Andrea Fay Friedman, BreakthroughLife GoesOn Actress, Dead at 53

Mar. 15, 2025

Andrea Fay Friedman at the 5th Annual Bentonville Film Festival in 2019.Photo:Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Andrea Fay Friedman has died at age 53.

The actress — known for her role as Amanda Swanson onLife Goes On— died from complications due to Alzheimer’s,The New York Timesconfirmed with her father Hal Friedman. He also revealed Friedman had been unable to speak for the past year.

Friedman was one of the first actors with Down syndrome to bring such representation to the screen. Upon making herLife Goes Ondebut in 1992, it became the first major series to have a character with the developmental disability — let alone two.

Andrea Fay Friedman in 2003.Chris Hatcher/Getty Images

Chris Hatcher/Getty Images

Throughout her career, Friedman — who was also an assistant teacher at UCLA’sPathway Program— challenged stigmas, even with humor. A one-off appearance onFamily Guysaw Friedman voice a character with Down syndrome named Ellen. The role poked fun at Former Governor of AlaskaSarah Palinthrough reference to her son, Trig (who also has Down syndrome.) “My dad’s an accountant and my mom is the former governor of Alaska,” Friedman’s character Ellen said.

Palin, 59, previously said the episode was the result of “cruel, cold-hearted people,” to whichFriedman respondedin an email toThe New York Times, “I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor.” Friedman maintained that representation for the Down syndrome community should be an inspiration.

Andrea Fay Friedman and Chris Burke on Life Goes On.ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

In 2019, Friedman also starred inCarol 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 Friedman appeared in before her death.

Some of her other projects includedLaw & Order: SVU,Baywatch,Saving Grace,The Division,ER,7th HeavenandChicago Hope.

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Andrea Fay Friedman in 1997.TNT/Courtesy Everett Collection

TNT/Courtesy Everett Collection

In speaking toThe New York Times, Friedman’s father called Down syndrome her “up syndrome,” and occasionally spoke about the public assumptions related to the developmental disability. She spoke withAbility Magazinein 2019 about the use of the “R” word.

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

source: people.com