Amanda Peterson

Amanda Peterson was born on July 8 in Greeley, Colorado. The youngest of three children, she had a sister, Ann-Marie Peterson, and a brother, Rev. Jim Peterson. Her mother, Sylvia Peterson, was a full-time mother and housewife, and her father, James Peterson, was a doctor. Peterson began her career in the film industry at age 9 with the feature film *Annie* (1982), directed by Academy Award-winner John Huston. To land the role, she had to persuade her mother and compete in a casting that included more than 8,000 girls. Starting in 1981, she appeared in guest-starring roles in television series such as *Father Murphy* (1981), *Silver Spoons* (1982), and *Boone* (1983). In 1985, she co-starred with Oscar nominee River Phoenix and four-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke in Joe Dante's fantasy-fable *Explorers* (1985). By age 14, Peterson had participated in over 50 television commercials, three television series, and four films. She was also an active member of the Greeley Saddle Club and had been passionate about horse riding since childhood. In 1987, she achieved international success with the comedy *Can't Buy Me Love* (1987), directed by Steve Rash. She received critical praise for demonstrating her growing maturity as an actress. That same year, she acted with her older sister, Ann-Marie Peterson, Jsu Garcia, and Xander Berkeley in the post-apocalyptic film *The Lawless Land* (1988), directed by Jon Hess and produced by Academy Award-winner Roger Corman. In 1988, she won the Young Artist Award in the category of Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Drama Series for her performance in the Emmy Award-winning television series *A Year in the Life* (1986). These awards are often referred to as the Young Oscars. In 1989, she co-starred with two-time Oscar nominee Roy Scheider in the drama *Listen to Me* (1989), directed by Oscar nominee Douglas Day Stewart. She also received praise for her performance in the thriller *Fatal Charm* (1990), directed by Fritz Kiersch. In 1994, after appearing in the contemporary drama *Windrunner* (1994), she decided to leave the entertainment industry. Peterson's work spanned multiple genres, including westerns, romance, science fiction, thrillers, dramas, and comedies. She gained admirers worldwide for her work, which showcased her strong presence and dedication. Her ability to portray emotion and vulnerability while immersing herself in her roles highlighted her unique personality, a trait of the best actors. In a perfect world, Amanda Peterson would have delivered many more quality character interpretations, whether in film or on television. Her films achieved a lasting impact on those who witnessed her work from childhood. As Leonard Maltin, one of America's most respected and recognized film critics and historians, once said, "Amanda Peterson is excellent." There is no doubt about that. She is considered by many to be one of the most talented and beautiful actresses of her time and a legend. Amanda Peterson died on July 3, 2015, at her home in Greeley, Colorado, at the age of 43 from an accidental morphine overdose.