The Greeley Police Department announced Monday it is investigating the death of one of Greeley’s homegrown Hollywood actresses. 
 
 Phyllis Amanda Peterson, 43, was found dead Sunday in her apartment in the 5100 block of 11th Street. Greeley police responded to Peterson’s home about 6 p.m. Sunday on a check well-being call after it was reported that she had missed an appointment. 
 
 Peterson’s door was unlocked when police arrived at her apartment. Officers entered and found Peterson dead inside. 
 
 The Weld County Coroner’s Office was scheduled to conduct an autopsy Monday morning to determine a cause and manner of death. Those details have not yet been released. 
 
 Peterson was one of three children born to Sylvia and Dr. James Peterson. Known in Hollywood simply as Amanda Peterson, she began her acting career at the age of 9 when she earned a supporting role in the 1982 film “Annie,” according to her IMDb.com profile. 
 
 Peterson would later use that early experience to secure roles on a number of 1980s television shows, including “Father Murphy,” “Silver Spoons” and “Boone.” 
 
 In 1985, she returned to the silver screen, acting alongside River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke, in “Explorers.” By the age of 14, Peterson had participated in more than 35 television commercials, three television series and four movies. 
 
 Peterson received her greatest international success with the 1987 comedy “Can’t Buy Me Love.” A year later she won the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Drama Series for her work on the Emmy Award-winning series “A Year in the Life.” The Young Artist Awards are considered the “Young Oscars,” according to IMDb.com. 
 
 Peterson’s other television and film credits include 1988’s “The Lawless Land,” which she starred in with her older sister Ann-Marie Peterson, 1989’s “Listen to Me,” and “Fatal Charm” released in 1990. In 1994, after participating in the memorable contemporary drama film “Windrunner,” Peterson left the entertainment industry, her IMDb.com profile stated. 

 She starred opposite Patrick Dempsey in the teen romantic drama. 
 
 Actress Amanda Peterson, best known for the 1987 romantic comedy Can't Buy Me Love, has died. She was 43. 
 
 Her father told TMZ the actress was found in her Greeley, Colo., home on Sunday. He said an official cause of death is unknown, but that "she had some illness and a sleep apnea problem that may have contributed." 
 
 Peterson starred opposite Patrick Dempsey in Can't Buy Me Love, in which she played cheerleader Cindy Mancini. She also starred opposite Ethan Hawke in the family sci-fi adventure film Explorers (1986). Other credits include an episode of Doogie Howser, M.D., and 22 episodes of the NBC drama A Year in the Life (1987-88), in which she played Sunny Sisk. 
 
 Her last credit was the 1994 fantasy/family film Windrunner. She had retired from the entertainment industry and had been living in Colorado for years at the time of her death. She did pose for some photos (below) in 2012, which are some of the only recent publicly available photos of the actress. 
 
 Photos courtesy of Ryan Hartsock of KR Productions/Twisted Pixels Photography 

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 Story highlights She was best known for her role opposite Patrick Dempsey in the 1987 movie "Can't Buy Me Love" 
 
 The family is awaiting autopsy results to determine the official cause of death 
 
 (CNN) Actress Amanda Peterson, best known for her role opposite Patrick Dempsey in the 1987 movie "Can't Buy Me Love," has died, her mother, Sylvia Peterson, said. 
 
 "She died on Friday morning. It's a big loss. Such a loveable person," Peterson said. "She had some medical problems with her heart but we don't know the cause yet." 
 
 The family is awaiting autopsy results to determine the official cause of death, Peterson said. 
 
 Amanda Peterson was 43 years old, married and living in Greeley, Colorado, where she grew up. 
 
 The actress began her film career when she was 9 years old with a part in the 1982 feature film "Annie," directed by John Huston, according to IMDB.com. 
 
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 Stars are reacting to the sad news of Amanda Peterson's death Credit: Touchstone Pictures/Everett Collection 
 
 Stars including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Scott Foley, and Lance Bass have taken to social media to react to the shocking news that Can't Buy Me Love actress Amanda Peterson has passed away at 43 — and everyone's heartbroken. 
 
 PHOTOS: Stars gone too soon 
 
 Peterson, who shot to fame as cheerleader Cindy Mancini in Steve Rash's 1987 film, was found dead at her home in Greeley, Colorado on Sunday, July 5. Police do not suspect foul play and the actress' father told TMZ that she had been suffering from a number of respiratory illnesses, including sleep apnea. 
 
 As news of her death became public, celebrities took to the Internet to express their sadness. 
 
 PHOTOS: '80s flashbacks 
 
 "When I was younger, I used to want to be #AmandaPeterson," former Buffy star Gellar wrote as she heard the sad news of the actress' passing. "I even asked my mom for a white leather fringe jacket #RipAmandaPeterson." 
 
 "Rest in Peace my dear old friend, Amanda Peterson," fellow '80s teen actress Meredith Salenger wrote, who starred alongside Peterson in Annie. "I loved you," she added, sharing a collection of childhood snaps of the two of them goofing around as children. "She was my best friend from the time I was 10-17," Salenger added as she engaged in conversation from sympathetic well-wishers. "And I always loved that part she sang too. I loved her." 
 
 Rest in Peace my dear old friend. Amanda Peterson. I loved you. pic.twitter.com/0oZj8xvaGg — Meredith Salenger (@MeredthSalenger) July 7, 2015 
 
 PHOTOS: Stars we've lost 
 
 Take a look below at some of the other tributes that are emerging online for Peterson. 
 
 Say it ain't so! Cindy Mancini has passed away! ; ( RIP Amanda Peterson / #CantBuyMeLove — Lance Bass (@LanceBass) July 7, 2015 
 
 RIP Amanda Peterson. The teen in me is heartbroken. — scott foley (@scottkfoley) July 7, 2015 
 
 One of my first crushes ever died today. She was young, talented and beautiful. RIP #AmandaPeterson...thank you for the beautiful dreams. — Will Friedle (@willfriedle) July 6, 2015 
 
 Cindy Mancini was my first crush. RIP Amanda Peterson. — Donald Faison (@donald_faison) July 6, 2015 
 
 Peterson is survived by her second husband, David Hartley, and her two children. 
 
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 Amanda Peterson 'Can't Buy Me Love' Star Dies at 43 
 
 Amanda Peterson Dies -- 'Can't Buy Me Love' Star Dead at 43 
 
 EXCLUSIVE 
 
 Amanda Peterson -- star of the flick "Can't Buy Me Love" -- has died at her home in Greeley, Colorado ... TMZ has learned. 
 
 We spoke with Peterson's father who tells us ... the family hadn't heard from 43-year-old Amanda since July 3rd and became concerned. Her body was finally discovered in her home on July 5. 
 
 As for cause of death, Peterson's father tells us they don't know the official cause of death -- but notes, "She had some illness and a sleep apnea problem that may have contributed." 
 
 We're also told Peterson had been dealing with several medical issues over the past 2 years -- including pneumonia, sinusitis and sleep apnea. Peterson's father also says she had been living in a home with mold issues ... but moved out about a year ago. 
 
 Peterson became a superstar playing Cindy Mancini opposite Patrick Dempsey in the 1987 romantic comedy ... but she left the entertainment industry altogether in 1994 and had been living in Colorado for years. 
 
 We're told she went back to school several years ago -- but dropped out around 2010. Recently, we're told she had been trying to make it as a writer. 

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– Amanda Peterson, who starred as cheerleader Cindy Mancini in the 1987 rom-com Can't Buy Me Love, has been found dead in her apartment in Greeley, Colo. She was 43. While the official cause of death isn't known, Peterson's dad tells TMZ "she had some illness and a sleep apnea problem that may have contributed." Her mom says "she had some medical problems with her heart," per CNN. Peterson had suffered from pneumonia and sinusitis in recent years; she reportedly lived in a home with mold problems last year. Family members grew worried when they hadn’t heard from her on Friday. Her body was found by police on Sunday. An autopsy is scheduled for today, reports the Greeley Tribune. Though best known for her movie role opposite Patrick Dempsey, Peterson also starred alongside Ethan Hawke in Explorers in 1986 and appeared in NBC’s TV drama A Year in the Life beginning in 1987, reports the Hollywood Reporter. The latter role earned her a Young Artist Award, known as a "Young Oscar," notes the Tribune. Peterson left the entertainment industry in 1994 and made Colorado her home. She'd most recently been trying to work as a writer, according to TMZ. With the news of her death, celebrities including Lance Bass, Scott Foley, Mario Lopez, and Sarah Michelle Gellar took to Twitter to remember the actress, who leaves behind a husband and two children, reports Us Weekly. (We've lost these stars recently, too.)