Profile Text
Mahaffey in 2013, photo by s_bukley /Bigstock.com
Date of Birth: June 16, 1953
Place of Birth: Sumatra, Indonesia
Date of Death: May 30, 2025
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
Valerie Mahaffey was an American actress and producer. Her roles included the series The Doctors , Northern Exposure , The Powers That Be , Wings , Women of the House , The Client , ER , Desperate Housewives , United States of Tara , Monday Mornings , Devious Maids , Hart of Dixie , The Man in the High Castle , Young Sheldon , Dead to Me , Big Sky , and Echo 3 ; the mini-series Fresno ; the made-for-tv movies Women of Valor , They (1993), Witch Hunt (1994), and After Amy ; and the films National Lampoon’s Senior Trip , Jungle 2 Jungle , My First Wedding (2006), A Previous Engagement , Jack and Jill (2011), If I Were You (2012), Crazy Eyes , No Pay, Nudity ; Sully , and French Exit .
She was the daughter of a Canadian mother, Jean Viola, from New Brunswick, and an American father, Lewis Deweese Mahaffey, from Texas, who worked in the petroleum industry. For her father’s job, she was raised in Indonesia, Nigeria, the U.K., and Austin, Texas. Valerie was married to actor and director Joseph Kell, until her death, with whom she had a daughter.
Valerie’s paternal grandfather was Hiram Drayton Mahaffey (the son of Louis H. Mahaffey and Jereta Susan Henderson). Valerie’s grandfather Hiram was born in South Carolina. Louis was the son of Hosea Mahaffey and Temperance Deweese.
Valerie’s paternal grandmother was Marie Margaret Cloud (the daughter of John Wurts Cloud and Virginia Catherine Washington). Marie Margaret was born in Texas. John was the son of John Wurts Cloud and Rebecca Johnston. Virginia was the daughter of Lewis Miles Hobbs Washington and Rebecca Landis.
Valerie’s maternal grandfather was Bamford Havelock Coates (the son of George Best Payson/Bespason Coates and Margaret Ann Coates). Bamford was born in Coates Mills, Kent, New Brunswick. George was the son of William Isaac Coates and Elizabeth “Betsey” Abrams. Margaret was the daughter of Edward Coates and Janet Harris Tait, whose parents were Scottish. William Coates and Edward Coates were brothers.
Valerie’s maternal grandmother was Sarah “Sadie” Price (the daughter of Oscar Price and Arletta Ann Steeves).
Sources: Genealogy of Valerie Mahaffey (focusing on her father’s side) – https://mykindred.com
Genealogy of Valerie’s mother – http://notablecoates.ca