Andrea Fay Friedman, the actor with Down syndrome who costarred for two seasons in the early 1990s on ABC’s groundbreaking drama series Life Goes On, died Sunday, Dec. 3, at her Santa Monica home of complications of Alzheimer’s disease. She was 53.
Her death was announced to The New York Times by her father, the entertainment lawyer Hal Friedman.
Friedman joined the cast of Life Goes On in 1992, portraying Amanda Swanson, a college student with Down syndrome who dates, and later elopes with, the show’s main character Charles “Corky” Thatcher (Chris Burke), who also has Down syndrome. Both the series and Friedman’s storyline were revolutionary in both casting and fully-rounded depictions of people with the syndrome.
A college student herself at the time, Friedman had been working at...
Her death was announced to The New York Times by her father, the entertainment lawyer Hal Friedman.
Friedman joined the cast of Life Goes On in 1992, portraying Amanda Swanson, a college student with Down syndrome who dates, and later elopes with, the show’s main character Charles “Corky” Thatcher (Chris Burke), who also has Down syndrome. Both the series and Friedman’s storyline were revolutionary in both casting and fully-rounded depictions of people with the syndrome.
A college student herself at the time, Friedman had been working at...
- 12/7/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Life Goes On star Andrea Fay Friedman has died. She was 53 years old. The actor, who had Down Syndrome, passed away on Sunday, December 3, from complications due to Alzheimer’s, according to Variety. Friedman’s most notable television role was her 14-episode run on ABC drama Life Goes On in which she played Amanda Swanson. The series told the story of the all-American Thatcher family as they dealt with the struggles of life and love in the Midwest suburbs. Created by Michael Braverman, the show ran from 1989 to 1993 and Friedman’s character Amanda was the girlfriend of Chris Burke‘s Charles “Corky” Thatcher. The series also starred Patti LuPone, Bill Smitrovich, and Kellie Martin. Friedman with Chris Burke in Life Goes On (Credit: (c)Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection Additionally, Friedman featured in episodes of hit shows ranging from Baywatch, Touched by an Angel, and Chicago Hope to Walker, Texas Ranger,...
- 12/6/2023
- TV Insider
Andrea Fay Friedman, an actor with Down Syndrome who appeared in drama television series “Life Goes On” and Joseph Travolta’s family drama “Carol of the Bells,” died Sunday in Santa Monica from complications due to Alzheimer’s. She was 53.
Friedman contributed to much-needed representation for individuals with Down Syndrome in the world of entertainment. One of her well-known roles was in “Life Goes On” as Amanda Swanson, the girlfriend of Charles “Corky” Thacher (Chris Burke), who later become Corky’s wife on the show. Throughout her life, the actor also appeared in several television series, including “Baywatch,” “Chicago Hope,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “ER,” “The Division” and “Saving Grace,” establishing her presence in an industry where inclusion was often rare. She was also the subject of the 2009 documentary “A Possible Dream: The Andrea Friedman Story.”
In 2010, Friedman showed her ability to tackle controversy with grace after voicing a character with Down syndrome,...
Friedman contributed to much-needed representation for individuals with Down Syndrome in the world of entertainment. One of her well-known roles was in “Life Goes On” as Amanda Swanson, the girlfriend of Charles “Corky” Thacher (Chris Burke), who later become Corky’s wife on the show. Throughout her life, the actor also appeared in several television series, including “Baywatch,” “Chicago Hope,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “ER,” “The Division” and “Saving Grace,” establishing her presence in an industry where inclusion was often rare. She was also the subject of the 2009 documentary “A Possible Dream: The Andrea Friedman Story.”
In 2010, Friedman showed her ability to tackle controversy with grace after voicing a character with Down syndrome,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Sarah Palin, a media gadfly who seems to have found more things to be offended about on television than the Parents Television Council, seems to pop up every time there is a joke about her and her family.
This time, Ellen, a character with Down syndrome voiced by actress Andrea Fay Friedman who also has Down syndrome, goes on a date with Chris and says that her mother is "the former Governor of Alaska." This sent the Palin family into an anger spiral that prompted her to trash the show and characterize it as an attack on her young son Trig, who also has Down syndrome, and everyone suffering from mental illness.
However, what Palin and the rest of the outraged among us fail to realize is that they suffer from a far greater disability: a lack of a sense of humor.
Continue reading 'Family Guy' Actress With...
This time, Ellen, a character with Down syndrome voiced by actress Andrea Fay Friedman who also has Down syndrome, goes on a date with Chris and says that her mother is "the former Governor of Alaska." This sent the Palin family into an anger spiral that prompted her to trash the show and characterize it as an attack on her young son Trig, who also has Down syndrome, and everyone suffering from mental illness.
However, what Palin and the rest of the outraged among us fail to realize is that they suffer from a far greater disability: a lack of a sense of humor.
Continue reading 'Family Guy' Actress With...
- 2/23/2010
- by Danny Gallagher
- Aol TV.
The ongoing flap over Seth MacFarlane's satirical animated series "Family Guy" and Sarah Palin's outrage has TV personalities at odds over what was in jest, and what went over the line. "The View" comedian Joy Behar, not exactly categorized as a conservative, sides with Sarah Palin in the uproar over a segment where a Down Syndrome actress voices a character out on a date with Peter Griffin's dim son. Actress Andrea Fay Friedman, the woman who portrayed a character with Down syndrome on the animated comedy "Family Guy," says Palin needs to relax. Earlier Sarah Palin appeared on Bill O'Reilly's Fox show expressing her anger as O'Reilly commiserated with her on "another kick in the gut" to...
- 2/20/2010
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Family Guy actress Andrea Fay Friedman has slammed Sarah Palin, reports claim. The politician recently criticised jokes on the animated comedy which centred around a character with Down's syndrome, a role which Friedman played. "I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humour. I thought the line 'I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska' was very funny. I think the word is 'sarcasm'," the actress said in an email to the New York (more)...
- 2/20/2010
- by By Paul Millar
- Digital Spy
New York, Feb 20 – Voice actor Andrea Fay Friedman, who suffers Down Syndrome, has fired back at Sarah Palin by saying the former Alaskan governor needs to chill out.
Friedman, 39, made the comment after Palin and her daughter, Bristol, lashed out at the show, which aired last Sunday, about a character with Down syndrome with whom another character becomes enamoured.
“I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humour,” the New York Daily News quoted Friedman as saying in an email to the New.
Friedman, 39, made the comment after Palin and her daughter, Bristol, lashed out at the show, which aired last Sunday, about a character with Down syndrome with whom another character becomes enamoured.
“I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humour,” the New York Daily News quoted Friedman as saying in an email to the New.
- 2/20/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Andrea Fay Friedman, who lent her voice to a "Family Guy" character with Down syndrome and also has the condition in real life, is sounding off to "The Insider" about Sarah Palin's critical remarks regarding the controversial episode of the animated show. "The reason why I'm angry at her is because she wants to have more votes, and that's not right," Friedman says of Palin. In the "Family Guy" storyline, Friedman's character proclaims she’s the daughter of the former governor of Alaska. The character's relation insinuated a connection to Palin, who was quoted as saying that the cartoon episode’s plot was conceived by "cruel, cold-hearted people"; Palin's toddler son Trig has Down syndrome. "I'm not making fun of Down syndrome people," Friedman tells "The Insider." "She has no right to say that. ... It would be nice if she had a sense of humor. It's only a joke.
- 2/19/2010
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
Earlier this week, Sarah Palin lashed out at Family Guy writers for featuring a character with Down's Syndrome and a reference to her, which she interpreted to be a dig at her son Trig, who has Down's Syndrome. Now, Andrea Fay Friedman, the actress who voiced the character on the controversial episode, and who suffers from the syndrome in real life, has hit back at Palin. And the plot thickens.In an e-mail to the New York Times, Friendman wrote, "I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line, 'I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska,' was very funny. I think the word is 'sarcas ...
- 2/19/2010
- by By Actress Archives
The voice actress thinks Sarah needs to lighten up! Who do You agree with?
Sarah Palin made a big stink earlier this week about the Feb. 14 Family Guy episode that featured a character with Down syndrome. In the episode, the character says her mom is the former governor of Alaska — clearly a reference to Sarah’s son Trig, who also has Down syndrome. Now the voice actress, 39-year-old Andrea Fay Friedman, is speaking out in support of the episode! “I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor,” Andrea writes in an e-mail to the New York Times. “I thought the line … was very funny. I think the word is ’sarcasm.’ In my family, we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a...
Sarah Palin made a big stink earlier this week about the Feb. 14 Family Guy episode that featured a character with Down syndrome. In the episode, the character says her mom is the former governor of Alaska — clearly a reference to Sarah’s son Trig, who also has Down syndrome. Now the voice actress, 39-year-old Andrea Fay Friedman, is speaking out in support of the episode! “I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor,” Andrea writes in an e-mail to the New York Times. “I thought the line … was very funny. I think the word is ’sarcasm.’ In my family, we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a...
- 2/19/2010
- by Andy Swift
- HollywoodLife
Andrea Fay Friedman, the actress who played the Down syndrome girl in the "Family Guy" episode that Sarah Palin slammed, has a few choice words for the former governor.
She says Sarah "does not have a sense of humor."
And she should know. Just like the character she voiced, she also has Down syndrome.
She emailed the New York Times:
"I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line 'I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska' was very funny. I think the word is 'sarcasm.'"
"In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life."
When asked if she, agreed with what Palin and her daughter Bristol said about the joke being an insult to people with Down syndrome, she replied: "It's not really an insult.
She says Sarah "does not have a sense of humor."
And she should know. Just like the character she voiced, she also has Down syndrome.
She emailed the New York Times:
"I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line 'I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska' was very funny. I think the word is 'sarcasm.'"
"In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life."
When asked if she, agreed with what Palin and her daughter Bristol said about the joke being an insult to people with Down syndrome, she replied: "It's not really an insult.
- 2/19/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
The voice actress, who played a character with Down syndrome in a controversial "Family Guy" episode, has spoken up about the condemnation of Sarah Palin. Andrea Fay Friedman, who was born with Down syndrome, says the former Vice Presidential candidate has no sense of humor.
In the Fox animated series episode "Extra Large Medium," son Chris was seen dating a girl who has the same disorder. She told him that she has an accountant for a father and a former governor of Alaska for a mother.
This doesn't sit well with some viewers, particularly Palin herself. Instead of directly commenting, she let eldest daughter Bristol to react on the episode, who then said that the producers of the show are "heartless jerks."
Friedman's father, Hal, sent a copy of his daughter's letter, explaining her involvement.
In the Fox animated series episode "Extra Large Medium," son Chris was seen dating a girl who has the same disorder. She told him that she has an accountant for a father and a former governor of Alaska for a mother.
This doesn't sit well with some viewers, particularly Palin herself. Instead of directly commenting, she let eldest daughter Bristol to react on the episode, who then said that the producers of the show are "heartless jerks."
Friedman's father, Hal, sent a copy of his daughter's letter, explaining her involvement.
- 2/19/2010
- icelebz.com
The actress who lent her voice to the "Family Guy" character Ellen is speaking out to Sarah Palin's non-favorable response to a controversial episode of the animated show. In the storyline, Andrea Fay Friedman portrays a girl with Down syndrome, who proclaims that she is the daughter of the former governor of Alaska. The character's relation insinuated a connection to Palin. The 39-year-old actress, who too has the condition in real life, told the New York Times that she does not see anything wrong with the episode. She told the newspaper, "I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line, 'I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska,' was very funny. I think the word is 'sarcasm.'" Palin, the mother of son Trig, a toddler with Down syndrome, was quoted as saying that the "Family Guy" plot was the act of "cruel,...
- 2/19/2010
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
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