The Desperate Housewives actress Valerie Mahaffey died at the age of 71.

Valerie Mahaffey, an actress from Desperate Housewives, has died at the age of 71. This was reported on May 31 by Variety with reference to her husband, actor Joseph Kell.

"I've lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most charming actresses. She will be missed," the publication quotes Kell as saying.

According to her husband, the actress died on Friday in Los Angeles after a long battle with cancer.

Mahaffey was born in Indonesia and lived there until she was 11 years old. She has moved to other countries several times, but her acting career began on stage in New York.

In 1992, Mahaffey won the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Comedic Performance. She played in the TV series Glee, the sitcom Sheldon's Childhood, the films Miracle on the Hudson and The Favorite. As the newspaper notes, Mahaffey was a diverse actress, so she was actively invited to act.