‘Life Goes On’ actress Andrea Fay Friedman dead at 53
nypost.comthe New York Times. He also said that she hadn’t been able to speak for the past year, which is not uncommon when people with Down syndrome have Alzheimer’s.
Her father told the outlet that she called Down syndrome her “up syndrome.” After growing up in Santa Monica and studying acting at Santa Monica College, Friedman had her breakout role as Amanda Swanson on the ABC show “Life Goes On,” which aired from 1989 to 1993.
The show followed the Thatcher family’s life in a Chicago suburb, and was notable for being the first show to feature a major character with Down syndrome — Corky, played by Chris Burke (an actor who also has the condition).
Amanda Swanson was Corky’s girlfriend and later wife, appearing in Seasons 3 and 4. Her father told the Times that she was originally going to appear in just one episode, but, “She did such a great job that they made her a regular on the show.” Friedman also voiced a character with Down syndrome on “Family Guy,” in “Extra Large Medium,” a Season 8 episode that originally aired on Feb.
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