Acting · Sumatra, Indonesia · Born June 16, 1953
Valerie Mahaffey (June 16, 1953 – May 30, 2025) was an American actress and producer. She began her career starring in the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors (1979–81), for which she received a nomination 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Valerie Mahaffey, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
MovieThe 8th Day
2025
as Landon Mooney
MovieFrench Exit
2021
as Mme Reynard
TVBig Sky
2020
as Helen Pergman
TVDead to Me
2019
as Lorna Harding
MovieThe Witch Files
2018
as Claire's Mom
TVYoung Sheldon
2017
as Victoria MacElroy
MovieNo Pay, Nudity
2016
as Lisa Zweibal
MovieSully
2016
as Diane Higgins
TVImpastor
2015
as Susie Kerry
TVThe Man in the High Castle
2015
as Susan
TVKirstie
2013
as Victoria
TVDevious Maids
2013
as Olivia Rice
MovieIf I Were You
2013
as Lydia
TVMonday Mornings
2013
as Fran Horowitz
TVThe Mindy Project
2012
as Juliet
MovieCrazy Eyes
2012
as Zach's Mother
TVThe Exes
2011
as Anne
MovieJack and Jill
2011
as Bitsy Simmons
TVHart of Dixie
2011
as Mae Ellen Waterloo
TVFranklin & Bash
2011
as Julie
TVWorkaholics
2011
as Celeste
TVBetter With You
2010
as Ariel
TVRaising Hope
2010
as Margine
MovieSummer Eleven
2010
MovieA Previous Engagement
2009
as Grace
TVGlee
2009
as Rose Pillsbury
TVUnited States of Tara
2009
as Dr. Ocean
TVPrivate Practice
2007
as Marilyn Sullivan
TVRaines
2007
as Arlene
MovieMy First Wedding
2006
as Grace
TVHannah Montana
2006
as Ms. Jameson
TVCrumbs
2006
as Carolyn Pierce
TVOut of Practice
2005
TVGrey's Anatomy
2005
as Donna Kaufman
TVDesperate Housewives
2004
as Alma Hodge
TVBoston Legal
2004
as Mary Winston
MovieSeabiscuit
2003
as Annie Howard
TVWithout a Trace
2002
as Bonnie Toland
TVGood Morning, Miami
2002
as Sara
MoviePar 6
2002
as Pecan Hegelman
MovieNo Ordinary Baby
2001
as Virginia Hytner
TVNight Visions
2001
as Sally Osgoode (segment "Neighborhood Watch")
TVThat's My Bush!
2001
as Janet Rove
TVCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as Dora Pomerantz
TVThe West Wing
1999
as Tawny Cryer
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Brooke Thornburg
TVJudging Amy
1999
as Ms. Morlock
TVBuddy Faro
1998
MovieDinner at Fred's
1997
as Susan
TVGeorge & Leo
1997
TVAlly McBeal
1997
as Dr. Sally Muggins
MovieJungle 2 Jungle
1997
as Jan Kempster
TVCaroline in the City
1995
as Alicia Crawford-Lane
MovieNational Lampoon's Senior Trip
1995
as Miss Tracy Milford
TVWomen of the House
1995
as Jennifer Malone
MovieWitch Hunt
1994
as Trudy
TVER
1994
as Joi Abbott
MovieThey
1993
as Chris Samuels
TVFrasier
1993
as Peggy
TVThe Powers That Be
1992
as Caitlyn Van Horne
MovieTill Death Us Do Part
1992
as Gail Bugliosi
TVBaby Talk
1991
TVNorthern Exposure
1990
as Eve
TVDream On
1990
as Helen Harley
TVWings
1990
as Sandy Cooper
MoviePerry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin
1989
as D.A. Barbara August
TVSeinfeld
1989
as Patrice
MoviePerry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder
1989
as D.A. Barbara August
TVQuantum Leap
1989
as Mary Greely
TVMurphy's Law
1988
MovieHer Secret Life
1987
as Becky
MovieWomen of Valor
1986
as Lt. Katherine R. Grace
TVFresno
1986
as Tiffany Kensington
TVL.A. Law
1986
as Andrea Rossoff
MovieMr. Bill's Real Life Adventures
1986
as Mrs. Bill
MovieThe Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket
1986
as Alice
TVNewhart
1982
TVCheers
1982
as Valerie Hill
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Alice
TVTales of the Unexpected
1979
as Jane
MovieTell Me My Name
1977
as Alexandra / Sarah
GRQ the Movie
as Aunt Emily
