Valerie Harper (born August 22, 1939) brought a rare mixture of warmth, wit and plain-spoken honesty to TV—most memorably as Emmy-winning Rhoda Morgenstern, a character who felt like a close friend to an entire generation.
When life brought her a terminal cancer diagnosis, she met it with the same courage and candor she showed on screen—continuing to work, speaking openly about her journey, and inspiring countless people. Her grace and resilience made her as unforgettable off-camera as she was on.
