An official cause of death has been determined for actress
Showbiz
Valerie Perrines Cause of Death Revealed at 82
An official cause of death has been determined for actress Valerine Perrine following her passing at age 82.The actress died of acute cardiopulmonary arrest (al...
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The actress died of acute cardiopulmonary arrest (also called sudden cardiac arrest), according to a death certificate reviewed by People.
Perrine was battling Parkinson's at the time of her passing and the disease was found to be an underlying cause of death.
The ailment was additionally found to be a contributing factor in her passing by The Department of Health.
Perrine, the Oscar-nominated actress who played Lex Luthor's love interest Eve Teschmacher in the Superman films, died at age 82 on March 23, 2026.
Perrine's friend Stacey Souther announced the loss online, writing on a GoFundMe that she died at her home 'surrounded by love' following 'a quiet, courageous battle against both Parkinson's disease and debilitating central tremors.'
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An official cause of death has been determined for actress Valerie Perrine, who died at age 82
The actress died of acute cardiopulmonary arrest (sudden cardiac arrest), according to a death certificate obtained by People
Perrine's exemplary acting career included roles in Slaughterhouse-Five, the Electric Horseman, and one of Hollywood's highest honors - an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the 1974 film Lenny.
Perrine with Steve Guttenberg and Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, in 1980's Can't Stop the Music
Perrine with Christopher Reeves in 1978's Superman
The movie, which also starred Dustin Hoffman and was directed by Bob Fosse, saw Perrine play Bruce's wife Honey Bruce.
While she lost out on the Oscar, she did get honors from the BAFTAs and Cannes Film Festival over the project.
With the highs came the career lows - in 1980 she starred opposite Caitlyn Jenner, Steve Guttenberg and The Village People in Can't Stop the Music, a film which won the Razzies for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay.
'It ruined my career — I moved to Europe after, I was so embarrassed,' she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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She recovered from the setback and continued working in Hollywood for years, including a role in the Nancy Meyers hit What Woman Want.
Her last credited role is in the 2016 comedy Silver Skies.
Perrine did not have any children nor did she ever marry but she was engaged to Bill Haarman, a gun collector and importer who died in a gun accident in January 1969, just a month before they were set to walk down the aisle.
She also dated the late hairstylist Jay Sebring, one of the six people who were murdered by the Manson Family at Sharon Tate's home in 1969.
Perrine was actually supposed to join Sebring for dinner at the Tate residence the night of the tragedies but was unable due to work, according to The Independent.
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'Remembering Jay Sebring today. We dated. I was supposed to be with him at Sharon Tate’s house,' Perrine posted to X.
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