Andrea Fay Friedman, Breakthrough Life Goes On Actress, Dead at 53

Andrea Fay Friedman died at the age of 53.

Actress — known for her role as Amanda Swanson on Life goes on — died of complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease, The New York Times confirmed with her father, Hal Friedman. He also revealed that Friedman had been unable to speak for the past year.

Friedman was one of the first actors with Down syndrome to bring such a portrayal to the screen. After making it Life goes on Debuting in 1992, it became the first major series to feature a character with a developmental disability — let alone two.

Tribute to celebrities who died in 2023

Andrea Fay Friedman 2003

Chris Hatcher/Getty Images

Throughout her career, Friedman — who was also a teaching assistant in UCLA’s Pathway program — challenged stigmas, even with humor. One time appearance on Family man saw Friedman voicing a character with Down syndrome named Ellen. The role mocked former Alaska governor Sarah Palin by talking about her son, Trig (who also has Down syndrome). “My dad is an accountant and my mom is the former governor of Alaska,” Friedman’s Ellen said.

Palin, 59, previously said the episode was the result of “cruel, cold-hearted people,” to which Friedman responded in an email The New York Times, “I guess former Governor Palin has no sense of humor.” Friedman argued that representing the Down syndrome community should be an inspiration.

Andrea Fay Friedman and Chris Burke on Life Goes On.

ABC / Courtesy of the Everett Collection

Friedman also starred in 2019 Carol of the Bells, a film about one man’s search for his birth mother, who he later learns has Down syndrome. It was the last project in which Friedman appeared before her death.

Some of her other projects are also included Law and order: SVU, Baywatch, Saving Grace, Division, Emergency, 7. heaven and Chicago Hope.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Andrea Fay Friedman 1997

TNT/Courtesy of Everett Collection

In a conversation with The New York Times, Friedman’s father called Down’s syndrome her “up syndrome”, and occasionally spoke about public assumptions related to developmental disabilities. She spoke to Ability magazine in 2019 about using the “R” word.

“I don’t really like it at all,” she said of the insult. “It really affected me in a lot of ways, because I was teased a lot. I’ve been teased with it since elementary school, high school, and I didn’t like it. I wanted to stand up for myself, but I didn’t have the courage.”

In addition to her father, Hal, Friedman is survived by her sister, Katherine Holland.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education