Valerie Mahaffey, the American actor best known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and Young Sheldon, has died aged 71.
The Emmy award winner died in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with cancer, her publicist said in a statement on Saturday.
"I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses. She will be missed," her husband, actor Joseph Kell, said in a statement.
Her daughter Alice Richards paid tribute to her mother on social media, saying: "I'll look for you in all the fun moments of life. That's where I know you'll be."
[Instagram link]Five-decade-long career
Her five-decade career included stage, film and television work ranging from Shakespeare to the hit 1990s series Northern Exposure and Seinfeld.
Mahaffey won two Emmy awards over her career, one for her portrayal of hypochondriac Eve on Northern Exposure, and the other for her role on soap opera The Doctors.
She also appeared in the movie Sully with Tom Hanks, directed by Clint Eastwood, and played Madame Reynard in French Exit with Michelle Pfeiffer.
"One of our brightest stars was stolen from us yesterday. Such a remarkable talent and human. You will be missed," Pfeiffer posted on social media.
As a child, Mahaffey lived in Indonesia, Nigeria, England and Texas with her Canadian mother and American father.
After moving to the United States when she was 16, the actor earned a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Texas.
Mahaffey started her acting career in New York City, landing her debut role on Broadway for the musical Rex in the 1970s.
The actor also appeared on Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Glee, The Mindy Project, Dead to Me, Hart of Dixie and The West Wing.
