Born Name:  Valerie Kathryn Harper

Born Date:  August 22, 1939

Born Place:  Suffern, New York

Died Date:  August 30, 2019

Died Place:  Los Angeles, California

Occupations:  Actress, comedian, dancer, writer

Brief Biography:  Valerie Harper was best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off, Rhoda. She won four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her iconic portrayal of the witty, relatable New Yorker. Harper began as a Broadway dancer before moving into television, later starring in Valerie and returning to theater, earning a 2010 Tony nomination for Looped.

Early Life and Career:
She began her career as a dancer at Radio City Music Hall and on Broadway.
Broadway Beginnings: She appeared in productions like Li'l Abner and Take Me Along.
Comedy Roots: Before television stardom, she was part of the famed Second City comedy troupe in Chicago.

Television Stardom and Awards:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977): Played Rhoda Morgenstern, winning three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Rhoda (1974–1978): The character's spin-off won her a fourth Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress.
Valerie (1986–1987): Starred in the sitcom, which she was later fired from during a contract dispute.

Later Career and Personal Life:
Stage Work: Continued her acting career on stage, receiving a Tony Award nomination in 2010 for playing Tallulah Bankhead in Looped.
Health Battles: A lung cancer survivor (diagnosed in 2009), she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer (leptomeningeal carcinomatosis) in 2013.