'Desperate Housewives' star Valerie Mahaffey dead at 71

Valerie Mahaffey, champion known for her roles successful "Desperate Housewives" and "Young Sheldon," has died. She was 71. 

Her publicist confirmed with Fox News Digital Mahaffey's decease connected Friday, May 30, aft she mislaid her conflict with cancer.

"Valerie Mahaffey was a striking and charismatic stage, film, and tv histrion whose vocation spanned galore decades. Her lukewarm and infectious vigor was felt by anyone who had the bully luck of knowing her," the connection read. 

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Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy-winning histrion known for roles successful "Desperate Housewives" and "Young Sheldon," dies astatine 71 aft battling cancer. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Her husband, Joseph Kell, additionally shared a heartfelt tribute, "I person mislaid the emotion of my life, and America has mislaid 1 of its astir endearing actresses. She volition beryllium missed."

Mahaffey was calved and raised successful Indonesia until the property of 11. She past lived successful respective places, including Nigeria, Texas and England.

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Mahaffey starred successful ABC’s thriller bid "Big Sky," created by multi-award-winning writer-producer David E. Kelley.  (Sergei Bachlakov via Getty Images)

The histrion started her illustrious vocation successful New York City, wherever she performed successful six Broadway plays, including "Dracula" and "Play Memory." Mahaffey starred successful galore Off-Broadway and determination plays, arsenic she was recognized for her enactment successful "Top Girls" and "Talking Heads." Her different theatre credits included playing Desdemona successful "Othello" other Morgan Freeman, and Julie’ successful "Romeo and Juliet" with Tom Hulce.

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Mahaffey starred successful ABC’s thriller bid "Big Sky," created by multi-award-winning writer-producer David E. Kelley. Fans volition retrieve Mahaffey's grandiose quality Lorna Harding successful play 1 and 2 of Netflix's Emmy-nominated show, "Dead to Me," arsenic she starred alongside Christina Applegate. Mahaffey won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress successful "Northern Exposure," arsenic her different tv credits see Norman Lear’s "The Powers That Be," "Seinfeld," "Desperate Housewives," "Wings" and "ER."

Valerie Mahaffey was champion known for her relation successful "Desperate Housewives."  (Ron Tom/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Before her death, she was precocious seen successful Apple TV+'s "ECHO 3" and received captious acclaim arsenic the ever-hopeful "Madame Reynard" successful "French Exit" other Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. Mahaffey's different accolades see receiving an Independent Spirit Award information for Best Supporting Female for her scene-stealing relation successful the film.

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Mahaffey is survived by her husband, Kell, and daughter, Alice.  (Amy Graves/WireImage/Getty Images)

Her different movie credits see Clint Eastwood’s "Sully," "Jungle 2 Jungle," "No Pay, Nudity" and "Seabiscuit." Proving to beryllium talented successful beforehand of and down the camera, Mahaffey produced and acted successful "Summer Eleven" alongside her daughter, Alice.

Mahaffey is survived by her husband, Kell, and daughter, Alice. 

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