Valerie Mahaffey is an American actress who played Tawny Cryer in the episode Gone Quiet. She is best known for her Emmy-winning role on Norther Exposure (alongside Adam Arkin). She also has had recurring roles on Wings, Desperate Housewives (starring Felicity Huffman, Lily Tomlin, Kathryn Joosten, Steven Culp, Jamie Denton and Mark Moses) and Glee (starring Jane Lynch)