There has been no official announcement from ABC yet, but TMZ is reporting that 74 year-old Valerie Harper has signed on for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. Harper went public with her terminal brain cancer diagnosis in early March, revealing that doctors told her she had just months to live. In interviews at the time she sounded like she had come to terms with her diagnosis but was trying to remaining positive. She said “I’ve had such a great run,” but that she was keeping her thoughts “open to infinite possibility” and “open to miracles.” Well Harper is said to be well enough five months later to compete on DWTS. Other celebrities rumored to be cast include Leah Remini, Snooki, Amber Riley, Elizabeth Berkley, and Christina Milian. Here’s more:
Valerie Harper — whom doctors gave three months to live back in March due to her terminal brain cancer — hasn’t just defied medicine by staying alive … she’s signed on to “Dancing with the Stars.”
As we reported, 74-year-old Harper — famous for playing the role of Rhoda on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” — announced she had been diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare form of cancer in which cancer cells spread into the membrane surrounding the brain.
Doctors gave her roughly until June to live … but it’s already August, and we’ve learned she’s doing so well she is set to appear on the upcoming season of “Dancing,” an extremely physically-demanding reality show.
We’re told Valerie and her partner Tristan have already been practicing for two days, and she’s surprisingly good. Our sources say she’s completely self-sufficient and doesn’t need any special assistance … at least so far.
TMZ broke the story … Leah Remini will also be on the next season, as well as Snooki, Elizabeth Berkley, Amber Riley from “Glee,” and Christina Milian.
I’ll definitely watch a few episodes of this season and I’ll be rooting for Valerie. It seems like DWTS is landing more interesting celebrities each year. Leah Remini will also be a lot of fun to watch, especially following her very public break from the Scientology cult.
If Valerie Harper were my mom, I don’t know if I’d want her to do this show. I don’t want to sound like I’m concern-trolling, but I’m worried about her. A lot of people get hurt on DWTS and the training is rigorous. On the other hand this is a brave, inspiring move. I’m getting a little choked up about it. I’ll be waiting to hear the official announcement from ABC.
This is Valerie’s People cover from early March. It’s August and she’s going to be on DWTS! I can hardly believe it.
Image of Valerie and her husband, Tony Cacciotti, is from April, 2013. Other images are from 2012 (curly hair) and 2010 (green sweater). Photo credit: WENN.com
Good for her!Dancing is a great exercise and her positive attitude will no doubt extend her time on earth.
I agree, and being 74 and battling brain cancer seems like the exact perfect time to do whatever the f*ck you want to do.
Love her but this seems pretty risky for ABC to do. What is she were to um….expire on the dance floor? She must have been given a pretty solid go-ahead from her docs.
Dying on the dance floor would be almost as good as dying with your boots on. *ahem*
I hope Valerie twinkle toes her way into the next circle of life.
Go Rhoda Go!!!
I’ll be rooting for her too and wishing her the best!
+1. I would love to see her on the show.
Oh awww. I loved re-runs of Rhoda when I was a child.
Good for her. I know it’ll be tough, but what an inspirational thing to do. When my father had cancer, he kept active as long as he could, and I think that sustaining activity gave him a quality of life that was worth living. Hopefully she is able to do this and show that even if she can’t beat cancer, she’ll meet it on her terms.
Absolutely. My mother has chronic leukaemia. She also power-walks. She credits keeping her blood counts at a non-treatment level to keeping fit and staying active. This may or may not be true, but I’m entirely sure that she believes it makes a massive difference.
Bless your mother in her fight! Best wishes to her!!! 🙂
Good for your mom! My husband has chronic leukemia as well (CLL) and I recently found out that excessive stress has a negative effect on the progression of the disease. Since regular exercise reduces stress levels, your mom may be right in thinking that her power-walking keeps her cancer in check.
Montrealise – CLL for my mum too. Just to let you know that she has been diagnosed for 17 years and is still going strong. Hope the same goes for your husband.
I agree. Maybe she’s always wanted to learn to dance. And she should. She should do all the things she wants to do as long as she’s able.
And my guess is they’ll pair her with Tony Dovolani. Who I love. Or maybe pull in Mark Ballas’s dad. Someone who will focus less on the fancy tricks, and instead showcase how lovely and regal she is.
Such an inspiration! She has such a positive attitude and spirit! All the best to her.
Being a huge Rhoda fan all my life, when she was diagnosed I started to follow her FB page, she’s even more inspiring I could have imagined. An incredible lady with a big heart.
You go, lady!
Good for her! She has a lot of spunk and I think attitude is everything.
Love her! Doesn’t she look fantastic to be 74? Only goes to prove doctors don’t know everything! I’ll vote for her no matter how she dances!!
Its good if she’s up to it and all…but at the same time I feel like it isn’t fair. I have a feeling that people may give her sympathy votes and she’ll stick around for longer when more talented dancers may get kicked off. Just my 2 cents.
She has brain cancer! You think it isn’t fair if she gets more votes than the other has-beens? It’s a silly dancing competition not the Olympics!
The other contestants don’t have a terminal cancer! They’ve already won!
Amazing lady, and if she feels she is up to it why not. I admire her strength and her energy. Go Valerie! 🙂
A poor diagnosis doesn’t mean you should just lie down and wait for death to come. I’m sure her training with be within her limits, as it was with all older contestants. It will be great therapy! I don’t watch the show but might tune in to see her.
I love Valerie! I might watch for this. <3
LOVE YOU, Val!!! I am praying for you. We are rooting for you on DWTS, and, more importantly, in your fight against brain cancer! You are an inspiration
I was thinking of her earlier this week. More power to her! Staying busy may be the best medicine.
Someone on Gawker said that she knew Valerie Harper for many years, because Harper had a kid who went to the same school, and she was just the nicest person you’d ever want to meet. She’d be the recess lady, lead crafts, whatever, and was always super-nice. That’s the kind of thing you want to hear about people, especially people you already loved because they were Rhoda.
“Getting pretty close to a remission” was so great …