Amanda Peterson was found dead in her Greeley, Colorado apartment on Sunday. She was just 43 years old. The medical examiner says the actress died some time on Friday.
The Can’t Buy Me Love actress starred alongside Patrick Dempsey in the 1987 film. Dempsey paid tribute to her via Twitter on Tuesday.
In my memory, she will always be vibrant and young. Gone too soon. Sending my thoughts and prayers to Amanda's family.
— Patrick Dempsey (@PatrickDempsey) July 7, 2015
Amanda Peterson’s mom last spent the day with her daughter last Wednesday–just four days before her body was discovered. The two spent the day gardening.
“Amanda was in very good spirits,” Peterson’s mother, Sylvia, said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
Sylvia also told ET that Amanda Peterson had a drug problem years ago, but had been clean and sober for years.
“This was not, in any way, a drug thing,” she added.
Amanda Peterson got her start in the film world back in 1982 in an adaptation of Annie. She was just nine years old.
In her Can’t Buy Me Love role, Peterson played cheerleader Cindy Mancini. Patrick Dempsey’s character paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend.
The investigation into Amanda Peterson’s death is ongoing. No other information has been released.
In addition to Patrick Dempsey paying tribute to Amanda Peterson, other Hollywood stars shared their thoughts about the actress, too.
When I was younger, I used to want to be #AmandaPeterson. I even asked my mom for a white leather fringe jacket #RipAmandaPeterson
— Sarah Michelle (@SarahMGellar) July 7, 2015
Say it ain't so! Cindy Mancini has passed away! ; (
RIP Amanda Peterson /
#CantBuyMeLove
— Lance Bass (@LanceBass) July 7, 2015
@YahooMovies @TheWrap this is tragic… I had the biggest crush on her when that movie came out. RIP Amanda Peterson.
— Dane Cook (@DaneCook) July 6, 2015
Amanda Peterson is survived by two children who lived with their father.