Colorado History: Promising TV and Film Actress’ Tragic Life

While it goes without saying that when you think of celebrities and where they come from, places like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are typically the first that come to mind.

However, Colorado has also produced a number of stars over the years including Tim Allen, Jon Heder, and an actress whose promising career, and life, were tragically cut short by the name of Phyllis Peterson.

Colorado Actress Phyllis Peterson's Early Life

A resident of Greeley, Colorado, Phyllis Peterson's acting career began at the ripe young age of seven where she starred in a stage production of The Sound of Music at the University of Northern Colorado.

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Peterson would continue acting throughout the 1980s when her roles would expand to commercials, TV shows including Father Murphy and Silver Spoons, and eventually films. Fame would come quickly for Peterson with her landing a lead role in the 1986 film Can't Buy Me Love at the age of 15.

The remainder of the 1980s would see Peterson star in a number of popular television shows and films, cementing her reputation as a teen idol of the time, but by 1994 she would star in her final acting role and leave the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and return to her hometown of Greeley to attend college.

Colorado Actress Phyllis Peterson's Later Life

With acting in her rearview mirror, Peterson found herself back in Colorado where she attended college without finishing and was married and divorced twice.

It was at the turn of the 21st Century that Peterson's life took a tragic turn as she was arrested multiple times for crimes involving drugs, alcohol, and assault, for which she spent some time behind bars.

However, Peterson's troubled adult life would take a tragic turn in 2015 as on July 5th, Greeley Police found the actress deceased in her apartment at the age of 43. The cause of death would later be determined to be an accidental drug overdose.

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11 Celebrities You May Not Know Are From Colorado

When you think of celebrities, you typically relate them to places like Los Angeles or New York. However, there are quite a few celebrities that are from right here in Colorado that you may not know about.

These 11 celebrities are all from Colorado.

Gallery Credit: Nate Wilde