Valerie Harper

Valerie Kathryn Harper (August 22, 1939 – August 30, 2019) was an American actress. She began her career as a dancer on Broadway and made her debut in the musical Li'l Abner. Harper is best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) and its spinoff Rhoda (1974–1978). She received multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and later won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Rhoda. Harper also appeared as Valerie Hogan on the sitcom Valerie from 1986 to 1987 before leaving for salary reasons. Her film credits include Freebie and the Bean (1974) and Chapter Two (1979).