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* Friedman-Abeles BROADWAY BABY Born in Suffern, N.Y., in 1939, Valerie Harper made her Broadway debut in the chorus of 1959's _Take Me Along_. (She's the smiling woman behind star
Walter Pidgeon.) Among her other early parts was a chorus stint in_ Wildcat,_ the musical that featured Lucille Ball’s only lead role on Broadway. 1 of 11 * CBS/Photofest 'THE MARY
TYLER MOORE SHOW' Harper (far left) became a star playing Rhoda Morgenstern — Mary Richards’ single, sassy, smart-talking, New York–bred neighbor. Over five years on the seminal ’70s
sitcom, Harper won three Emmys for outstanding supporting actress. 2 of 11 * Getty Images 'FREEBIE AND THE BEAN' Harper is best known for TV, but she has dabbled in film, including
a role in this 1974 buddy-cop comedy starring James Caan and Alan Arkin. Playing Arkin’s wife, Harper earned a Golden Globe nomination as New Star of the Year-Actress. 3 of 11 * CBS via
Getty Images 'RHODA' In her 1974 _MTM_ spinoff, famously single Rhoda moves back to New York City, settles down and marries Joe Gerard (David Groh). _Rhoda_ was a smash, instantly
topping the ratings. Its wedding episode drew more than 50 million TV viewers. 4 of 11 * CBS via Getty Images WOMAN OF THE YEAR The plaudits kept coming: In 1975, Harvard’s Hasty Pudding
Theatricals named Harper its Woman of the Year. But _Rhoda_’s post-wedding ratings_ _fell and the show was canceled in 1978 — a year after the _MTM_ finale reunited the two best friends
(with Cloris Leachman, far left) one last time. 5 of 11 * Columbia Pictures/Photofest CHAPTER TWO Harper earned her sixth Golden Globe nomination, as best supporting actress, in the 1979
movie adaptation of Neil Simon’s play about a man's attempts to navigate the dating scene after his wife’s death. 6 of 11 * NBC/NBCU Photo Bank 'VALERIE' Harper’s 1986 return
to TV, as mother to a young Jason Bateman_ _(near left),_ s_oured quickly. She fought bitterly with producers over her salary, then left the show after Season 2, replaced by Sandy Duncan.
The renamed _Hogan Family_ ran for four more seasons. 7 of 11 * Ron Galella Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images VALERIE AND TONY Even as the _Valerie_ dispute roiled her professional life, Harper’s
home front was blossoming. In 1987 she married fitness trainer and longtime boyfriend Tony Cacciotti. The couple adopted a daughter, Cristina, that same year. 8 of 11 * Amy Sussman/WireImage
'LOOPED' 2010 found Harper back where it all began: On Broadway, where she starred as Tallulah Bankhead in _Looped_. Harper's portrayal of the boozy legend of screen and
stage earned her a Tony nomination for best actress in a play. 9 of 11 * Craig Sjodin/ABC 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' In March 2013, Harper revealed she had been diagnosed with
terminal cancer. Early treatment has been so promising she agreed to compete on ABC’s _Dancing With the Stars._ Judge Bruno Tonioli’s take on her debut dance with Tristan MacManus
(pictured): “You are an inspiration.” 10 of 11 * MORE CELEBRITY SLIDESHOWS AWARDS SHOW FASHIONS 2013 NO WAY THESE CELEBS ARE 50+ REMEMBERING PRINCESS DIANA MEMBER DISCOUNTS! SAVE 10% ON
PURCHASES OF DVDS & BLU-RAY DISCS WITH MOVIES UNLIMITED 11 of 11 ALSO OF INTEREST * AARP INTERVIEW WITH VALERIE HARPER * Why would my doctor ask me if I climax during sex? * THE HEALTH
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