Andrea Fay Friedman, an actor with Down Syndrome who appeared in drama television series “Life Goes On” and Joseph Travolta’s family drama “Carol of the Bells,” died Sunday in Santa Monica from complications due to Alzheimer’s. She was 53.
Friedman contributed to much-needed representation for individuals with Down Syndrome in the world of entertainment. One of her well-known roles was in “Life Goes On” as Amanda Swanson, the girlfriend of Charles “Corky” Thacher (Chris Burke), who later become Corky’s wife on the show. Throughout her life, the actor also appeared in several television series, including “Baywatch,” “Chicago Hope,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “ER,” “The Division” and “Saving Grace,” establishing her presence in an industry where inclusion was often rare. She was also the subject of the 2009 documentary “A Possible Dream: The Andrea Friedman Story.”
In 2010, Friedman showed her ability to tackle controversy with grace after voicing a character with Down syndrome,...
Friedman contributed to much-needed representation for individuals with Down Syndrome in the world of entertainment. One of her well-known roles was in “Life Goes On” as Amanda Swanson, the girlfriend of Charles “Corky” Thacher (Chris Burke), who later become Corky’s wife on the show. Throughout her life, the actor also appeared in several television series, including “Baywatch,” “Chicago Hope,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “ER,” “The Division” and “Saving Grace,” establishing her presence in an industry where inclusion was often rare. She was also the subject of the 2009 documentary “A Possible Dream: The Andrea Friedman Story.”
In 2010, Friedman showed her ability to tackle controversy with grace after voicing a character with Down syndrome,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Todd Palin has filed for divorce from Sarah Palin after over 30 years of marriage. According to court records obtained by E! News, Todd filed for divorce on Friday, Sept. 6 at an Alaska courthouse. The Anchorage Daily News reports the 55-year-old cited the cause of their split as an "incompatibility of temperament between the parties such that they find it impossible to live together as husband and wife." In the filing, Todd requested joint custody of their son Trig Palin. Their other children, Willow, Track, Piper and Bristol Palin, are all over 18. This August, the high school sweethearts celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. In a 2011 interview,...
- 9/9/2019
- E! Online
She's putting on a happy face! Days after splitting with her husband Dakota Meyer, Bristol Palin is enjoying some family time celebrating mom Sarah Palin's belated birthday back at the clan's home in Wasilla, Alaska. The former vice presidential hopeful turned 54 on Feb. 11, but waited until now to have a big family celebration with her extended family. Sarah posted photos enjoying time with her five children, Trig Palin, Willow Palin, Piper Palin, Track Palin and Bristol, who has had quite the dramatic week in the news. In Sarah's photos, Bristol is with her three children Tripp, (from a previous relationship with Levi Johnston, 2-year-old Sailor Grace and 9-month-old daughter,...
- 2/17/2018
- E! Online
'Stars Earn Stripes' Todd Palin: 'Our minds think we're 20, but our bodies remind us that we're not'
Zap2it: Did your son, Army Sgt. Track Palin (who deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year) or your wife, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, influence you to participate in a show ("Stars Earn Stripes") that pairs celebrities with military operatives and first responders on simulated missions?
Todd Palin: No. 1 would be the cause, the military charity. Track was major, Sarah was major, and then my working experience on "Sarah Palin's Alaska," knowing (producer] Mark Burnett puts out a great product.
Zap2it: Did you bond with your military operative partner?
Todd Palin: My guy was [former Marine] J.W. Cortes. Our common ground is he has a son with autism, and I've got a son with Down syndrome. Just being a father, you have a bond. With the additional challenge, there's that extra bond. I'm a little older than he is, and I'm like, "We are blessed. There's a reason why...
Todd Palin: No. 1 would be the cause, the military charity. Track was major, Sarah was major, and then my working experience on "Sarah Palin's Alaska," knowing (producer] Mark Burnett puts out a great product.
Zap2it: Did you bond with your military operative partner?
Todd Palin: My guy was [former Marine] J.W. Cortes. Our common ground is he has a son with autism, and I've got a son with Down syndrome. Just being a father, you have a bond. With the additional challenge, there's that extra bond. I'm a little older than he is, and I'm like, "We are blessed. There's a reason why...
- 9/3/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
It's the dream of many young women to move to sunny Los Angeles and stay in a big, beautiful house, but for 21-year-old Bristol Palin -- eldest daughter of 2008 Gop vice-presidential candidate and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin -- there's no place like home.
On Tuesday, June 19, Lifetime premieres "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp," chronicling single mother Palin's sojourn in the City of Angels and her eventual return to her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, and the warm embrace of her extended family.
Pics: 'Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp'
"I'm in Alaska," she tells Zap2it, speaking in early May. "All the snow's melting, and the ice on the lakes is all thawed out."
As the show opens, Palin heads down to Southern California to work for a charity, with her toddler son, Tripp, and younger sister, Willow, in tow. They begin their visit staying in the sumptuous home of a family friend,...
On Tuesday, June 19, Lifetime premieres "Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp," chronicling single mother Palin's sojourn in the City of Angels and her eventual return to her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska, and the warm embrace of her extended family.
Pics: 'Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp'
"I'm in Alaska," she tells Zap2it, speaking in early May. "All the snow's melting, and the ice on the lakes is all thawed out."
As the show opens, Palin heads down to Southern California to work for a charity, with her toddler son, Tripp, and younger sister, Willow, in tow. They begin their visit staying in the sumptuous home of a family friend,...
- 6/19/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Filed under: TV Replay
On 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' (Sun., 9Pm Et on Tlc), Sarah Palin's family travels to Bristol Bay, Alaska. During the trip, there's a lot of symbolism going on. The family celebrates daughter Willow's birthday, which takes place over Fourth of July weekend. In addition, the name "Bristol Bay" inspired Sarah to call her daughter Bristol. But there's more ...
Eldest son Track has returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. He wants to join the fishing industry, which his dad, Todd Palin, used to work in. Bristol Bay has the largest salmon fishery in the world -- and is home to five generations of Todd's family. (This is a lot of symbolism, right?) Now, it's time to do some fishin'! And how does that go? Not so well, actually ...
To break even, Track needs to catch 3,000 pounds of a salmon a day. Instead,...
On 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' (Sun., 9Pm Et on Tlc), Sarah Palin's family travels to Bristol Bay, Alaska. During the trip, there's a lot of symbolism going on. The family celebrates daughter Willow's birthday, which takes place over Fourth of July weekend. In addition, the name "Bristol Bay" inspired Sarah to call her daughter Bristol. But there's more ...
Eldest son Track has returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. He wants to join the fishing industry, which his dad, Todd Palin, used to work in. Bristol Bay has the largest salmon fishery in the world -- and is home to five generations of Todd's family. (This is a lot of symbolism, right?) Now, it's time to do some fishin'! And how does that go? Not so well, actually ...
To break even, Track needs to catch 3,000 pounds of a salmon a day. Instead,...
- 11/29/2010
- by Oliver Miller
- Aol TV.
On the next "Sarah Palin's Alaska" episode, Sarah and Todd take their kids on a 4th of July tradition of fishing for salmon in Bristol Bay, the world's biggest wild salmon run. Todd usually catches the lion's share of the fish, but son Track makes his first appearance on the show, wanting to earn the title of captain on his dad's boat.
"My dad's one of the best fishermen around," says Track. "I got big shoes to fill."
The family also gets to see their cousin Matthew, a boy with Downs Syndrome who gives Sarah a lot of hope about her own son Trig.
"Sarah Palin's Alaska" airs Sunday nights on Tlc.
Follow Zap2it and Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
Photo/video credit: Tlc...
"My dad's one of the best fishermen around," says Track. "I got big shoes to fill."
The family also gets to see their cousin Matthew, a boy with Downs Syndrome who gives Sarah a lot of hope about her own son Trig.
"Sarah Palin's Alaska" airs Sunday nights on Tlc.
Follow Zap2it and Zap2it Andrea on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest TV, movie and celebrity news.
Photo/video credit: Tlc...
- 11/26/2010
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
A New York judge has instructed media website Gawker to take down its leaked pages of Sarah Palin's upcoming book America By Heart. Sushannah Walshe previews the biggest spills, from a racially charged swipe at Michelle Obama to attacks on Levi Johnston, Eric Holder, and Idol contestants.
It's still days until Sarah Palin's new book, America by Heart: Reflections on Faith, Family and Flag hits store shelves this Tuesday, but leaked pages are popping up all over the media and only adding to the coming frenzy that is sure to accompany the political superstar's book tour, which launches in Phoenix.
Palin's last book, Going Rogue, was a massive bestseller with sales of 1 million copies in the first two weeks alone. This book is set to be an instant hit as well, with Palin describing it on her Facebook page as "a collection of essays and reflections about our exceptional country.
It's still days until Sarah Palin's new book, America by Heart: Reflections on Faith, Family and Flag hits store shelves this Tuesday, but leaked pages are popping up all over the media and only adding to the coming frenzy that is sure to accompany the political superstar's book tour, which launches in Phoenix.
Palin's last book, Going Rogue, was a massive bestseller with sales of 1 million copies in the first two weeks alone. This book is set to be an instant hit as well, with Palin describing it on her Facebook page as "a collection of essays and reflections about our exceptional country.
- 11/20/2010
- by Shushannah Walshe
- The Daily Beast
Dear Sarah:
Excellent days to you my warrior princess!
I just wanted to congratulate you on your sexy and smart new reality show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska!"
I want to thank you for bringing Alaska to my attention. As I am Canadian, I honestly thought it was a made-up country that existed only on a Risk board, like Kamchatka. But what I discovered was that it was a real country, full of real people who shoot rifles, handle bloody fish heads, dogsled, appear on Bill O'Reilly from the TV studio in their own fortress/mansion, people who, "Don't retreat, just reload." It's a pretty cool place, Sarah, and I thank you for introducing me to it.
I also want to thank you for being pretty. You have awesome hair, Sarah. It's as beautiful as Mt. McKinley, and I think I'd like to make a nest out of it to curl up into each night.
Excellent days to you my warrior princess!
I just wanted to congratulate you on your sexy and smart new reality show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska!"
I want to thank you for bringing Alaska to my attention. As I am Canadian, I honestly thought it was a made-up country that existed only on a Risk board, like Kamchatka. But what I discovered was that it was a real country, full of real people who shoot rifles, handle bloody fish heads, dogsled, appear on Bill O'Reilly from the TV studio in their own fortress/mansion, people who, "Don't retreat, just reload." It's a pretty cool place, Sarah, and I thank you for introducing me to it.
I also want to thank you for being pretty. You have awesome hair, Sarah. It's as beautiful as Mt. McKinley, and I think I'd like to make a nest out of it to curl up into each night.
- 11/19/2010
- by Michael Murray
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