July 07, 2015
Amanda Peterson, who starred in the '80s movie "Can't Buy Me Love" alongside Patrick Dempsey, died Sunday at the age of 43, Variety reports.
The former actress was reportedly found alone at an apartment complex in Greeley, Colorado.
Peterson's mother Sylvia told ABC News that her daughter's death was "unexpected," and an autopsy will reveal the cause.
In the film, Peterson played cheerleader Cindy Mancini, whom Dempsey’s character pays to pose as his girlfriend so he can make social inroads at their Arizona high school. The movie, directed by Steve Rash and with a title taken from the Beatles song, is among a set of teen angst classics of the period along with the John Hughes oeuvre.
Peterson had long since retired from show business, with her final screen credit in the 1994 feature “Windrunner.”
A few celebrities reacted to the news on Twitter.
Oh wow, CAN'T BUY ME LOVE star Amanda Peterson has died. I had a huge crush on her. RIP.
— Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) July 6, 2015
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
