Valerie Mahaffey, an Emmy Award-winning actress whose notable film and television credits include “Northern Exposure,”  “Desperate Housewives” and “Seabiscuit,” has died at the age of 71.

Mahaffey’s husband, actor Joseph Kell, disclosed to Variety to she died on May 30 in Los Angeles after battling cancer. “I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses. She will be missed,” Kell said.

Valerie Mahaffey at a Canadian Film Centre & Variety-hosted reception for the Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab in 2012
Photo: Mark Sullivan

In 1992, Mahaffey took home the Emmy for best supporting comedy actress for her work as a hypochondriac Eve in the CBS drama/comedy “Northern Exposure,” which aired from 1990 through 1995.

Mahaffey was born in Indonesia and lived in the country until she was 11. After that, she lived in a number of different nations with her family, including Nigeria, England and Texas. She eventually remained in the United States and began her acting career on stage in New York City.

She appeared in six Broadway plays, including “Dracula” opposite Raul Julia in the late 1970s and the Harold Prince-directed “Play Memory,” which had a short run in 1984.

Mahaffey collected two Obie Awards during her stage career, one for “Top Girls” at the Public Theatre, and the other for Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads” at the Minetta Lane.

Once transitioning to film and television, Mahaffey established herself as a versatile actor, which placed her in constant demand for television guest slots. Some of the more notable projects she appeared in include “Seinfeld,” “ER,” “The Man In The High Castle,” “Young Sheldon” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Earlier TV appearances included guest shots on “Cheers,” “Newhart,” “Quantum Leap,” “Dream On,” “L.A. Law,” “Caroline in the City,” “Ally McBeal,” “Judging Amy,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “CSI.”

On the silver screen, Mahaffey’s credits include “Sully,” “Seabiscuit,” and the Adam Sandler-directed “Jack and Jill.”

Most recently, Mahaffey was seen in the Apple TV+ series “Echo 3” and the 2020 indie film “French Exit” opposite Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. For the latter, she earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination, according to Variety.

Friends told the outlet that Mahaffey was naturally kind-hearted and exuded a warm and infectious energy.