(L to R) Valerie Perrine and Gene Hackman in ‘Superman II’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
Valerie Perrine has died at the age of 82.
She was best known for her roles in ‘Superman’ and ‘Lenny.’
In later years, she became an advocate for Parkinson’s disease awareness after her diagnosis.
Valerie Perrine, the actress who captivated audiences with her bold performances in films like ‘Superman’ and ‘Lenny,’ has died at the age of 82.
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Her death was announced by friend Stacey Souther, who has set up a GoFundMe page to help defray funeral costs.
Here’s Souther’s statement:
“Valerie Perrine gave everything she had to her craft, her fans, and her life — with grace, humor, and an indomitable spirit that Parkinson’s itself could never fully extinguish. Let’s make sure her final chapter is written with the same dignity and love that she gave to all of us.”
(L to R) Dustin Hoffman and Valerie Perrine in ‘Lenny’. Photo: United Artists.
Born September 3, 1943, in Galveston, Texas, Valerie Perrine grew up with a passion for performance and entertainment. She began her career as a dancer and showgirl in Las Vegas before transitioning into acting.
Her breakthrough came in 1974 when she starred as Honey Bruce in ‘Lenny,’ opposite Dustin Hoffman. Her fearless and emotionally layered performance earned her an Academy Award nomination and established her as one of the most compelling actresses of her time.
Valerie Perrine: A Life in Film and Television
(L to R) Valerie Perrine and Jeff Bridges in the documentary ‘Valerie’.
Following ‘Lenny,’ Perrine gained widespread recognition for her role as Eve Teschmacher in the 1978 blockbuster ‘Superman,’ starring alongside Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman. She reprised the role in ‘Superman II,’ further cementing her place in pop culture history.
Throughout her career, Perrine appeared in a range of films and television projects, showcasing her versatility in both dramatic and comedic roles. While she never fully courted the spotlight in later years, her performances remained beloved by fans and critics alike.
Valerie Perrine: Offscreen
Valerie Perrine in the documentary ‘Valerie’.
In her personal life, Perrine faced significant health challenges, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, which she publicly discussed in later years. She became an advocate for awareness, speaking candidly about her condition and inspiring others with her resilience.
She will be remembered for her daring performances, her vibrant personality, and the lasting impact she made on Hollywood and audiences around the world.
(L to R) Valerie Perrine and Gene Hackman in ‘Superman II’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Selected Movies and TV Shows Featuring Valerie Perrine:
Terence Stamp in ‘The Limey’. Photo: Artisan Entertainment.
Preview:
Actor Terence Stamp has died at the age of 87.
He was well known for his portrayal of General Zod in ‘Superman’ and ‘Superman II’.
He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in ‘Billy Budd’.
Terence Stamp, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in ‘Billy Budd‘, has died at the age of 87.
Known for his iconic role as General Zod in ‘Superman‘ and ‘Superman II‘, the British actor has nearly one hundred credits to his name and has left his mark on the Entertainment industry. While his family confirmed his passing, they did not offer details as to the cause of death.
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His family made the following statement:
“He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come. We ask for privacy at this sad time.”
(L to R) Terence Stamp and Carol White in ‘Poor Cow’. Photo: Vic Films Productions.
Born July 22, 1938 in Stepney, London, England, UK, Terence Stamp spent his early years watching American films and dreaming of becoming an actor himself. He attended the Webber Douglas School of Dramatic Art under a scholarship, during which he landed the role of the title character in ‘Billy Budd’, a performance that would earn him an Oscar nomination.
This was just the beginning, as he landed multiple film roles immediately following this film, including those in ‘The Collector‘, ‘Poor Cow‘, and ‘Spirits of the Dead‘.
Terence Stamp: Film Career
(L to R) Jack O’Halloran, Terence Stamp and Sarah Douglas in ‘Superman II’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Stamp’s acting skills nearly landed him the role of James Bond after Sean Connery‘s departure, but he was eventually passed over. After this, he took a break from acting to travel the world, but returned to the spotlight after being cast in what would become a DC classic.
Easily one of Terence Stamp’s most notable and iconic roles is that of the villainous General Zod in ‘Superman’, which he replrised in ‘Superman II’. He brought this dark and sinister character to life in a way that had DC fans around the world terrified of him.
He garned a lot of praise for his portrayal of Bernadette, a transgender woman, in ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert‘. There have recently been reports of a sequel to the 1994 film being in pre-production, with Stamp to make an appearance.
Years after his time as General Zod, he would return to the world of DC as a much different character, Kal-El’s loving father, Jor-El, of whom he provided the voice, in the TV series ‘Smallville‘.
Terence Stamp: Legacy
Terence Stamp in ‘The Limey’. Photo: Artisan Entertainment.
Terence Stamp was married to Elizabeth O’Rourke from 2002 to 2008, however the two never had any children. Stamp had expressed an interest in having a daughter, which never happened. However, he was open about how much he loved spending time with his nieces’ children.
Terence Stamp will be remembered fondly for his many iconic television and movie roles, especially those of the villains, including Wilson, a tough ex-con, in ‘The Limey‘.
(L to R) Jack O’Halloran and Terence Stamp in ‘Superman II’. Photo: Warner Bros.
In honor of the new ‘Superman’ movie, Moviefone is counting down every live action Superman movie and TV show appearance ever made.
NOTE: For this list we are only including live action movies and TV shows featuring Superman (Or Clark Kent when he was Superboy), and not animated projects or documentaries. We are also not including his faceless cameos in ‘Shazam!‘, season 1 of ‘Peacemaker‘, or ‘Titans‘ final episode, but will include his appearances in ‘Black Adam‘ and ‘The Flash‘. Finally, we are also including theatrically released director’s cuts like ‘Superman II: The Donner Cut‘ and ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League‘.
Christopher Reeve in ‘Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’. Photo: Warner Bros.
With global superpowers engaged in an increasingly hostile arms race, Superman (Christopher Reeve) leads a crusade to rid the world of nuclear weapons. But Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman), recently sprung from jail, is declaring war on the Man of Steel and his quest to save the planet. Using a strand of Superman’s hair, Luthor synthesizes a powerful ally known as Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow) and ignites an epic battle spanning Earth and space.
Fuelled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s (Henry Cavill) selfless act, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) and Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) assemble a team of metahumans consisting of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) and Victor Stone (Ray Fisher) to face the catastrophic threat of Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds) and the Parademons who are on the hunt for three Mother Boxes on Earth.
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
(L to R) Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain in ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman’. Photo: ABC Television.
A much more lavish version of the popular ‘Superman’ television series which had first aired forty years earlier, ‘Lois & Clark’ focused more on the Man of Steel’s early adult years in Metropolis. With the unknowing help of Lois Lane (Teri Hatcher), Clark Kent (Dean Cain) created Superman there in Metropolis after finding work at the world-famous Daily Planet newspaper, where he meets fellow reporter Lois Lane.
Gerard Christopher in ‘Superboy’. Photo: Alexander and Ilya Salkind Productions.
‘Superboy’ is a half-hour live-action television series based on Kal-El’s early years as Superboy (John Newton/Gerard Christopher). It depicted Superboy’s adventures during his college years, his meetings with Lex Luthor (Sherman Howard) and his romance with Lana Lang (Stacy Haiduk). The series was brought to the screen by executive producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind, who were the producers of the first three ‘Superman’ movies and the 1984 ‘Supergirl‘ movie.
When his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod (Michael Shannon) has returned and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. In order to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
George Reeves in ‘Adventures of Superman’. Photo: Motion Pictures for Television.
Announcer: “The Adventures of Superman. Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!” Voices: “Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” Announcer: “Yes, it’s Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands; and who, disguised as Clark Kent (George Reeves), mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way.”
George Reeves in ‘Superman and the Mole Men’. Photo: Lippert Pictures.
Reporters Clark Kent (George Reeves) and Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates) arrive in the small town of Silsby to witness the drilling of the world’s deepest oil well. The drill, however, has penetrated the underground home of a race of small, furry people who then come to the surface at night to look around. The fact that they glow in the dark scares the townfolk, who form a mob, led by the vicious Luke Benson (Jeff Corey), intent on killing the strange people. Only Superman has a chance to prevent this tragedy.
(L to R) Christopher Reeve and Richard Pryor in ‘Superman III’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Aiming to defeat the Man of Steel, wealthy executive Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn) hires bumbling but brilliant Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor) to develop synthetic kryptonite, which yields some unexpected psychological effects. Between rekindling romance with his high school sweetheart and saving himself, Superman must contend with a powerful supercomputer.
Brandon Routh in ‘Superman Returns’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Superman (Brandon Routh) returns to discover his 5-year absence has allowed Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) to walk free, and that those he was closest to felt abandoned and have moved on. Luthor plots his ultimate revenge that could see millions killed and change the face of the planet forever, as well as ridding himself of the Man of Steel.
(L to R) Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Tyler Hoechlin in ‘Superman & Lois’. Photo: DC Entertainment.
After years of facing megalomaniacal supervillains, monsters wreaking havoc on Metropolis, and alien invaders intent on wiping out the human race, The Man of Steel aka Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) come face to face with one of their greatest challenges ever: dealing with all the stress, pressures and complexities that come with being working parents in today’s society.
(L to R) Christopher Reeve and Terence Stamp in ‘Superman II’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Three escaped criminals from the planet Krypton, who have the same powers on Earth as Superman, test the Man of Steel’s mettle. Led by General Zod (Terence Stamp), the Kryptonians take control of the White House and partner with Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) to destroy Superman (Christopher Reeve) and rule the world. But Superman, who made himself human in order to get closer to Lois (Margot Kidder), realizes he has a responsibility to save the planet.
The origins of the world’s greatest hero–from Krypton refugee Kal-el’s arrival on Earth through his tumultuous teen years to Clark Kent’s (Tom Welling) final steps toward embracing his destiny as the Man of Steel.
Henry Cavill in ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Determined to ensure Superman’s (Henry Cavill) ultimate sacrifice was not in vain, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) aligns forces with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) with plans to recruit a team of metahumans to protect the world from an approaching threat of catastrophic proportions. The task proves more difficult than Bruce imagined, as each of the recruits must face the demons of their own pasts to transcend that which has held them back, allowing them to come together, finally forming an unprecedented league of heroes. Now united, Batman (Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra Miller) may be too late to save the planet from Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), DeSaad, and Darkseid (Ray Porter) and their dreadful intentions.
Henry Cavill in ‘Man of Steel’. Photo: Warner Bros.
A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this earth. As a young man (Henry Cavill), he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.
Christopher Reeve in ‘Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Superman (Christopher Reeve) agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane (Margot Kidder), unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.
Superman (David Corenswet), a journalist in Metropolis, embarks on a journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent.
Christopher Reeve in 1978’s ‘Superman’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Mild-mannered Clark Kent (Christopher Reeve) works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder). Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) launches a plan to take over the world.
Gene Hackman in ‘The Firm’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
Gene Hackman has died at the age of 95.
He was found dead with his wife, Betsy Arakawa at their home.
Hackman’s career spanned decades –– but he retired early.
Gene Hackman, the prolific Oscar-winning actor whose roles ranged from reluctant heroes to conniving villains and made him one of the industry’s most respected and honored performers, has been found dead along with his wife and dog at their home. He was 95.
Their death has already sent shockwaves around the acting community, and with the Oscars mere days away, the producers will likely be scrambling to include the two-time winner in the In Memoriam section.
Hackman had a propensity for a wide range of performances, from buffoons to driven, gruff heroes to scheming villains –– and in the likes of ‘Superman’s Lex Luthor, he combined two of them.
He was the model of a workmanlike actor not in performance –– when he did his job, he did better than most, but he let others worry about his image. Beyond the obligatory appearances at awards ceremonies, he limited his exposure to the social circuit and was openly disdainful of the business side of show business.
Gene Hackman in 1971’s ‘The French Connection.’ Photo courtesy of TCM.
This is what he told Film Comment in 1988:
“Actors tend to be shy people. There is perhaps a component of hostility in that shyness, and to reach a point where you don’t deal with others in a hostile or angry way, you choose this medium for yourself. Then you can express yourself and get this wonderful feedback.”
In 1956, Hackman married Fay Maltese, a bank teller he had met at a YMCA dance in New York. They had a son, Christopher, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, but divorced in the mid-1980s.
In 1991 he married Betsy Arakawa, a classical pianist. Arakawa moved with him to New Mexico, and they, along with their dog, were found dead on Wednesday during a welfare check. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
Gene Hackman in ‘The Conversation’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Eugene Allen Hackman was born in San Bernardino, California in 1930, and grew up in Danville, Illinois, where his father worked as a journalist.
His parents’ marriage was a dysfunctional one, and when his father would beat Gene to take out his anger issues, the young Hackman found refuge in movie theaters, identifying with such screen rebels as Errol Flynn and James Cagney.
Following his father’s abandoning the family, the situation only got worse, and a 16-year-old Hackman lied about his age to enlist in the U.S. Marines.
Yet his attitude and constant getting into brawls didn’t make him a natural fit for the service –– he was demoted from the rank of corporal three times –– but he finally found somewhere to flourish at the unit’s radio station.
Yet still he wavered; having earned his high school degree in the Marines, he went to study journalism in Illinois before dropping out of college and moved to New York to study radio announcing. He worked in radio in Florida before returning to the Big Apple to instead study painting before a fateful move to an acting course at the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
From there, it was once more back to New York and the long process of looking to land acting gigs alongside contemporaries such as Robert Duvall and Dustin Hoffman, working odd jobs to support himself.
Hackman began to score roles in off-Broadway theatrical productions, which led to film director Robert Rossen hiring him for a brief role in ‘Lilith,’ which starred Warren Beatty and Jean Seberg.
And so, a career was launched.
Gene Hackman: Memorable Movies and TV
(L to R) Valerie Perrine and Gene Hackman in ‘Superman II’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Yet even given his early roles, Hackman was no overnight sensation. He ploughed a familiar path through TV series and small roles in films, appearing on the small screen likes of ‘Naked City,’ ‘The Defenders,’ ‘Hawk,’ ‘The FBI,’ and ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in.’
It was Beatty who really gave Hackman a boost –– When Beatty began work on ‘Bonnie and Clyde,’ which he produced and starred in, he remembered Hackman and cast him as bank robber Clyde Barrow’s outgoing brother. Hackman scored praise and an Oscar nomination (his first of five) for Best Supporting Actor.
Near-misses followed, including a role in ‘The Graduate’ and that of Mike Brady in TV institution ‘The Brady Bunch.’
A starring role followed in 1970 with ‘I Never Sang for My Father,’ as a man struggling to deal with a failed relationship with his dying father, Melvyn Douglas –– which obviously brought up deep issues. And despite his being the lead by any real description, he was again nominated by the Academy for Best Supporting Actor.
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Real Oscar success would follow with William Friedkin’s ‘The French Connection,’ perhaps his breakout role, and which would land him the first of his two trophies.
In amongst them was his other Oscar-winning role, that of the brutal, corrupt Little Bill Daggett in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Unforgiven.’
Gene Hackman: Retirement
Gene Hackman in ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.
Despite his prolific career, Hackman knew when he wanted to call it quits. His final role was in 2004 comedy ‘Welcome to Mooseport,’ and he told Reuters in 2008 why he decided to step back:
“I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but yes, I’m not going to act any longer. I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer.”
When not on film locations, Hackman enjoyed painting, stunt flying, stock car racing and deep sea diving. In his latter years, he wrote novels and lived on his ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on a hilltop looking out on the Colorado Rockies.
Gene Hackman: Tributes
Gene Hackman in ‘Hoosiers’. Photo: Orion Pictures.
Here’s what Coppola had to say about him on Instagram:
“The loss of a great artist, always cause for both mourning and celebration: Gene Hackman a great actor, inspiring and magnificent in his work and complexity, I mourn his loss, and celebrate his existence and contribution.”
“So awful. Gene was such an inspiration to so many of us who love movies. So many brilliant roles. His performance in ‘The Conversation’ alone changed the way I looked at acting and what actors could bring to a role. Such an amazing career. RIP Mr. Hackman.”
“Loved you in everything! ‘The Conversation,’ ‘The French Connection,’ ‘The Poseidon Adventure,’ ‘Unforgiven’ — tough yet vulnerable. You were one of the greats. God bless those who loved you. Rest well, sir.”
Gene Hackman in 1971’s ‘The French Connection.’ Photo courtesy of TCM.
