Bridgette Andersen

Born Marriah Bridget Andersen in Inglewood California to Frank Glass and Teresa Andersen Bridgette Andersen as she was known professionally was raised in Malibu California and from an early age she showed exceptional intelligence By age two she decided she wanted to be an actress and eventually began a career as a child model before breaking into acting at age seven in the 1982 TV movie Washington Mistress Later that year Andersen appeared in her most memorable role as the title character in Savannah Smiles followed by roles in Family Ties Remington Steele and as a young Mae West in the TV biopic of the actress life In 1983 Andersen appeared as Celia in the short lived sitcom Gun Shy and was also nominated for a Young Artist Award for her role in Savannah Smiles She followed up with a role in the horror film Nightmares She was nominated for a second time for a Young Artist Award for her role in Gun Shy the following year Throughout the mid1980s Andersen continued to appear in episodic television TV movies and features films including A Summer to Remember in 1985 Hotel Fever Pitch with Ryan ONeal The Golden Girls and The Parent Trap II with Hayley Mills By 1987 Andersens roles were infrequent with her only appearances being in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse and an independent film entitled Too Much One of Andersens last roles was a small part in a Pepsi commercial that aired during Super Bowl XXX on January 28 1996 Shortly before her death she performed in the independent feature Locker 28 To date the film remains unreleased Andersen was reportedly not close to her family and had little contact with them During her teen years she struggled with an addiction to heroin and at the time of her death was attempting to stay clean while working at Erewhon Health Food Store in Los Angeles CaliforniaOn May 18 1997 Andersen died of an accidental overdose of alcohol and drugs She was 21 years old On May 25 1997 funeral services were held at Malibu United Methodist Church and Andersens ashes were scattered at Zuma Beach in Malibu California