Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy-Winning ‘Northern Exposure’ Actress, Dead at 71

Valerie Mahaffey , the Emmy and Obie Award-winning actress known for playing eccentric characters on shows including Northern Exposure and Desperate Housewives , died on Friday. She was 71.

Her husband, actor Joseph Kell, said she died in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer, Variety reports .

Mahaffey won an Emmy in 1992 for her supporting actress role in the dramedy Northern Exposure , where she portrayed the hypochondriac Eve, the wife of Adam Arkin’s character, from 1991-1994.

Mahaffey’s recurring television roles include portraying the conniving Alma Hodge, the ex-wife of Orson Hodge (Kyle MacLachlan) on ABC’s Desperate Housewives (2006-2007); recurring teacher Victoria MacElroy on CBS’ Young Sheldon (2017-2020); and Lorna Harding, Jen Harding’s (Christina Appl