Valerie Harper is best known and loved for her role as upstairs neighbor Rhoda Morgenstern on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-off Rhoda.
The iconic actress has revealed she is facing terminal brain cancer formerly named Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. 73-year-old Harper, who battled lung cancer in 2009, opened up about her diagnosis to People magazine, which hits newsstands Friday.
In the interview, Harper said she found out about her illness on January 15, 2012. Doctors say the beloved actress has about three months left to live. Even with her latest diagnosis, Harper is maintaining her positive outlook on life sharing, “I don’t think of dying, I think of being here now.”
Upon hearing the news fans immediately jumped on Twitter to send well-wishes her way.
I have always admired Ms. Harper for her work, talent, and grace throughout her extensive career, which extends from the stage to television and feature films.
Harper began her career as a dancer with the Corps De Ballet at Radio City Hall during its spectacular heyday.
She gradually moved into acting, working in everything from industrial shows to regional theater to the Second City comedy troupe of Chicago. Eventually, she made it to Broadway. However, her stardom came with television, including four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for her work in Mary Tyler Moore (1970) and Rhoda (1974). Harper won Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year and has been a strong supporter of women’s rights.
With heartfelt gratitude for the quality of work she leaves with us and the positive impact she has made during her life, it is with great sadness that we must now say goodbye.
Join the discussion with hashtag #valerieharper.
Read more posts by Bree Maresca-Kramer, M.A., nationally recognized relationship expert, acclaimed relationship & life coach, talk radio show host, relationship expert & pop culture analyst columnist.
