obitoftheday: Obit of the Day: Amanda Peterson, Star of Can’t...

obitoftheday:

Obit of the Day: Amanda Peterson, Star of Can’t Buy Me Love

Amanda Peterson became an ‘80s-era star for her turn as a the popular cheerleader rented out by a young Patrick Dempsey* to gain quick popularity in the 1987 romantic comedy Can’t Buy Me Love. 

Ms. Peterson had a rather successful career as a child and teen actress. She played a featured role in the Ethan Hawke-River Phoenix sci-fi advenure Explorers, earned critical acclaim and a Young Artist Award for her role in the short-lived A Year in the Life, and made regular television appearances on shows such as Silver Spoons, Boone, and Doogie Howser, M.D.

In 1994 she made the decision to leave Hollywood, when she was just 23.

There is little information about the next twenty years of her life although several sources say that she had attempted to go back to school and was trying to begin a career as a writer.

Ms. Peterson was found dead on July 5, and a cause remains unknown, although her family believes sleep apnea may have played a part. She was only 43 years old.

Sources: IMDB.com and TMZ

(Poster from Can’t Buy Me Love is copyright of Buena Vista Pictures and courtesy of wikimedia)

* Although not too young, since Mr. Dempsey was 20 at the time of filming and Ms. Peterson was only 15.

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