Valerie Perrine, the American actress celebrated for her roles in the Superman franchise and the Lenny Bruce biopic Lenny, has died at the age of 82.
The star passed away on Monday at her residence in Beverly Hills, following a decade-long struggle with Parkinson's disease.
Her death was confirmed by close friend Stacey Souther, who directed a 2019 documentary about the actress.
Ms Perrine received her Parkinson's diagnosis in 2015, and the condition progressively affected her mobility as well as her ability to eat and speak.
Valerie Perrine was best known for her roles in Superman and Lenny
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The Texas-born performer began her career as a Las Vegas showgirl before transitioning to Hollywood, where she would earn both critical acclaim and commercial success across film and television throughout the 1970s and beyond.
Ms Perrine earned widespread recognition for her portrayal of Eve Teschmacher, the seductive yet compassionate girlfriend of Lex Luthor, played by Gene Hackman, in the 1978 Superman film and its 1980 sequel.
In one particularly memorable sequence, her character rescues Christopher Reeve's Man of Steel from Luthor's kryptonite trap after extracting a promise that he will save her mother from an incoming nuclear missile.
However, it was her earlier work in Bob Fosse's 1974 biographical drama Lenny that brought her greatest critical recognition.
Her performance as Honey, the drug-addicted stripper wife of comedian Lenny Bruce opposite Dustin Hoffman, secured her the Best Actress award at Cannes, a Bafta for Most Promising Newcomer, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Mr Souther paid tribute to the actress in a statement posted to social media, writing: "She faced Parkinson's disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining.
"She was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullest — and what a magnificent life it was. The world feels less beautiful without her in it."
He added: "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."
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Valerie Perrine (pictured in 2005) suffered from Parkinson's
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Her brother Ken Perrine, who also suffers from Parkinson's disease, expressed his grief at the loss. "I am devastated by the loss of my amazing sister Valerie this morning," he said. "She lived an extraordinary life most of us can only dream of. She fought till the end and never gave up."
Mr Souther has set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs of Ms Perrine's funeral arrangements. According to the appeal, more than 15 years battling Parkinson's disease ravaged the actress's finances.
The fundraising page states that Ms Perrine's final wish was to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, a cemetery where numerous Hollywood legends have been interred.
"Please consider donating, sharing, and helping spread the word for her funeral GoFundMe," Mr Souther wrote. "Let's come together to make her last wish a reality — she truly deserves it."
Valerie Perrine pictured in 1982
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The GoFundMe, which had previously been used to assist with Ms Perrine's medical expenses during her illness, will now be directed towards burial costs.