Amanda Peterson

Amanda Peterson was an American actress best known for playing Cindy Mancini in the 1987 film *Can't Buy Me Love* and Sunny Sisk on the NBC drama series *A Year in the Life*.

Amanda Peterson was an American actress best known for playing Cindy Mancini in the 1987 film *Can't Buy Me Love* and Sunny Sisk on the NBC drama series *A Year in the Life*. She worked mainly in film and television as a child and teen performer in the 1980s and early 1990s. Born in Greeley, Colorado, Peterson died there in 2015 at age 43. Her performances, particularly in *Can't Buy Me Love*, reached Canadian audiences through television and home video.

Early life

Amanda Peterson was born Phyllis Amanda Peterson in Greeley, Colorado, on July 8, 1971. She began acting as a child and used the name Amanda Peterson professionally.

Career

Peterson became known for roles in 1980s film and television, especially her lead role in the teen romantic comedy *Can't Buy Me Love* (1987) and as Sunny Sisk in the NBC drama series *A Year in the Life* (1987–1988). Her film work included *Annie* (1982), *Explorers* (1985), and *Windrunner* (1994). On television, she appeared on series such as *Silver Spoons* and *Doogie Howser, M.D.* Her active years in the industry were from 1982 to 1994.

Later life and death

Peterson left acting after the mid-1990s and later lived outside the entertainment spotlight. She died in Greeley, Colorado, in July 2015 at age 43. Published accounts vary on the exact date and medical details of her death.

Legacy

Peterson remains best known to audiences for her performance in *Can't Buy Me Love*, which became a defining teen film of the 1980s. Her career is often discussed in the context of short-lived child and teen stardom.