Tue. Mar 19th, 2024

Valerie Mahaffey

Valerie MahaffeyValerie Mahaffey was born in Indonesia and moved to Austin, Texas at the age of 16. Mahaffey graduated from Austin High School and attended the BFA in University of Texas at Austin in 1975 and later made her Broadway debut in musical Rex.
Mahaffey was regular cast member in the soap opera The Doctors from 1979 to 1981, which earned her a nomination for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1980.[4] She starred in the film Women of Valor in 1986 and while the characters are fictitious, it portrayed women’s roles in the Philippines during World War II.
As of late 1980’s, Mahaffey began acting in television comedies, like Newhart, Cheers, and Seinfeld. From 1992–93, she starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom The Powers That Be. She played Tracy Milford in the 1995 film National Lampoon’s Senior Trip and Jan Kempster in the 1997 film Jungle 2 Jungle. In 1999, she had a recurring role on ER. In 2003, she starred in the film Seabiscuit. In 2009, she appeared in seven episodes United States of Tara. Her stage credits include Eastern Standard, Talking Heads, Top Girls, and Rex.
Mahaffey won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as the chronic hypochondriac Eve in the CBS series Northern Exposure in 1992. Mahaffey was the only actor from the series to win an Emmy Award.
Mahaffey played Alma Hodge in season 3 of ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives from 2006 to 2007. Mahaffey has made guest appearances on L.A. Law, Ally McBeal, Judging Amy, The West Wing, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Frasier, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Private Practice, Boston Legal, Without a Trace, Hannah Montana, and Raising Hope.[6] She also appeared on Glee as the mother of Emma Pillsbury from 2011 to 2013.[7] Mahaffey co-starred as Fran Horowitz in short-lived TNT medical drama Monday Mornings in 2013.[8] Also in 2013, she had a recurring role on Lifetime Television comedy-drama series Devious Maids as Olivia Rice.
Mahaffey is credited as Executive Producer of “Summer Eleven”, the poignant, coming of age story about a group of eleven year old girls in their final summer before middle school, in which she also plays Linda. More recently, Mahaffey takes on the role of Lisa in “No Pay, Nudity” – a film about Hanging Out, Hanging In, Hanging On, due for release in the near future. On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed one of the most remarkable emergency landings in aviation history when Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger skillfully glided US Airways Flight 1549 onto the surface of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. His cool actions not only averted tragedy but made him a hero and an inspiration worldwide. But the storm was yet to come, a storm which could ruin the life of a hero. The film “Sully” is currently in post-production. Mahaffey plays Diane Higgins.
Leapers know Valerie Mahaffey best as Mary Greeley in the Halloween episode of Quantum Leap. Albie was lucky enough to be able to talk to her, so now please enjoy Albie’s conversation with Valerie Mahaffey.