Valerie Perrine, who famously lit up the screen alongside star Christopher Reeve in 1978's Superman, has turned to fans for help in her battle with Parkinson's Disease.The actor, who portrayed Lex Luthor's glamorous, morally-conflicted companion in crime, Eve Teschmacher, in two of Reeve's Superman films, updated on the state of her ailment on Twitter, after which she was consoled by legions of fans. However, she requires more than moral support since the mounting costs of caregiving necessities, medications and other bills have apparently become untenable. Consequently, Perrine's friend Stacey has launched a GoFundMe, asking fans for help. "This Christmas I need your help with my fight with Parkinson’s," Perrine tweeted.
According to the GoFundMe post, Perrine had been battling Essential Tremors and Parkinson's Disease for several years, which led to her being forced to retire from acting. She had Deep Brain Stimulation surgery five years ago, which provided some relief from the shaking. The post also states that Perrine cannot cover the escalating costs on her own saying, "She is a very proud woman and would never ask for help no matter how tough the situation." The campaign has a funding goal of $100,000 and -- at the time of writing -- has raised $51,074 USD.
The campaign has been met with a flood of support for the actor, with several donations coming with supportive messages like: "Your movies have given me so much joy. Happy to be able to do something for you in return," and "Valerie Perrine has been a huge part of my childhood being in Superman I and II." Several other comments offer support to Perrine and her family, emphasizing the importance of helping someone in need, especially during the holidays.
Perrine began acting in 1972, when she starred in George Roy Hill's The Slaughterhouse Five alongside Michael Sacks. She would become an iconic figure in Richard Donner's 1978 Superman as the bombshell villainess and love interest to Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor, Eve Teschmacher, to whom he always refers -- shouting angrily -- as "Miss Teschmacher." In 2019, her friend -- and organizer of her GoFundMe -- Stacey Souther created a short documentary called Valerie, which highlighted her career and her experience with Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens. While the cause of the disease is unknown, a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors are believed to play a role. Other notable figures such as Michael J. Fox, Muhammad Ali and comedian Billy Connolly have battled the disease and used their platform to spread awareness.
Fans looking to help Valerie Perrine can contribute on GoFundMe.
Source: Twitter