Bridgette Andersen
Encyclopedia
Bridgette Andersen was an American
child actress best known for her part in the title role of the 1982 comedy Savannah Smiles
.
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 mid-1980s, Andersen continued to appear in episodic television, TV movies and features films, including: A Summer to Remember in 1985, Hotel
, Fever Pitch with Ryan O'Neal
, The Golden Girls
, and The Parent Trap II
with Hayley Mills
.
By 1987, Andersen's roles were infrequent with her only appearances being in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse
and an independent film
entitled Too Much. One of Andersen's 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.
while working at Erewhon Health Food Store in Los Angeles, California
.
On 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 Andersen's ashes were scattered at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
child actress best known for her part in the title role of the 1982 comedy Savannah Smiles
Savannah Smiles
Savannah Smiles is a 1982 family comedy film starring Bridgette Andersen, Donovan Scott, Mark Miller, Peter Graves and Barbara Stanger.-Plot summary:...
.
Early life and career
Born Marriah Bridget Andersen in Inglewood, CaliforniaInglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
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
Child modeling
A child model refers to a child who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art, such as photography, painting and sculpture.-Practice:...
before breaking into acting at age seven in the 1982 TV movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
, Washington Mistress. Later that year, Andersen appeared in her most memorable role as the title character in Savannah Smiles
Savannah Smiles
Savannah Smiles is a 1982 family comedy film starring Bridgette Andersen, Donovan Scott, Mark Miller, Peter Graves and Barbara Stanger.-Plot summary:...
, followed by roles in Family Ties
Family Ties
Family Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young...
, Remington Steele
Remington Steele
Remington Steele is an American television series, co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from 1982 to 1987. The series blended the genres of romantic...
, and as a young Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
in the TV biopic
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
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
Young Artist Award
The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...
for her role in Savannah Smiles. She followed up with a role in the horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, Nightmares
Nightmares (1983 film)
Nightmares is a 1983 film with four tales of horror, starring Emilio Estevez, Lance Henriksen, Cristina Raines, Veronica Cartwright and Richard Masur. The film is directed by T.V. veteran Joseph Sargent and began as a television project of four horror stories. The results were deemed too strong for...
. She was nominated for a second time for a Young Artist Award for her role in Gun Shy the following year.
Throughout the mid-1980s, Andersen continued to appear in episodic television, TV movies and features films, including: A Summer to Remember in 1985, Hotel
Hotel (TV series)
Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty....
, Fever Pitch with Ryan O'Neal
Ryan O'Neal
Charles Patrick Ryan O'Neal , better known as Ryan O'Neal, is an American actor best known for his appearances in the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place and for his roles in such films as Paper Moon , Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon , A Bridge Too Far , and Love Story , for which he received...
, The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls
The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...
, and The Parent Trap II
The Parent Trap II
The Parent Trap II is a 1986 television film. It is a continuation to the Walt Disney Pictures 1961 film, The Parent Trap. It aired on July 26, 1986 on The Disney Channel as a part of the channel's "Sunday Night Movie". Hayley Mills is the only actor who returned from the original film...
with Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award...
.
By 1987, Andersen's roles were infrequent with her only appearances being in an episode of CBS Summer Playhouse
CBS Summer Playhouse
CBS Summer Playhouse is an American anthology series that ran from June 12, 1987 to August 22, 1989 on CBS. It aired unsold television pilots during the summer season.-Overview:...
and an independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
entitled Too Much. One of Andersen's last roles was a small part in a Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
commercial that aired during Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX was an American football game played on January 28, 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona to decide the National Football League champion following the 1995 regular season...
on January 28, 1996. Shortly before her death, she performed in the independent feature Locker 28. To date, the film remains unreleased.
Death
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 cleanSobriety
Sobriety is the condition of not having any measurable levels, or effects from, alcohol or other drugs that alter ones mood or behaviors. According to WHO "Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms..." sobriety is continued abstinence from alcohol and psychoactive drug use...
while working at Erewhon Health Food Store in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
On May 18, 1997, Andersen died of an accidental overdose of alcohol and drugs
Drug overdose
The term drug overdose describes the ingestion or application of a drug or other substance in quantities greater than are recommended or generally practiced...
. She was 21 years old. On May 25, 1997, funeral services were held at Malibu United Methodist Church and Andersen's ashes were scattered at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Washington Mistress | Jenny | Television movie |
| 1982 | King's Crossing King's Crossing King's Crossing is a short-lived 1982 nighttime soap opera which aired on ABC from January 16, 1982 to February 27, 1982 for seven episodes.Its roots can be found in the 1980 drama Secrets of Midland Heights, which aired on CBS for eight episodes... |
Mimi Hadary | Episode: "Triangle" |
| 1982 | Mae West | Mae (Age 7) | Television movie |
| 1982 | Savannah Smiles Savannah Smiles Savannah Smiles is a 1982 family comedy film starring Bridgette Andersen, Donovan Scott, Mark Miller, Peter Graves and Barbara Stanger.-Plot summary:... |
Savannah | |
| 1982 | Family Ties Family Ties Family Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young... |
Young Mallory | Episode: "A Christmas Story" |
| 1983 | Gun Shy | Celia | 6 episodes |
| 1983 | Nightmares Nightmares (1983 film) Nightmares is a 1983 film with four tales of horror, starring Emilio Estevez, Lance Henriksen, Cristina Raines, Veronica Cartwright and Richard Masur. The film is directed by T.V. veteran Joseph Sargent and began as a television project of four horror stories. The results were deemed too strong for... |
Brooke Houston | Segment: "Night of the Rat" |
| 1983 | Fantasy Island Fantasy Island Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:... |
Episode: "Random Choices/My Mother, the Swinger" | |
| 1983 | Faerie Tale Theatre Faerie Tale Theatre Faerie Tale Theatre is a live-action children's television anthology series retelling popular fairy tales. Shelley Duvall serves as narrator, host and executive producer of the program, and occasionally stars in episodes... |
Gretel | Episode: "Hansel and Gretel" |
| 1984 | Remington Steele Remington Steele Remington Steele is an American television series, co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from 1982 to 1987. The series blended the genres of romantic... |
Angel Gallen | Episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Steele" |
| 1984 | The Mississippi | Abagail Marshall | Episode: "Abigail" |
| 1984 | The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. | Television movie | |
| 1985 | A Summer to Remember | Jill | Television movie |
| 1985 | Hotel Hotel (TV series) Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May 5, 1988 in the timeslot following Dynasty.... |
Lindsay Pomeroy | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| 1985 | Fever Pitch Fever Pitch (1985 film) Fever Pitch is a 1985 American film starring Ryan O'Neal, and written and directed by Richard Brooks.This turned out to be the final film for Brooks, director of such acclaimed pictures as Blackboard Jungle, Elmer Gantry, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and In Cold Blood.The film failed at the box-office... |
Amy | |
| 1986 | The Golden Girls The Golden Girls The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida... |
Charley | Episode: "The Truth Will Out" |
| 1986 | Between Two Women | Kate Petherton | Television movie |
| 1986 | The Parent Trap II The Parent Trap II The Parent Trap II is a 1986 television film. It is a continuation to the Walt Disney Pictures 1961 film, The Parent Trap. It aired on July 26, 1986 on The Disney Channel as a part of the channel's "Sunday Night Movie". Hayley Mills is the only actor who returned from the original film... |
Mary Grand | Television movie |
| 1987 | Too Much | Susie | |
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse CBS Summer Playhouse CBS Summer Playhouse is an American anthology series that ran from June 12, 1987 to August 22, 1989 on CBS. It aired unsold television pilots during the summer season.-Overview:... |
Jamie | Episode: "Doctors Wilde" |
| 1993 | Beverly Hills, 90210 Beverly Hills, 90210 Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise... |
High School Newspaper Journalist | Episode: "Something in the Air" |
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Young Artist Award Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... |
Best Young Motion Picture Actress | Savannah Smiles | Nominated |
| 1984 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series | Gun Shy | Nominated |
| 1985 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actress - Guest in a Television Series | The Mississippi | Nominated |
| 1986 | Young Artist Award | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Television Special or Mini-Series | A Summer to Remember | Nominated |