Overview

• Mahaffey died in Los Angeles on May 30, 2025, at age 71 after a battle with cancer.
• She began her career on Broadway in the 1970s and won an Emmy in 1992 for her role in Northern Exposure.
• Her screen credits spanned acclaimed television series such as Desperate Housewives, Seinfeld, Emergency Room and Young Sheldon as well as the film The 8th Day released in March 2025.
• In a statement to Variety, husband Joseph Kell described her as the love of his life and said America lost one of its most beloved character actresses.
• Daughter Alice Richards posted an Instagram tribute and is following her mother’s footsteps in the entertainment industry.