Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Valerie Mahaffey

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 31, 2025

How Valerie Mahaffey built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Valerie Mahaffey is an American character actress and producer known for her work in television. She gained early recognition for her role in the NBC soap opera, *The Doctors* (1979-1981), earning a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1980 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Mahaffey has continued to have a successful career as a character actress.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1980: Nominated for Daytime Emmy Award

In 1980, Valerie Mahaffey received a nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work on the soap opera The Doctors.

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1986: Starred in Women of Valor and Fresno

In 1986, Valerie Mahaffey starred in the film Women of Valor. Also in 1986, she co-starred in the satirical TV miniseries Fresno, which parodied popular TV soaps.

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1992: Won Primetime Emmy Award for Northern Exposure

In 1992, Valerie Mahaffey won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in the CBS series Northern Exposure.

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1995: Starred in sitcom Women of the House and film Senior Trip

In 1995, Valerie Mahaffey starred in the CBS sitcom Women of the House. Also in 1995, she played Tracy Milford in the film National Lampoon's Senior Trip.

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1997: Acted in film Jungle 2 Jungle

In 1997, Valerie Mahaffey played Jan Kempster in the film Jungle 2 Jungle.

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1999: Recurring role on ER

In 1999, Valerie Mahaffey had a recurring role on the television series ER.

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2003: Co-starred in Seabiscuit

In 2003, Valerie Mahaffey co-starred in the film Seabiscuit.

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2006: Played Alma Hodge in Desperate Housewives

From 2006 to 2007, Valerie Mahaffey played Alma Hodge in season 3 of ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives.

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2009: Appeared in United States of Tara

In 2009, Valerie Mahaffey appeared in seven episodes of the Showtime comedy series United States of Tara.

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2011: Appeared on Glee

From 2011 to 2013, Valerie Mahaffey appeared on Glee as the mother of Emma Pillsbury.

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2013: Co-starred in Monday Mornings and recurring role in Devious Maids

In 2013, Valerie Mahaffey co-starred as Fran Horowitz in the short-lived TNT medical drama Monday Mornings. From 2013 to 2015, she also had a recurring role on Lifetime Television comedy-drama series Devious Maids.

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2016: Played Diane Higgins in Sully

In 2016, Valerie Mahaffey played a supporting role as Diane Higgins in the biographical drama film Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood.

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2017: Recurring role in Young Sheldon

In 2017, Valerie Mahaffey began appearing in a recurring role in the CBS comedy series Young Sheldon.

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2019: Recurring role in Dead to Me

From 2019 to 2022, Valerie Mahaffey had a recurring role as Lorna Harding in the Netflix comedy-drama series Dead to Me.

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2020: Starred in French Exit and cast in Big Sky

In 2020, Valerie Mahaffey starred in the comedy-drama film French Exit, receiving positive reviews. Later in 2020, she was cast in a series regular role in the ABC crime drama series Big Sky.

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