Harper, Valerie (1940–)

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Harper, Valerie (1940–)

American actress. Born Aug 22, 1940, in Suffern, NY; m. Richard Schaal (actor), c. 1964 (div. 1978); m. Tony Cacciotti (actor), 1987.

Began career dancing with corps de ballet at Radio City Music Hall; appeared on Broadway in Dear Liar, Story Theatre and Metamorphosis, among others; came to prominence as Mary's sidekick on tv series "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970∩-74), then starred in its spinoff "Rhoda" (1974–78) and "Valerie" (1986–87); films include Chapter Two (1979) and The Last Married Couple in America (1980).