Who is Amanda Peterson? Biography, Early Life, Career, Cause of Death, Height, and Net Worth

I liked watching movies when I was a kid in the 2000s.

I felt very sad when I heard that Amanda Peterson passed away too soon.

Peterson is best known for her breakout role as the love interest in the 1987 comedy Can’t Buy Me Love, opposite Patrick Dempsey.

However, her acting career and life were tragically cut short when she died in 2015 at the age of 43.

In this article, I’ll provide an overview of Amanda Peterson’s life, career, and legacy. Read on to learn more about this talented actress, who left us far too soon.

How old was Amanda Peterson?

She came into the world on July 8, 1971, and passed away in 2015 at the age of 43.

Amanda Peterson Her Early Life and Career

Peterson was born on July 8, 1971, in Greeley, Colorado.

She started getting into acting at a young age, doing modeling and appearing in ads as a little kid.

When she was 9, she got her first role in a movie called “A Year Without Santa Claus.”

During the mid-1980s, Amanda Peterson moved to Los Angeles to focus on acting.

Her major opportunity arrived in 1987 when she got the role of Cindy Mancini in the successful romantic comedy “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

This movie made her a star when she was just 16 years old.

Amanda Peterson’s Personal Life and Relationships

While Peterson’s acting career was on the rise, her personal life was plagued by instability.

At the young age of 26, she had already experienced two marriages and divorces.

Her first marriage was to singer Shaun Tomson, followed by her second marriage to home builder Dana Ashbrook.

In her later years, Peterson struggled with substance abuse issues and mental health challenges.

She had a daughter, Annika, in 2003.

Though she acted sporadically, Peterson never regained the momentum of her late 1980s film career.

The Cause of Amanda Peterson’s Untimely Death

On July 3, 2015, Amanda Peterson was found dead in her Greeley, Colorado home at the age of 43.

An autopsy later revealed the cause of death to be an accidental morphine overdose.

Peterson had a history of drug addiction and medical issues related to her drug use.

Her early, shocking death served as a cautionary tale about the rampant issues of substance abuse and mental health challenges in Hollywood.

Peterson’s struggles highlighted the dark side of early stardom.

Amanda Peterson’s Most Famous Roles in Film

Though her career was short-lived, Amanda Peterson left her mark in several hit films of the 1980s.

Her breakout role came as the sweet love interest Cindy Mancini in 1987’s Can’t Buy Me Love opposite Patrick Dempsey.

She also starred as Julie Gallagher in the 1988 sequel Applause opposite Dempsey again.

Some of Peterson’s other notable roles were in films such as:

  • Listen to Me with Kirk Cameron
  • Explorers alongside Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix.
  • She also appeared in Do You Want to Know a Secret? with this fresh-faced beauty and charm.

    How Tall Was Amanda Peterson?

    Peterson was known for her girl-next-door beauty and natural charm.

    She stood at 5’5″ tall with a slim, athletic build.

    What Was Amanda Peterson’s Net Worth at the Time of Her Death?

    At the peak of Peterson’s acting career in the late 1980s, she likely commanded $500K to $1 million per film role.

    However, as her career stalled in the 1990s, her finances dwindled due to lack of work and mounting medical expenses.

    Most estimates place Amanda Peterson’s net worth around $100,000 at the time of her death in 2015.

    The bright stardom she achieved with her very first films ultimately proved to be the height of both her career and earning potential.

    https://youtu.be/fQOSSZzodt4?t=25

    Conclusion

    While Amanda Peterson’s life and career were unfortunately cut short, she remains a symbol of teen movies in the 1980s.

    For those who grew up watching films like “Can’t Buy Me Love” and others from that era, she represented the cheerful and friendly spirit of those times.

    Sadly, Peterson’s talent and potential were never fully realized, making her story a genuine Hollywood tragedy.

    Even though her time in the spotlight was brief, Amanda Peterson shone brightly during her time on screen.

    She leaves behind a delightful body of work and memories of a captivating smile that charmed audiences.

    People remember her with affection as an actress from a simpler era of cinema.

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