Superman actress Valerie Perrine’s official cause of death revealed after her passing at age 82

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Valerine Perrine, the actress who recently passed away at 82, has officially been determined to have died from natural causes.

According to a death certificate obtained by People magazine, the actress died of a sudden heart attack.

Perrine had Parkinson’s disease, which contributed to her death.

The Los Angeles Department of Health also determined that the illness played a role in her death.

Annette Perrine, known for her role as Eve Teschmacher in the Superman movies alongside Lex Luthor, passed away on March 23, 2026, at the age of 82. She received an Oscar nomination for her work.

Stacey Souther, a friend of Perrine, shared the news of her passing online. In a GoFundMe post, Souther explained that she died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, after a brave fight against Parkinson’s disease and severe tremors.

Richard Pryor’s impressive acting work spanned films like Slaughterhouse-Five and The Electric Horseman, and he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for his performance in the 1974 movie Lenny.

The star also became known as a sex symbol, having posed for Playboy twice.

I’m deeply saddened to share the news of Valerie’s passing,” Souther wrote on social media. “She battled Parkinson’s disease with amazing bravery and kindness, and always remained positive.

She was a remarkable person who embraced every moment of life, and her life was truly extraordinary. Her absence leaves a noticeable void in the world.

‘I love you, Valerie. I’ll see you on the other side.’

Souther started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of Perrine’s final wish: to be buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Perrine had spent all her savings on medical bills during her illness.

Our friend bravely fought Parkinson’s for over 15 years, and now needs our help to fulfill her final wish: to be buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Due to the long illness, her funds are depleted. Please consider donating to her funeral GoFundMe, sharing it with others, and helping us spread the word so we can give her the peaceful rest she deserves.

The fundraiser laid bare Perrine’s health battle within the last 15 years.

Around 2011, Valerie started noticing the early symptoms of essential tremors – uncontrollable shaking that gradually affected her ability to live and perform. While she tried to hide it from others, the condition was deeply upsetting for her, according to a GoFundMe page.

The shaking was a constant reminder of her Parkinson’s disease. Because of the illness, she could no longer continue with the career she had always loved.

Work became scarce, and with it, the financial stability Valerie deserved after a remarkable career. She used her savings for medical treatment, bravely battling her illness for fifteen years. Throughout it all, she remained positive and never complained, always keeping a smile on her face.

According to The Independent, the documentary Valerie chronicles the life of Perrine, highlighting her resilience after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

In the first two Superman movies, Superman and Superman II, Perrine portrayed Eve Teschmacher, Lex Luthor’s assistant.

Gene Hackman famously portrayed Lex Luthor, and when he died last year at the age of 95, Perrine honored his memory.

Valerie shared the sad news of Gene Hackman’s passing on social media. She described him as a genius and one of the best actors ever to appear in movies, fondly recalling her experience working with him on ‘Superman’. She celebrated his iconic performances and said his talent would be deeply missed, ending with a heartfelt goodbye to her ‘sweet Lex’ and a hope to meet again.

Perrine famously appeared alongside the late Christopher Reeve, helping to save Superman in the original movie.

She was considered a sex symbol during her life and even posed for Playboy. 

Perrine started her acting career after becoming a showgirl in Las Vegas. This led to her landing her first movie role in the 1972 film, Slaughterhouse-Five.

She encountered an agent at a dinner party who was casting for the role of Montana Wildhack, a performer in a softcore adult film – a role that ultimately went to Perrine.

‘That’s how I became an actress,’ she said in a 2025 interview, according to Deadline. 

That role was just the beginning of what would be an extraordinary acting career. 

I seriously couldn’t believe it! Only two years after her breakout role, she was nominated for an Oscar! An Oscar! It was for her performance in ‘Lenny,’ this amazing movie about the comedian Lenny Bruce, and she absolutely deserved it. I was glued to the screen when that nomination was announced – I knew she was destined for greatness!

Perrine appeared alongside Dustin Hoffman in the film, directed by Bob Fosse, playing the role of Honey Bruce, Bruce’s wife.

Although she didn’t win an Oscar, she was recognized for her work with awards from the BAFTAs and the Cannes Film Festival.

Despite her successes, she also experienced career setbacks. In 1980, she appeared in the film Can’t Stop the Music alongside Caitlyn Jenner, Steve Guttenberg, and The Village People, which famously won the Razzie Awards for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay.

Oh my god, it completely destroyed everything for me. I was so mortified, I just had to get away – I ended up moving to Europe right after, I couldn’t face anyone here anymore. It was awful, just awful.

Despite a difficult experience, she continued her career in Hollywood for many years, even appearing in the popular Nancy Meyers film, What Women Want.

Her last credited role is in the 2016 comedy Silver Skies. 

Let me tell you a little about Paulette Perrine’s personal life. While she never had children or got married, she was deeply in love and engaged to a fascinating man named Bill Haarman. He was a collector and importer of firearms, and sadly, he passed away in a tragic shooting accident just weeks before their wedding day. It was a heartbreaking time for her, as they were so close to starting their life together.

She also had a relationship with Jay Sebring, a hairstylist who was tragically killed in 1969 along with Sharon Tate and four others by the Manson Family.

According to The Independent, Perrine had planned to have dinner with Sebring at the Tate home on the night of the events, but couldn’t make it because of work commitments.

Perrine shared on X that she used to date Jay Sebring and was originally meant to be at Sharon Tate’s house with him.

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2026-04-09 00:04