Valerie Mahaffey

**Valerie Mahaffey** is an American character actress and producer. She began her career starring in the NBC daytime soap opera *The Doctors* (1979–81), for which in 1980 she was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

In 1992, Mahaffey won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the CBS drama series *Northern Exposure*. She later won fame through her portrayal of extroverted and friendly but ultimately insane women on the television shows *Wings*, *Desperate Housewives*, *Devious Maids* and *Big Sky*. Mahaffey also appeared in a number of movies, including *Senior Trip* (1995), *Jungle 2 Jungle* (1997), *Jack and Jill* (2011), *Sully* (2016), and most notably *French Exit* (2020), for which she received critical acclaim and an Independent Spirit Award nomination. She plays Helen Pergman in ABC drama series *Big Sky*.

## Career

### Filmography

* *French Exit* (2020)
* *The Witch Files* (2018)
* *No Pay, Nudity* (2016)
* *Sully* (2016)
* *Crazy Eyes* (2012)
* *If I Were You* (2012)
* *Jack and Jill* (2011)
* *Summer Eleven* (2010)
* *A Previous Engagement* (2008)
* *My First Wedding* (2006)
* *Seabiscuit* (2003)
* *Par 6* (2002)
* *No Ordinary Baby* (2001)
* *Dinner at Fred's* (1999)
* *Jungle 2 Jungle* (1997)
* *National Lampoon's Senior Trip* (1995)
* *Witch Hunt* (1994)
* *Children of the Mist* (1993)
* *Till Death Us Do Part* (1992)
* *An Enemy of the People* (1990)
* *Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin* (1989)
* *Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder* (1989)
* *Her Secret Life* (1987)
* *Women of Valor* (1986)
* *Mr. Bill's Real Life Adventures (short)* (1986)
* *Tell Me My Name* (1977)

### Television

* *Big Sky* (2020-21)
* *Dead to Me* (2019-20)
* *Young Sheldon* (2017-20)
* *The Man in the High Castle* (2016)
* *The Mindy Project* (2016)
* *Impastor* (2015)
* *Devious Maids* (2013-2015)
* *Workaholics* (2015)
* *Hart of Dixie* (2014)
* *Franklin & Bash* (2014)
* *Kirstie* (2014)
* *Grey's Anatomy* (2013)
* *Monday Mornings* (2013)
* *Glee* (2011-2013)
* *The Exes* (2012)
* *Desperate Housewives* (2006-2012)
* *Less Than Kind* (2012)
* *Raising Hope* (2010)
* *Hannah Montana* (2010)
* *Better with You* (2010)
* *United States of Tara* (2009)
* *Boston Legal* (2008)
* *Private Practice* (2007)
* *Raines* (2007)
* *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2006)
* *Crumbs* (2006)
* *Out of Practice* (2005)
* *Without a Trace* (2004)
* *Frasier* (2003)
* *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (2002)
* *The West Wing* (2001)
* *Judging Amy* (2001)
* *Night Visions* (2001)
* *That's My Bush!* (2001)
* *All McBeal* (2000)
* *Love & Money* (2000)
* *ER* (1999)
* *George & Leo* (1997)
* *Caroline in the City* (1996)
* *The Client* (1995-1996)
* *Wings* (1993-1996)
* *Women of the House* (1995)
* *L.A. Law* (1994)
* *Northern Exposure* (1991-1994)
* *The Powers That Be* (1992-1993)
* *Dream On* (1992)
* *Seinfeld* (1991)
* *Baby Talk* (1991)
* *The Young Riders* (1991)
* *Cheers* (1991)
* *Quantum Leap* (1990)
* *Father Dowling Mysteries* (1990)
* *Murphy's Law* (1988)
* *Her Secret Life* (1987)
* *Newhart* (1987)
* *Fresno (mini-series)* (1986)
* *American Playhouse* (1986)
* *Tales of the Unexpected* (1984)
* *The Doctors* (1979-1981)

## External Links

* Valerie Mahaffey on Wikipedia
* Valerie Mahaffey on IMDb