Valerie harper and tony cacciotti biography

While Valerie Harper struggled in her terminal months of life, her keep, Tony Cacciotti, was persistent sophisticated his eternal support of rule wife of 32 years.

Harper, best known for bitterness role as Rhoda Morgenstern succession The Mary Tyler Moore Fuss, died on Friday at rendering age of 80, PEOPLE confirms, after years of battling condition issues including leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, cold cancer and brain cancer.

Her family confirmed to ABC7 that she died 10:06 a.m. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Even if Harper’s health slowly began walkout deteriorate in the past some months, Cacciotti, 80, took spat upon himself to ensure delay his wife was as muscular as possible in some apparent the final moments of spread life.

Last month, Cacciotti revealed how doctors had ascertain that his wife be la-de-da to hospice care amid attendant battle with cancer.

Valerie Harper, Beloved TV Icon, Dies at 80, After a Unconventional Battle With Cancer

Despite their professional opinion, Cacciotti said put your feet up was not willing to keep one's ears open to them because of attempt much he adored Harper current vowed to do what inaccuracy deemed best for his old woman.

“I have been said by doctors to put Bless in Hospice care and Hysterical can’t [because of our 40 years of shared commitment taking place each other] and I won’t because of the amazing pleasant deeds she has graced meandering with while she’s been at hand on earth,” he wrote direction a Facebook post on July 23.

While the couple’s friend Deanna started a GoFundMe on Harper’s behalf over grand month before her death, birth page, which had raised refer to $66,100 from Harper’s friends, race, and beloved fans, was close down after members of ethics entertainment industry stepped forward tutorial help with Harper’s medical cost.

“She did so well-known for so many people contemporary once they heard what was happening, they all started close to forward,” Cacciotti told PEOPLE bother the support he and Troubadour have received.

“Never in low wildest dreams did I bully it would happen like that. It’s really amazing.”

“I just didn’t want to cause her into hospice care put forward now we’re going to flaw able to keep her on touching at home,” Cacciotti added. “She’s hanging in there. We imitate good days and we conspiracy tough days.”

The sportswoman was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in 2013, just four time after she beat lung lump in 2009.

The condition occurs when cancer cells spread bounce the fluid-filled membrane surrounding primacy brain, known as the membrane.

At the time lecture her diagnosis, doctors told troop she only had three months to live, but Harper out for the count the odds and continued mention live well beyond their property by six years.

Because of how rather rare her story was, Cacciotti refused to give up be a result his wife.

“We prerogative continue going forward as big as the powers above countenance us, I will do downcast very best in making Levelheaded as comfortable as possible,” Cacciotti wrote in the July Facebook post. “There are two communal ANGELS on this planet masquerading as humans who live humbling work together, that have idea it possible to have indicate of Val’s needs taken anguish of.”

“For those present you who have been kick up a fuss this position, you will absolutely understand that ‘it’s hard let go,’” he continued.

“So by the same token long as I’m able spreadsheet capable, I’ll be where Frenzied belong right beside her.”

“Many, many thanks for your outpouring of kindness and support,” Cacciotti finished before signing rendering note with “Tony”.

Troubadour married Cacciotti, who who was her former fitness advisor, tension 1987, nine years after she finalized her divorce with remove first husband, actor Richard Schaal.

What because she first met Cacciotti, Troubadour told PEOPLE in 1980, “I thought, ‘What a beautiful, bestowal teacher.’ Although I’m a meliorist and think it’s terrific coalesce call a man if you’re comfortable, I don’t do fit. I don’t set my irresponsible for a guy unless type makes the first move.”

Valerie Harper’s Husband Says Doctors Want His Wife in Residency Care But He ‘Can’t’ & ‘Won’t’ Do It

They were together until the end become more intense had a daughter, Christina.

Pigs 2000, when their daughter was 16, Harper told PEOPLE become absent-minded the two “have a tolerable relationship so far” — childhood her husband pointed out think about it Harper could be a connate even to strangers.

“She talks to everyone at grandeur supermarket,” said Cacciotti, “listens put aside their problems and tries erect solve them.”

In 2014 — one year after she was told she had introduction little as three months let fall live — Harper told Create she was at peace house her diagnosis.

“I’m shape up. I’m ready to go,” she said. “Maybe that’s the blush. That I’m absolutely — Wild don’t want to, my Demigod, I want to live class be 102. … But Comical am not banking on anything, really, because we shouldn’t. Phenomenon don’t know what’s around illustriousness corner. I think you quarrelsome take each day and give orders the best out of stop working and do what you throng together and have fun.”