Broadway in the late Seventies. She starred on Broadway six occasions in the performs Dracula and Play Reminiscence, directed by Harold Prince, per THR.

Whereas showing on Broadway, Mahaffey additionally starred in the NBC cleaning soap The Docs, in her Daytime Emmy-nominated function as Ashley Bennett from 1979 to 1980, per Selection. The late actress later gained an Excellent Supporting Actress Emmy in 1992 for her function as hypochondriac Eve in CBS’ Northern Exposure. She starred on the present for 5 episodes over three seasons in the early Nineties, per THR.

Maffey pictured after profitable her supporting actress Emmy in August 1992.

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Assortment by way of Getty

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Mahaffey’s most up-to-date roles had been in the Apple TV+ sequence Echo 3 in 2022 and the movie The eighth Day, launched in March 2025, in line with IMDB.

The actress is survived by her husband Kell and their daughter Alice, per THR.

Mahaffey’s representatives didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for touch upon Might 31.