Following news of Valerie Harper’s death Friday, Hollywood – including many of her former co-stars – paid tribute to the Mary Tyler Moore Show actress.
“A beautiful woman, a wonderful actress, a great friend and with balls bigger than mine. Her brilliance burst through and shined its light upon all of us. Goodnight beautiful. I’ll see you soon,” Ed Asner tweeted of his fellow Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star; both Harper and Asner went on to star in their own spinoff series, Rhoda and Lou Grant, respectively.
Harper, who portrayed Rhoda Morgenstern in the main cast of the pioneering Mary Tyler Moore Show for four seasons before spending five seasons playing the character on Rhoda, died at the age of 80 following a long battle with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition where cancer cells spread to the membranes around the brain; even after the diagnosis, and given months to live, Harper still appeared on the 2013 season of Dancing With the Stars.
She lit up the ballroom ❤️ #RIP pic.twitter.com/QVKFgswCNw
— Tom Bergeron (@Tom_Bergeron) August 31, 2019
Over a career that spanned seven decades, the four-time Emmy-winning Harper would also make guest appearances in shows like Melrose Place, Sex in the City, The Simpsons and That ’70s Show.
“I was so sad to hear that the amazing Valerie Harper passed away. ‘Aunt Paula’ was as wonderful to work with as she was funny. My best to her family,” Topher Grace tweeted of the That ’70s Show guest.
Alyssa Milano, who appeared alongside Harper on Melrose Place, tweeted of the actress, “Valerie Harper was always the most gracious and the kindest actor on set. She will be missed. Rest In Peace.”
.@thesimpsons Valerie Harper…pure joy. pic.twitter.com/7T1ZwzAh4J
— Al Jean (@AlJean) August 30, 2019
A beautiful woman, a wonderful actress, a great friend and with balls bigger than mine. Her brilliance burst through and shined its light upon all of us. Goodnight beautiful. I’ll see you soon. pic.twitter.com/FicADkSAzS
— Ed Asner (@TheOnlyEdAsner) August 30, 2019
Thank you brilliant Valerie- you gave us so much!!? RIP Valerie Harper pic.twitter.com/URF0SuzCux
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) August 30, 2019
The SAG Awards mourns the loss of the iconic Valerie Harper. Our thoughts go out to her fans and loved ones during this difficult time. https://t.co/WZyjRqap2q
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) August 30, 2019
Valerie Harper, one of a kind and one of the best. Thank you for the joy of your work and your dear heart. #RIPValerieHarper
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) August 31, 2019
Valerie Harper passed away. She was a wonderful actress and brought me so much joy. She will be missed rip❤️
— Cyndi Lauper (@cyndilauper) August 30, 2019
