Valerie Perrine was a well-loved actress known for her portrayal of several memorable characters over the course of her career. Her role as Montana Wildhack in the Slaughterhouse-Five adaptation, based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Kurt Vonnegut, is especially significant as it marked her first-ever role on the big screen.In the latest news about the former Miss Teschmacher from Richard Donner’s Superman films, Valerie Perrine has sadly passed away at the age of 82. Her passing was announced by close personal friend Stacey Souther, who took to Facebook to announce Perrine’s tragic passing.“It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away. 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. I love you, Valerie. I’ll see you on the other side.”Her message also included a call-to-action and GoFundMe link for the actress’ funeral.“Please consider donating, sharing, and helping spread the word for her funeral GoFundMe. Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinson’s, her finances are exhausted. Let’s come together to make her last wish a reality—she truly deserves it.”Valerie Perrine had a tangible impact on audiences through her several nuanced performances and even earned an Oscar nomination for her efforts along the way.Valerie Perrine on her start in acting, moreInterestingly, Valerie Perrine began her career as a Las Vegas showgirl before she caught the eye of Hollywood casting agent Robert Walker. The two met at a dinner party where Walker found himself in a conversation by eavesdropping on her talking to her then-boyfriend. Perrine recalled the details of their chance encounter in a 2013 interview with screenwriter Larry Karaszewski.“He asked if I had ever acted, and I said no. He asked me if I could, and I said yes. He asked me if I had a picture, and the only picture I had was me as a topless showgirl in Vegas in a little G-string.”Once her photo was circulated internally at the studio, she remembered being called in for her first screen test.“They told me to wear a bikini because they wanted to see what my body looked like. … I didn’t have a bikini, so I wore my Vegas costume.”While it admittedly went terribly, Perrine shared that she leaned on real-life experiences to bring out the emotions in certain scenes, as she had received no formal training as an actress.“I don’t really know what I do. I don’t think about anything until I get on the set. I just learn my lines, period. Then when I’m on the set, I think of something that has happened to me in the past — like in that crying scene with Dustin in Lenny, I thought of an old boyfriend who had hurt me, and — that really did it.”While Valerie Perrine is sadly no longer with us, her memory will live on through her contribution to film.