Valerie Curtin

Valerie Curtin
Born	(1945-03-31) March 31, 1945 New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actress, screenwriter
Spouse	Barry Levinson ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1982)​

Valerie Curtin (born March 31, 1945) is an American actress and screenwriter.

Personal life

Curtin was born in New York City, the daughter of radio actor Joseph Curtin. She is a cousin of TV comedian/actress Jane Curtin (Saturday Night Live, Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun). She was married to writer and director Barry Levinson from 1975–1982.

Career

Curtin began her writing career in the 1970s working on episodes of the television sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Curtin and her then-husband Barry Levinson were nominated for an Academy Award (in the category of Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen) for ...And Justice for All (1979) starring Al Pacino. They also co-wrote the semiautobiographical Best Friends (1982), which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn.

Curtin's acting career has run concurrently with her writing career. During the 1970s, she made various guest appearances on television in shows such as Happy Days, Welcome Back, Kotter, Rhoda, The Rockford Files, and Barney Miller. In March 1976, ABC shot the pilot episode for Three's Company, in which Curtin appeared alongside John Ritter and Susanne Zenor. Curtin played a character named Jenny, who eventually became Janet Wood, played by Joyce DeWitt.

Her movie appearances include Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (her first movie appearance, 1974), All the President's Men, Silver Streak, and Silent Movie (all 1976), Why Would I Lie? (1980), as well as Maxie (1985) and John Cassavetes' final film, the 1986 comedy Big Trouble, plus a small, uncredited role in Best Friends.

In 1982, Curtin was given the role of Judy Bernly in the television sitcom 9 to 5 based on the 1980 movie of the same name. Her TV role was portrayed by Jane Fonda in the film version. Curtin was dropped from the show after two seasons, when James Komack came on as the new executive producer, replacing the team led by Jane Fonda. However, Curtin returned for a syndicated version of 9 to 5 (1986–1988), reprising her earlier role; the new version was successful. In the 1980s and 1990s, her writing credits included such mainstream films as Inside Moves (1980), the 1984 remake of Unfaithfully Yours, and Toys (1992).

Curtin has also guest-starred in shows such as Frasier, Party of Five, Becker, The District, Just Shoot Me, and ER.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1974	Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore	Vera
1976	All the President's Men	Miss Milland
1976	Mother, Jugs & Speed	Naomi Fishbine
1976	Silent Movie	Intensive Care Nurse
1976	Silver Streak	Plain Jane
1977	The Great Smokey Roadblock	Mary Agnes
1978	Rabbit Test	Pashima
1978	A Different Story	Phyllis
1980	Why Would I Lie?	Mrs. Bok
1982	Best Friends	Paula's Friend in Playpen	Uncredited
1985	Maxie	Miss Sheffer
1986	Down and Out in Beverly Hills	Pearl Waxman
1986	Big Trouble	Arlene Hoffman

External links

• Valerie Curtin at IMDb
• New York Times bio