Desperate Housewives” actress Valerie Mahaffey has died

Steph Deschamps / June 8, 2025

Valerie Mahaffey died of cancer on Friday at the age of 71. The American actress was best known for her roles in “Northern Exposure”, “Desperate Housewives” and “Young Sheldon”. Her death was confirmed by her husband, actor Joseph Kell.

Valerie Mahaffey has had a long career spanning over 50 years in theater, film and television. Born in Indonesia, she spent her childhood in several countries, including Nigeria, England and the United States. A graduate of the University of Texas, she began her career on Broadway in the 1970s.

The actress is best known for her role as Eve in the popular 1990s series “Welcome to Alaska”, which won her an Emmy in 1992. She went on to star in such well-known series as “Desperate Housewives”, “Young Sheldon”, “Seinfeld”, “ER” and, more recently, “Dead to Me” and “Big Sky”. The actress has also appeared in several films, including “Sully” (2016), “Seabiscuit” (2003) and “French Exit” (2020).

Her husband, actor Joseph Kell, confirmed the sad news, sharing his grief with the world. “I have lost the love of my life and America has lost one of its most beloved actresses. She will be sorely missed,” he said in a statement released to the media. Together, the couple had a daughter, Alice Richards.