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
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
Former Et Canada Reporter Roz Weston knows a thing or two about “hiding things” and if you thought the release of his memoir would be the final reveal, you have no idea what you’re about to read in A Little Bit Broken.
A plan two years in the making, the last chapter of his book is the last secret the radio host had to keep, revealing in a new video that during the writing process he was also planning an elaborate, romantic proposal to his longtime love, photographer Katherine Holland.
“I may be the only person who’s written an entire book, just to propose to the person they love,” Weston says in the emotional video, adding, “who by the way, is the greatest person I have ever known.”
Read More: Roz Weston To Leave Et Canada After An Incredible 17 Seasons
Photo: Roz Weston — Photo: Roz Weston
Continuing on,...
A plan two years in the making, the last chapter of his book is the last secret the radio host had to keep, revealing in a new video that during the writing process he was also planning an elaborate, romantic proposal to his longtime love, photographer Katherine Holland.
“I may be the only person who’s written an entire book, just to propose to the person they love,” Weston says in the emotional video, adding, “who by the way, is the greatest person I have ever known.”
Read More: Roz Weston To Leave Et Canada After An Incredible 17 Seasons
Photo: Roz Weston — Photo: Roz Weston
Continuing on,...
- 9/22/2022
- by Kate Morawetz
- ET Canada
Details of Frankie Cocozza's alleged romantic escapades have emerged. Students Becca Hills and Katherine Holland told The Sun that the axed X Factor contestant asked them for a threesome in his room. Holland recalled: "He pointed at me and said, 'Are you coming back to the flat?' He then said he would love a threesome with me and Becca and begged us to come back. He made sure we were getting in the taxi. There were 12 guys and six girls." Describing her experience, Hills revealed that the "arrogant" 18-year-old ripped her tights. "He said 'I bet you're a dirty little bitch'. It wasn't nasty, it was cheeky. But he didn't give me any compliments," she claimed. "He was very arrogant - but he doesn't pretend to be polite. I was wearing tights which look like suspenders and Frankie obviously liked (more)...
- 11/12/2011
- by By Paul Millar
- Digital Spy
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