Valerie Mahaffey Passes On

Valerie Mahaffey, who won an Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the recurring role of Eve on Northern Exposure, died on May 30 2026 at the age of 71. The cause was cancer.

 Valerie Mahaffey was born on June 16 1953 in Sumatra, Indonesia. Her father worked in the petroleum industry. She spent much of her childhood in different parts of the world before her family settled in Austin, Texas when she was 16. She graduated from Austin, Texas and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas in 1975. 

Valerie Mahaffey made her debut on Broadway in Rex in 1976. She went onto appear on Broadway in Dracula and Fearless Frank. She made her television debut in 1977 in the TV movie Tell Me My Name. She had a regular role on the daytime soap opera The Doctors from 1979 to 1980. She was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the show. 

In the Eighties Valerie Mahaffey appeared in the mini-series Fresno. She guest starred on the shows Tales of the Unexpected, American Playhouse, Newhart, Jack and Mike, Murphy's Law, Father Dowling Mysteries, and Quantum Leap. She played District Attorney Barbara August in two Perry Mason TV movies. She appeared on Broadway in Scenes and Revelations, Play Memory, and The Loves of Anatol.

It was in 1991 that Valerie Mahaffey first played Eve on Northern Exposure. She went onto to appear as the character in four more episodes. She was also a regular on the sitcoms The Powers That Be and Women of the House. She guest starred on the shows Cheers, The Young Riders,Baby Talk, Seinfeld, Dream On, L,A. Law, Wings, The Client, Caroline in the City, George & Leo, ER, Ally McBeal, and Love & Money. She appeared in the movies Senior Trip (1995), Jungle 2 Jungle (1997), and Dinner at Fred's.

In the Naughts Valerie Mahffey had a recurring role on Desperate Housewives. She had a recurring role on The United States of Tara. She guest starred on the shows That's My Bush!; Night Visions; Judging Amy; The West Wing; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; Frasier; Good Morning, Miami; Without a Trace; Out of Practice; Crumbs; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Raines; Private Practice; Boston Legal; Better with You; Hannah Montana; and Raising Hope. She appeared in the movies Par 6 (2002), Seabiscuit (2003), My First Wedding (2006), A Previous Engagement (2008), and Summer Eleven (2010).

In the Teens she continued to appear on Desperate Housewives. She had a recurring role on the medical drama Monday Mornings, the comedy drama Devious Maids, the sitcom Young Sheldon, the comedy drama Dead to Me and the crime drama Big Sky. She guest starred on the shows The Exes, Glee, Grey's Anatomy, Kirstie, Franklin & Bash, Hart of Dixie, Workaholics, Impastor, The Mindy Project, and The Man in the High Castle. She appeared in the movies Jack and Jill (2011), If I Were You (2012), Crazy Eyes (2012), Sully (2016), No Pay, Nudity (2016), The Witch Files (2018), and French Exit (2020).

In the 2020s she continued to appear on Young Sheldon, Dead to Me, and Big Sky. She guest starred on the show Echo 3. She appeared in the movie The Eighth Day (2025). 

Valerie Mahaffey was an enormously talented actress who played a wide variety of roles. She had a particular gift for playing characters who were neurotic or even psychotic. I have to think that she will always be best remembered as Eve, the hypochondriac wife of Adam (Adam Arkin). She rightfully deserved her Emmy win for the role. She will also be well-remembered as Alma Hodge, the scheming ex-wife of Orson (Kyle MacLachlan). On Devious Maids she played another ex-wife, Olivia Rice, who had been married to Michael Stappord (Brett Cullen). Olivia was mentally unbalanced and had severe anger issues. Among her later roles was American expatriate Madame Reynard in the movie French Exit. In contrast to many of her TV characters, Madame Reynard was upbeat and quirky. Valerie Mahaffey had a talent for bring to life a wide array of characters and making some left-of-centre characters seem true to life.

Godspeed Jonathan Joss

Jonathan Joss, who provided the voice of John Redcorn on the animated series King of the Hill and played the recurring role of Chief Ken Hotate on Parks and Recreation, was shot and killed by a neighbour on June 12025. He was 59 years old. 

Jonathan Joss was born Jonathan Joss Gonzales on December 22 1965 in San Antonio, Texas. He was of Comanche and White Mountain Apache descent. He graduated from McCollum High School in San Antonio in 1984. He attended Southwest Texas State University (now  Texas State University–San Marcos) for a time  and then San Antonio College for a while. He graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio with a degree in theatre and speech. 

Jonathan Joss made his television debut in the TV movie The Substitute Wife in 1994. It was in 1998 that he was cast in the role of John Redcorn on King of the Hill. He replaced John Redcorn's original voice, Victor Aaron, who died in a car accident in September 1996. Jonathan Joss remained the voice of John Redcorn until King of the Hill ended its run in 2009. He voiced John Redcorn in four episodes of the upcoming revival of the show. In the Nineties Jonathan Joss also guest starred on the shows Walker, Texas Ranger and The Wild Thornberrys. He appeared in the mini-series Dead Man's Walk. He appeared in the movies 8 Seconds (1994),  Texas (1994), Almost Heroes (1998), and Impala (1999).

In the Naughts Jonathan Joss continued to voice John Redcorn on King of the Hill. He guest starred on the shows Charmed, ER, Justice League Unlimited, In Plain Sight, and Friday Night Lights.He appeared in the mini-series Into the West and Comanche Moon. He appeared in the movies Christmas in the Clouds (2001), Johnson Family Vacation (2004), and True Grit (2010). 

It was in 2011 that Jonathan Joss began playing the recurring role of Chief Ken Hotate, leader of Pawnee's local Wamapoke tribe. He guest starred on the shows The League, Manhattan Love Story, The Messengers, Ray Donovan, and Chartered. He appeared in the movie The Magnificent Seven (2016).  In the Teens he appeared in the movies Grow Up (2021) and The Forever Purge (2021). He guest starred on Tulsa King. He reprised his role as John Redcorn in four episodes of the revival King of the Hill.

Jonathan Joss also provided voices for several video games, including Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder, Santa Fe Mysteries: Sacred Ground, King of the Hill, Red Dead Redemption, and others. 

Jonathan Joss was a pioneering Native American actor. Along with various characters on Northern Exposure, John Redcorn was one of the earliest Native American characters who was both well-developed and complex. He broke with the often stereotypical representations of Native Americans on television that were often less than complimentary. Jonathan Joss bore much of the responsibility for the development of John Redcorn as a three-dimensional character, having played him since the second season of King of the Hill.

Ken Hotate on Parks & Recreation was another character that broke with television's usual portrayals of Native Americans. Ken was an astute, sharp dressed businessman with a keep sense of humour. He was both respectful of Pawnee and respected by them. At no point was Ken or his tribe ever made the butt of a joke on Parks and Recreation, although he sometimes had fun at the expense residents of Pawnee. Arguably John Redcorn on King of the Hill and Ken Hotate on Parks & Rec helped pave the way for more and better Native American representation on television. Quite simply, it was Jonathan Joss's work that helped lead to such shows as Rutherford Falls and Reservoir Dogs.

The 21st Anniversary of A Shroud of Thoughts

A Shroud of Thoughts was a human being, it would be old enough to drink. It was 21 years ago on this date, June 4 2004, that I launched this blog. A Shroud of Thoughts shares its anniversary with Mrs. Miniver, which premiered in New York City on June 4 1942, and Jackie Gleason's first TV show, Cavalcade of Stars, which debuted on the Dumont Television Network on June 4 1949. Of course, a lot has changed since A Shroud of Thoughts first began. Smart phones were still in their early days and were relatively rare. Social media was also in its infancy as well, Friendster a little over a year before A Shroud of Thoughts and MySpace only ten months before. As to streaming, it just plain didn't exist as we know it. .It wouldn't be until 2006 that Amazon would introduce Amazon Unbox (which would evolve into today's Prime Video).  

My own life has changed a good deal since I launched A Shroud of Thoughts. At the time I began this blog I had one job, which I quit after taking another job. I had that job many years before our office closed down and I was laid off. My best friend Brian died in 2011. I met my dearest Vanessa Marquez through  TCMParty, the collective live tweet of movies airing on Turner Classic Movies. Sadly, she died tragically in 2018. Of course, since I launched this blog I have published a few books and even been on Turner Classic Movies.

Compared to last year's 20th anniversary of A Shroud of Thoughts, I am way ahead this year. Last year on June 4 I had a fever and what I am convinced was a second bout of Covid-19. My old computer would start gong out later that month, forcing me to use our old laptop. The old laptop finally bit the dust in February of this year. I got a new laptop as soon as I could. In November of last year I published another book, A Merry Little Christmas: Essays on.Christmas in Film & Television. 

For the past 21 years A Shroud of Thoughts as been a large part of my life, and I have to think that its posts will be around long after I am gone (or at least until Google deletes it). In many ways it has become my life's work.  I want to thank anyone and everyone who has ever read this blog over the years. as well as my fellow bloggers who have supported me in this endeavour.

Each year on A Shroud of Thoughts' anniversary I list what I think are the best posts of the past year. Without further ado, here they are. 

"Stop Showing Police Bodycam Videos on the Evening News" July 25 2024

"American Family: A Pioneering Mexican American Drama" August 27, 2024

"Preserving the Legacy of Vanessa Marquez" August 30 2024 

"Filmation's DC Comics Superhero Cartoons of the Sixties" September 6 2024

"The 50th Anniversary of The Rockford Files" September 12 2024

The Fiftieth Anniversary of Kolchak: The Night Stalker" September 13 2024 

"The 60th Anniversary of The Munsters" September 24 2024

"The 80th Anniversary of Laura" (1944) October 11 2024 

"'Catspaw,' The Star Trek Halloween Episode" October 28 2024 

"Pushover (1954)" November 22 2024

"A Nightmare on Elm Street Turns 40" December 7 2024 

'The Thin Man Turns 90" December 18 2024 

"The 70th Anniversary of The Bob Cummings Show" January 8 2025 

"Movin' On Up: the 50th Anniversary of The Jeffersons" January 18 2025 

"Jack Lemmon's Centennial" February 8 2025

"The 40th Anniversary of Moonlighting" March 3 2025 

"The Rocketeer (1991)" May 2 2025

The Late Great Loretta Swit

Loretta Swit, best known for playing Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on  the classic television show M*A*S*H, died on May 30 2025 at the age of 87. 

Loretta Swit was born Loretta Szwed on November 4 1937 in Passaic, New Jersey. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. She acted in repertory and made her off-Broadway debut in An Enemy of the People. On Broadway she was an understudy for the role of Ellen Gordon in Any Wednesday and she toured with the play in 1967. She also toured with Mame in the role of Agnes Gooch. She moved to Los Angeles in 1969. She made her television debut in a guest appearance on Hawaii Five-O that same year. In 1970 she guest starred on Mission: Impossible, Mannix, and Gunsmoke.

It was in 1972 that Loretta Swit was cast in the role of Major Margaret Houlihan, nicknamed "Hot Lips"in the early seasons of the show, on M*A*S*H. She was nominated ten times for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and won twice. In the Seventies she guest starred on the shows Cade's County; The Bold Ones: The New Doctors; Bonanza; Young Dr. Kildare; Love, American Style; Petrocelli; Good Heavens; The Love Boat; Supertrain; and The Muppet Show. She made her film debut in 1972 in Stand up and Be Counted. She appeared in the films Deadhead Miles (1973), Policewomen (1974), Freebie and the Bean (1974), and Race with the Devil (1975). She appeared on Broadway in Same Time, Next Year.

In the Eighties Loretta Swit continued to appear on M*A*S*H until it ended its run after eleven seasons. She guest starred on The Love Boat and ABC Afternoon Specials.. She played Mary Beth Lacey in the the TV movie Cagney & Lacey, but could not play the role when it became a TV series because she was still appearing on M*A*S*H*. she also appeared in such TV movies as The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story. She appeared on Broadway in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She appeared in the films S.O.B. (1981), Beer (1985), and Whoops Apocalypse (1986). 

In the Nineties Loretta Swit guest starred on Batman: The Animated Series; Murder, She Wrote; Burke's Law; and Diagnosis Murder. She appeared in the mini-series The Big Battalions. She appeared in the movies Forest Warrior (1996) and Beach Movie (1998). Her last appearance was in the movie Play the Flute (2019). 

Loretta Swit will always be best remembered as Major Margaret Houlihan and with good reason. Not only is M*A*S*H one of the greatest and most popular television shows of all time, but Margaret was one of its best characters. What is more, it was Loreta Swit who was largely responsible for the development of Major Houlihan as a character. In The Hollywood Reporter, Alan Alda said, "She worked hard in showing the writing staff how they could turn the character from a one joke sexist stereotype into a real person — with real feelings and ambitions."  If M*A*S*H is a success, it is largely because of Loretta Swit.

Of course, Loretta Swit played more roles than Margaret Houlihan. In the movie S.O.B. she played venomous Hollywood gossip columnist Polly Reed. In one of her earliest roles, the Mannix episode "Only One Death to a Customer," she played a gangster's moll who operates a fashion boutique. In the TV movie adaptation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, she played Grace Bradley, the mother who winds up directing the pageant after the original director is injured. Loretta Swit was a an enormously talented actor who could create a variety of  fully realized characters She leaves behind a number of memorable performances.

The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong

The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong is a largely forgotten show from the early days of American broadcast television. Its run was only brief. It only ran for thirteen episodes. Worst yet, there are no known episodes of the show. Regardless, The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong is remarkable because it starred the legendary Anna May Wong, making it the first American television show to have an East Asian American lead. 

The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong centred on the Liu-Tsong of the title, the owner of a chain of Chinese art gallery who often finds herself solving mysteries on the side. The episodes had such titles as "The Egyptian Idol," "The Man with a Thousand Eyes," and "The House of Quiet Dignity." 

The origins of The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong go back to Anna May Wong's trip to China in 1936. Miss Wong recorded her trip in articles that she wrote for such publications as The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Herald Tribune, and Photoplay. Sh also filmed much of her trip in a travelogue called My China Film. The trip would lead Anna May Wong to consider the production of a play that dealt with modern China. She would play a Chinese travel guide who would educate audiences on China and the West. Nothing ever came of the idea, although the tour guide would evolve into gallery Liu-Tsong. As to the name "Liu-Tsong," Anna May Wong's birth name was "Wong Liu Tsong." 

The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong debuted on August 27 1951 on the DuMont Television Network. It ran until November 21 1951. According to Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong by Katie Gee Salisbury, the show was plagued by "bad writing and meagre sets." To make matters worse, it aired against two high rated shows, Kraft Television Theatre on NBC (which came in at no. 23 in the Nielsen ratings for the year) and Strike It Rich on CBS (which ranked no. 25 in the Nielsens for the season). DuMont cancelled The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong after one season.

As mentioned early, no copies of The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong are known to exist. Reportedly, in the early Seventies, DuMont's library of  35mm and 16mm kinescopes were unceremoniously dumped in the East River in New York City Here it must be pointed out that The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong was not the only historic show to air on DuMont. The first science fiction show, Captain Video and His Video Rangers, the variety show Cavalcade of Stars (on which The Honeymooners originated and which made Jackie Gleason a star), and Rocky King Detective, one of the earliest police procedurals all aired on DuMont.

Sadly, while East Asian Americans would appear in guest appearances on shows and in supporting roles as well (Hey Boy on Have Gun--Will Ttavel and Hop Sing on Bonanza), it was not until Jack Soo starred on Valentine's Day in 1964 that there would be another show with an East Asian American lead. While The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong did not last long, it certainly made history. 

The Innovative James Wong Howe

Few cinematographers were as influential as James Wong Howe. Not only did he work in over 130 movies, but he made several innovations to cinematography, some of which are still widely used to this day. His impact on making movies is still being felt to this day.

James Wong Howe was born Wong Tung Jim in Taishan, Guangdong, Qing China on August 28 1999. His father, Wong Howe, migrated to the United States to work on the Northern Pacific Railway,. It was in 1904 that he sent for his family, including young Wong Tung Jim. The family settled in Pasco, Washington. It was there that a teacher called him "James Howe." Wong Tung Jim would then be known as James Wong Howe for the rest of his life. It was a Brownie camera bought at the local drug store that would spur his interest in photography.

After his father's death James Wong Howe lived for a time in Oregon with an uncle and then in the San Francisco Bay area. From there he moved to Los Angeles. He worked various odd jobs there until getting a job as part of the cleaning staff at Famous Players-Lasky. It was with the film The Little American (1917) that he became a clapper boy. It would be Cecil B. DeMille who would promote him to a camera assistant. At the same time, James Wong Howe would make extra money as a photographer taking still photographs of movie stars.

It would be still photographs of movie star Mary Miles Minter that would lead to James Wong Howe becoming a cinematographer. Miss Minter's eyes were a pale blue, which would appear washed out in photos due to the orthochromatic film of the time. James Wong Howe figured out that Mary Miles Minter's eyes could be made to look more natural if he used black velvet mounted around the camera in a frame. This lead to James Wong Howe being hired as a cinematographer for Miss Minter's film Drums of Fate (1923).

It was also during the Silent Era that James Wong Howe would use an early version of the crab dolly. It was on the film The Rough Riders (1927), directed by Victor Fleming and centred on the military unit led by Theodore Roosevelt during the Spanish American War. For those unfamiliar with crab dollies, they have four wheels and a movable arm that supports the camera. This allows for smooth, sideways movement.

James Wong Howe  also pioneered deep focus cinematography ten years before Gregg Toland used it in Citizen Kane (1941). It was as early as 1931 that Mr. Howe used wide-angle lens, deep focus on the movie Transatlantic. James Wong Howe would continue to use deep focus throughout his career, on such films as Sweet Smell of Success (1957) and Hud (1963).

James Wong Howe also pioneered the use of hand-held cameras. Although he is well-known for his use of hand-held cameras on Seconds (1966), he had used hand-held cameras as early as Air Force in 1943. He used a hand-held  Eyemo camera for some scenes in an effort to make them look more like something from a newsreel. He also used hand-held cameras on the boxing movie Body and Soul (1947), on which he also reportedly wore roller skates to capture the final, climatic bout in the movie.

James Wong Howe would also be known for his low-key lighting and his use of shadows. He utilised low-key lighting early in his career on the film Peter Pan (1924). James Wong Howe would use low-key lighting in several of his films, including The Thin Man (1934), Body and Soul (1947), The Rose Tattoo (1955), and Hud (1963). James Wong Howe's low-key lighting and use of shadows would prove influential on the look of film noir.

James Wong Howe died on July 12 1976 at the age of 76. He left behind a career filled with innovations, more than the ones mentioned here. It is fully possible that he was the most influential cinematographer of all time. Regardless, his impact is still being held to this day.

Kathleen Hughes R.I.P.

Kathleen Hughes, who appeared in such films as The Glass Web (1953) and It Came from Outer Space (1953), died on May 20 2025 at the age of 96.

Kathleen Hughes was born Elizabeth Margaret von Gerkan on November 14 1928 in Hollywood, California. Her uncle was playwright, screenwriter, novelist F. Hugh Herbert, who wrote the plays Moon is Blue and Kiss and Tell, among other works. She graduated from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. She was a student at Los Angeles City College and appearing in Maxwell Anderson's play Night Over Taos at the Geller Theater on Wilshire Boulevard.when she was approached by a talent scout for Fox. She then signed a seven year contract with the studio.

Kathleen Hughes made her film debut in Road House (1948). In the late Forties she appeared in the movies Mother is a Freshman (1948), Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (1949), It Happens Every Spring (1949), Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950), Mister 880 (1950), and I'll Get By (1950). Miss Hughes began the Fifties appearing in 20th Century Fox's films Call Me Mister (1951) and Take Care of My Little Girl (1951) before the studio dropped her.

Kathleen Hughes appeared in I'll See You in My Dreams (1951)  at Warner Bros. and then For Men Only (1952) at Lippert Pictures before signing with Universal. She would be with that studio for three years. For the remainder of the Fifties she appeared in the movies Sally and Saint Anne (1952), It Came from Outer Space (1953), The Golden Blade (1953), Thy Neighbour's Wife (1953), The Glass Web (1953), Dawn at Socorro (1954), Cult of the Cobra (1955), Three Bad Sisters (1956), and Unwed Mother (1958). She made her television debut in 1956 in an episode of December Bride. She guest starred on the shows Telephone Time, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Official Detective, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Bob Cummings Show. 77 Sunset Strip, Hotel de Paree, Tightrope, and Markham.

In the Sixties she appeared in the movies Promise Her Anything (1966) and The President's Analyst (1967). She guest starred on Dante, The Tall Man, General Electric Theatre, Bachelor Father, Perry Mason, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., I Dream of Jeannie, Mission: Impossible, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Julia, Here's Lucy, and Bracken's World.

In the Seventies Kathleen Hughes appeared in the movies The Late Liz (1971), Pete 'n' Tillie (1972), and The Take (1974). She guest starred on To Rome with Love, The Interns, The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, M*A*S*H, Barnaby Jones, Lucas Tanner, Marcus Welby M.D., Medical Center, The Blue Knight, Executive Suite, and Quincy M.E. In the Eighties she guest starred on Finder of Lost Loves. She appeared in the movie Revenge (1990). Later in her life she appeared in the film Welcome to Hollywood (1998).

Kathleen Hughes played a variety of roles throughout her career, although often her parts were not very big. She played the manipulative gold-digger Paula Rainer in The Glass Web. In It Came from Outer Space she played Jane, the girl friend of phone lineman George (Russell Johnson), who leaves an impression despite appearing briefly in the film. In the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Double-Entry Mind," she played the none-too-nice executive secretary Lita Krail. On M*A*S*H she played Colonel Blake's wife Lorraine in the episode ""Dead Dad...Three." While she appeared only in a silent home movie, Kathleen Hughes was convincing as a suburban housewife. Often Kathleen Hughes's appearances in films and TV shows may have been brief, but she always was a delight to see.