Valerie Harper: Stars react to the actress' death at 80
Ed Asner, Alyssa Milano, William Shatner and others speak out.
The news that Valerie Harper, the actress most famous for playing Rhoda on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda," died on Friday has left many stars in Hollywood saddened.
"A beautiful woman, a wonderful actress, a great friend and with balls bigger than mine," her "Mary Tyler Moore Show" co-star Ed Asner tweeted. "Her brilliance burst through and shined its light upon all of us. Goodnight beautiful. I’ll see you soon."
“A bit of brightness in my eyes dimmed today. A kinder more gracious woman did not exist for me," said actress Debra Jo Rupp, who starred with Harper in a 1995 sitcom. "She helped bring my family together in a difficult time, she supported every venture with the biggest smile and the grandest hug. She was my boss, my sister and my friend. Valerie Harper. A piece of heaven on earth. You will be deeply missed.”
Added actor William Shatner: "Condolences to the family of Valerie Harper. Going to miss you Rhoda Morgenstern!"
Harper was 80 years old, and a cause of death is not yet known. In January 2013, Harper was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare condition that occurs when cancer cells spread into the fluid-filled membrane surrounding the brain, though she continued to promote her book and even danced in season 17 of "Dancing With the Stars." That August, she told NBC that she was "close to a remission."
"Spontaneous remission lives as a possibility," she said. "I think infinite possibility is beautiful in every area. A lot of stuff that looks impossible is not."