CDA: Valerie Perrine

I was saddened to read in The New York Times about the death of Valerie Perrine, age 82. She was at her career peak in the 70s. And what a wacky career - -

1962: quit college to become a showgirl in Vegas at the age of 19

1971: was spotted by an agent and cast in her first movie, as an adult film star in Slaughterhouse Five

1974: played Lenny Bruce's former stripper wife in Bob Fosse's Lenny, won Best Actress at Cannes and was nominated for an Oscar

1978: played Lex Luthor's moll Eve Teschmacher in Superman

Her career didn't quite live up to the promise of the 70s but reading between the lines I think she never really hitched her wagon to that star. Here's my favorite quote from her Times obit: “I’ve never had any acting lessons. I don’t know anything about Chavanasky, or whatever you call him.”

This is a perfect example of her persona: you think she's a dumb blonde but she's not dumb at all. She has no illusions, she knows what she is and what she's not. If you think she's dumb that's your problem.

Here's a compilation of her best moments in Superman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNnwoSFlB-4

And a scene from Lenny:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi_BR02t7Zk

She had Parkinson's at the end of her life. I saw a documentary on TCM about her, it was sweet and touching and shockingly frank about her struggle. Find it if you can. Here's the preview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6J7Rcw2gCQ

I remember seeing her on some stupid daytime game show in the 70s. She and whatever other celebrity were announced by the announcer and made their entrance down a flight of stairs. The host, whoever he was said:

HOST: That was amazing.

PERRINE: What was amazing?

HOST: Seeing you come down those stairs. You're wearing four-inch heels and you never looked down, you just flew down the stairs with a smile on your face like it was nothing.

PERRINE: [laughs] I started my career as a showgirl in Vegas! That's what I did for a living!