Valerie Mahaffey

Valerie Mahaffey (born June 16, 1953) is an American character actress and producer. She gained recognition for her role in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors (1979–81), earning a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1980. In 1992, Mahaffey won a Primetime Emmy Award for her supporting role in the CBS drama series Northern Exposure. She has appeared in popular television shows like Wings, Desperate Housewives, Devious Maids, and Big Sky. Mahaffey has also showcased her talent in films such as Senior Trip (1995), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), Jack and Jill (2011), and Sully (2016). One of her most notable performances was in the critically acclaimed French Exit (2020), which earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Born in Sumatra, Indonesia, Mahaffey's parents met in Canada, and she later moved to Austin, Texas, at the age of 16.