Andrea Fay Friedman, the actor with Down syndrome who costarred for two seasons in the early 1990s on ABC’s groundbreaking drama series Life Goes On, died Sunday, Dec. 3, at her Santa Monica home of complications of Alzheimer’s disease. She was 53.
Her death was announced to The New York Times by her father, the entertainment lawyer Hal Friedman.
Friedman joined the cast of Life Goes On in 1992, portraying Amanda Swanson, a college student with Down syndrome who dates, and later elopes with, the show’s main character Charles “Corky” Thatcher (Chris Burke), who also has Down syndrome. Both the series and Friedman’s storyline were revolutionary in both casting and fully-rounded depictions of people with the syndrome.
A college student herself at the time, Friedman had been working at...
Her death was announced to The New York Times by her father, the entertainment lawyer Hal Friedman.
Friedman joined the cast of Life Goes On in 1992, portraying Amanda Swanson, a college student with Down syndrome who dates, and later elopes with, the show’s main character Charles “Corky” Thatcher (Chris Burke), who also has Down syndrome. Both the series and Friedman’s storyline were revolutionary in both casting and fully-rounded depictions of people with the syndrome.
A college student herself at the time, Friedman had been working at...
- 12/7/2023
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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
Meghan Markle drew a lot of attention and criticism for her reenactment of a curtsy in the Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan. When speaking about the first time she met the late Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Sussex’s wife compared the experience to “Medieval Times” before doing an exaggerated bow and curtsy.
Many royal watchers weren’t happy with the duchess’s gesture, prompting them to express their anger via social media. It also prompted an interest in royal curtsies. Videos of various royals performing the act have been shared online. Now, one video has gone viral and is sparking debate over who did the best curtsy at their royal wedding.
Video of royals curtsying to Queen Elizabeth at their weddings Princess Diana curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II during her wedding ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The video posted to TikTok...
Many royal watchers weren’t happy with the duchess’s gesture, prompting them to express their anger via social media. It also prompted an interest in royal curtsies. Videos of various royals performing the act have been shared online. Now, one video has gone viral and is sparking debate over who did the best curtsy at their royal wedding.
Video of royals curtsying to Queen Elizabeth at their weddings Princess Diana curtsies to Queen Elizabeth II during her wedding ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The video posted to TikTok...
- 12/5/2023
- by Michelle Kapusta
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Millions of royal fans around the world watched Prince Harry and Meghan Markle say “I do” at St. George’s Chapel on May 19, 2018. There were so many memorable moments from that day including then-Prince Charles walking his son’s bride down the aisle.
The future king stepped in to do so when Meghan’s own father did not attend the wedding. Now, a video after that moment shows reactions from other royals inside the church and people can’t stop talking about how Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall looked during the ceremony.
Meghan Markle walks up the aisle with then-Prince Charles in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle | Dominic Lipinski/ – Wpa Pool/Getty Images Clip shows several royals including Zara after Charles walked Meghan down the aisle
The video, uploaded to TikTok on Nov. 16, begins with Charles walking Meghan to the altar and she is all smiles. But...
The future king stepped in to do so when Meghan’s own father did not attend the wedding. Now, a video after that moment shows reactions from other royals inside the church and people can’t stop talking about how Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall looked during the ceremony.
Meghan Markle walks up the aisle with then-Prince Charles in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle | Dominic Lipinski/ – Wpa Pool/Getty Images Clip shows several royals including Zara after Charles walked Meghan down the aisle
The video, uploaded to TikTok on Nov. 16, begins with Charles walking Meghan to the altar and she is all smiles. But...
- 11/25/2023
- by Michelle Kapusta
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Mariah Carey is bringing in the holiday cheer early this year.
The “All I Want For Christmas Is You” singer announced the tour on social media.
“Yes, the actual defrosting has begun! Announcing the Merry Christmas One And All Tour!,” she wrote.
This is the second Christmas tour Carey will be going on. Last year, she went on a four-stop tour called Merry Christmas to All!, stopping only in New York City and Toronto. This year’s upcoming tour has more dates than the last and will have the Queen of Christmas make stops in cities like Denver, Baltimore and Boston.
The Merry Christmas One and All tour will make 13 stops and is set to begin on November 15 in Highland, California, and end in New York’s Madison Square Garden on December 17.
>Get Tickets For Mariah Carey Now
Merry Christmas One and All tour dates:
11-15 Highland, CA | Yaamava Casino
11-17 Los Angeles,...
The “All I Want For Christmas Is You” singer announced the tour on social media.
“Yes, the actual defrosting has begun! Announcing the Merry Christmas One And All Tour!,” she wrote.
This is the second Christmas tour Carey will be going on. Last year, she went on a four-stop tour called Merry Christmas to All!, stopping only in New York City and Toronto. This year’s upcoming tour has more dates than the last and will have the Queen of Christmas make stops in cities like Denver, Baltimore and Boston.
The Merry Christmas One and All tour will make 13 stops and is set to begin on November 15 in Highland, California, and end in New York’s Madison Square Garden on December 17.
>Get Tickets For Mariah Carey Now
Merry Christmas One and All tour dates:
11-15 Highland, CA | Yaamava Casino
11-17 Los Angeles,...
- 10/12/2023
- by Rose Anne Cox-Peralta
- Uinterview
We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about dozens of shows including Yellowstone, Insecure, Hawkeye and The Masked Singer!
1 | What are the chances that Saturday Night Live “kills off” Andrew Dismukes during the Dec. 18 episode hosted by Paul Rudd?
More from TVLineSpider-Man: No Way Home Sheds Light on a Recent Hawkeye Scene, Has Multiple Other Ties to Marvel TV ShowsThe TVLine Performers of the Week: Hailee Steinfeld and Florence PughTVLine Items: Charlie Cox's Netflix Spy Gig, American Dad! Renewed and More
2 | Did you,...
1 | What are the chances that Saturday Night Live “kills off” Andrew Dismukes during the Dec. 18 episode hosted by Paul Rudd?
More from TVLineSpider-Man: No Way Home Sheds Light on a Recent Hawkeye Scene, Has Multiple Other Ties to Marvel TV ShowsThe TVLine Performers of the Week: Hailee Steinfeld and Florence PughTVLine Items: Charlie Cox's Netflix Spy Gig, American Dad! Renewed and More
2 | Did you,...
- 12/17/2021
- by Vlada Gelman, Matt Webb Mitovich, Kimberly Roots, Andy Swift, Dave Nemetz, Rebecca Iannucci, Ryan Schwartz, Nick Caruso, Mekeisha Madden Toby, Keisha Hatchett and Charlie Mason
- TVLine.com
Ted Lasso is blessing us with two Christmases this year.
In addition to the previously released Season 2 episode “Carol of the Bells,” Apple TV+ on Wednesday announced that the Emmy-winning comedy has produced a standalone, animated holiday short which is available to watch right now.
More from TVLineSeverance: Adam Scott Strikes a Creepy Work-Life Balance in Apple TV+'s Sci-Fi Thriller -- Watch a New TeaserSuspicion First Look: Uma Thurman Abduction Drama Features Big Bang, Scorpion, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. VetsServant Renewed for Fourth and Final Season at Apple TV+
Titled “The Missing Christmas Mustache,” the four-and-a-half minute cartoon sees Beard,...
In addition to the previously released Season 2 episode “Carol of the Bells,” Apple TV+ on Wednesday announced that the Emmy-winning comedy has produced a standalone, animated holiday short which is available to watch right now.
More from TVLineSeverance: Adam Scott Strikes a Creepy Work-Life Balance in Apple TV+'s Sci-Fi Thriller -- Watch a New TeaserSuspicion First Look: Uma Thurman Abduction Drama Features Big Bang, Scorpion, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. VetsServant Renewed for Fourth and Final Season at Apple TV+
Titled “The Missing Christmas Mustache,” the four-and-a-half minute cartoon sees Beard,...
- 12/15/2021
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” will feature a few new faces in the booth tonight when The Muppets take over for a special holiday installment.
Billed as “Muppet Night Football,” the special is an expansion of the opening segments produced by ESPN’s Creative Content Unit. Kermit and Miss Piggy will make their broadcast booth debut at the top of the show, with Fozzie Bear reporting from the field and Animal, naturally, on drums. Right before kickoff of the Steelers and Bengals matchup, the Muppets characters will appear in a “Carol of the Bells” music video.
“I think they’re the best in the business,” senior coordinating producer Julie McGlone said of her team in an ESPN Radio interview on Monday. “To bring the Muppets to life in a pandemic was a huge challenge.”
She continued, “Looking at the faces on the first Muppets/Ccu Zoom call, everybody was smiling and laughing.
Billed as “Muppet Night Football,” the special is an expansion of the opening segments produced by ESPN’s Creative Content Unit. Kermit and Miss Piggy will make their broadcast booth debut at the top of the show, with Fozzie Bear reporting from the field and Animal, naturally, on drums. Right before kickoff of the Steelers and Bengals matchup, the Muppets characters will appear in a “Carol of the Bells” music video.
“I think they’re the best in the business,” senior coordinating producer Julie McGlone said of her team in an ESPN Radio interview on Monday. “To bring the Muppets to life in a pandemic was a huge challenge.”
She continued, “Looking at the faces on the first Muppets/Ccu Zoom call, everybody was smiling and laughing.
- 12/21/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to alter people’s holiday celebrations, many people are finding that watching holiday films is one tradition that can continue. While there has been no meaningful change in the percentage of speaking characters with disabilities in these top-grossing films in the past five years with just 2.3 percent of the 4,451 characters analyzed in the 100 top-grossing films of 2019 by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism having a disability, several holiday films are bucking this trend. And for the one-in-four people in the U.S. who have a disability, that means there are more opportunities to see ourselves reflected on screen.
“Christmas Ever After”
A recent premiere on Lifetime, it stars Tony award winner Ali Stroker in the lead role of Izzi Simmons – becoming the network’s first lead actor with a disability. A writer, Simmons is having a severe case of writer’s block when...
“Christmas Ever After”
A recent premiere on Lifetime, it stars Tony award winner Ali Stroker in the lead role of Izzi Simmons – becoming the network’s first lead actor with a disability. A writer, Simmons is having a severe case of writer’s block when...
- 12/10/2020
- by Lauren Appelbaum
- Variety Film + TV
With a special focus on Russia and inviting mainly first-time feature directors, the initiative presented its line-up entirely online. Industry@Tallinn International Works in Progress this year invited seven projects which were all pitched online, in a session introduced by Triin Tramberg, Industry@Tallinn Works in Progress Manager. The selection was quite versatile, with projects hailing from Ukraine, Poland, Israel, Lebanon, Germany and even the Dominican Republic, while Russia — the country in focus of this year’s Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event — was present with four projects. Ukraine’s Olesya Morgunets-Isaenko presented her sophomore feature war drama Carol of the Bells, coming two years after The Tale of Money. The film tells the story of three families – Ukrainian, Polish, and Jewish – who all lived under the same roof in the city of Stanislaviv (today’s Ivano-Frankivsk) from 1938 till 1944. When the Soviets and the Nazis occupied the city, a Ukrainian music...
- 11/26/2020
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
A total of 18 films will be showcased, including a €3m historical feature set in medieval Estonia.
The projects selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ industry showcase have been revealed, including a €3m adventure film set in medieval Estonia.
Scroll down for full list of projects
This year’s Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event will take place entirely online and will spotlight 18 films seeking sales agents or festivals for international premieres. The projects will be presented on November 24.
Both the Baltic Event, showcasing Baltic and Finnish projects, and International Works in Progress compete for the same awards: the Post Production Award worth...
The projects selected for Tallinn Black Nights’ industry showcase have been revealed, including a €3m adventure film set in medieval Estonia.
Scroll down for full list of projects
This year’s Industry@Tallinn and Baltic Event will take place entirely online and will spotlight 18 films seeking sales agents or festivals for international premieres. The projects will be presented on November 24.
Both the Baltic Event, showcasing Baltic and Finnish projects, and International Works in Progress compete for the same awards: the Post Production Award worth...
- 10/30/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
This Changes Everything — Tom Donahue’s documentary about redressing gender imbalance in Hollywood — will kick off Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival.
The feature, which was exec produced by Davis, will be accompanied by the fest's annual program Geena and Friends, featuring Davis along with an all-star group of female actors who reimagine memorable dialogue from all-male movie scenes through an all-female lens.
Joey Travolta’s 'Carol of the Bells' and Haroula Rose’s Once 'Upon a River' will make their world premieres at the fest, as Centerpiece Screening Selections.
Bff’s competition selections, including narrative ...
The feature, which was exec produced by Davis, will be accompanied by the fest's annual program Geena and Friends, featuring Davis along with an all-star group of female actors who reimagine memorable dialogue from all-male movie scenes through an all-female lens.
Joey Travolta’s 'Carol of the Bells' and Haroula Rose’s Once 'Upon a River' will make their world premieres at the fest, as Centerpiece Screening Selections.
Bff’s competition selections, including narrative ...
This Changes Everything — Tom Donahue’s documentary about redressing gender imbalance in Hollywood — will kick off Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival.
The feature, which was exec produced by Davis, will be accompanied by the fest's annual program Geena and Friends, featuring Davis along with an all-star group of female actors who reimagine memorable dialogue from all-male movie scenes through an all-female lens.
Joey Travolta’s 'Carol of the Bells' and Haroula Rose’s Once 'Upon a River' will make their world premieres at the fest, as Centerpiece Screening Selections.
Bff’s competition selections, including narrative ...
The feature, which was exec produced by Davis, will be accompanied by the fest's annual program Geena and Friends, featuring Davis along with an all-star group of female actors who reimagine memorable dialogue from all-male movie scenes through an all-female lens.
Joey Travolta’s 'Carol of the Bells' and Haroula Rose’s Once 'Upon a River' will make their world premieres at the fest, as Centerpiece Screening Selections.
Bff’s competition selections, including narrative ...
The Bentonville Film Festival announced their lineup of gala selections and competition films which includes the world premieres of Joey Travolta’s Carol of the Bells, Haroula Rose’s Once Upon a River. Co-founded by Geena Davis will kick off with a screening of Tom Donahue’s documentary This Changes Everything and a special presentation of the festival’s signature event, Geena and Friends. The fest takes place May 7-11 in Bentonville, Ark.
The fest champions more diversity and inclusiveness in the film industry and beyond. This year’s competition selections includes 15 narrative films, 14 documentaries, and 9 episodic projects. Of the lineup, 81% are female directed and 68% of the selections include a Poc director and/or cast/subject in the forefront.
“This year’s lineup of films truly exemplifies our mission and we are thrilled to highlight the work of female filmmakers, people of color, Lgbtq+, filmmakers, talent with disabilities and more — in other words,...
The fest champions more diversity and inclusiveness in the film industry and beyond. This year’s competition selections includes 15 narrative films, 14 documentaries, and 9 episodic projects. Of the lineup, 81% are female directed and 68% of the selections include a Poc director and/or cast/subject in the forefront.
“This year’s lineup of films truly exemplifies our mission and we are thrilled to highlight the work of female filmmakers, people of color, Lgbtq+, filmmakers, talent with disabilities and more — in other words,...
- 4/4/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
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