Bridgette Andersen, whose given name is Marriah Bridget Andersen, hailed from Inglewood, California, where she first drew breath, and it was there that she was born to her parents, Frank Glass and Teresa Andersen.
As a precocious child, Andersen's initial foray into the entertainment industry began as a model, showcasing her captivating charm to the world. Her acting career, however, truly took off at the tender age of seven when she made her television debut in the 1982 TV movie, Washington Mistress. This early start paved the way for her subsequent appearances in notable roles, including the title character in the 1982 film, Savannah Smiles, which catapulted her to fame.
Andersen's impressive resume continued to grow as she landed roles in popular television shows such as Family Ties, Remington Steele, and the TV biopic, Mae West, where she portrayed the legendary actress in her youth. In 1983, she took on the role of Celia in the short-lived sitcom, Gun Shy, earning a nomination for a Young Artist Award for her outstanding performance in Savannah Smiles.
The following year, Andersen appeared in the horror film, Nightmares, garnering a second nomination for a Young Artist Award for her role in Gun Shy. Throughout the mid-1980s, she continued to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry, appearing in a variety of episodic television shows, TV movies, and feature films, including A Summer to Remember in 1985, Hotel, Fever Pitch alongside Ryan O'Neal, The Golden Girls, and The Parent Trap II with Hayley Mills.
As her career progressed, Andersen's versatility and range became increasingly evident, solidifying her position as a talented young actress of her time.
By the late 1980s, Mieke Andersen's acting career had slowed down significantly, with her only notable appearances being a single episode of the CBS Summer Playhouse series and a small independent film titled Too Much. This marked a substantial decrease in her on-screen presence, which was a stark contrast to her earlier years as a rising star.
One of Andersen's final roles was a minor part in a high-profile Pepsi commercial that aired during Super Bowl XXX on January 28, 1996. This commercial was a significant event in the world of advertising, and Andersen's inclusion in it was a testament to her enduring appeal as a performer.
In the years leading up to her untimely passing, Andersen continued to work on various projects, including the independent feature Locker 28, which remains unreleased to this day. Despite her efforts to revive her acting career, Andersen struggled with personal demons, including a reported addiction to heroin during her teenage years.
At the time of her death, Andersen was reportedly working hard to overcome her addiction and rebuild her life. She had secured a job at Erewhon Health Food Store in Los Angeles, California, and was determined to stay clean and start anew.
On the eighteenth of May, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, a young life was tragically cut short due to an unintended and unfortunate consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol and drugs, resulting in the untimely passing of a twenty-one-year-old individual.
A solemn and dignified funeral service was subsequently held at the Malibu United Methodist Church on the twenty-fifth of May, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, where loved ones and friends gathered to pay their respects and bid a final farewell to the deceased.
In a poignant and symbolic gesture, the ashes of the deceased were later scattered at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California, a beautiful and serene coastal location that serves as a reminder of the transience of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
