Autopsy: 'Can't Buy Me Love' actress Amanda Peterson died from accidental overdose

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — The death of Amanda Peterson, best known for her role in the 1987 romantic comedy "Can't Buy Me Love," was the result of an accidental morphine overdose.

The autopsy and toxicology report released Wednesday by the Weld County Coroner's Office concluded that Peterson, 43, ingested a friend's morphine medication for unspecified pain a week before her death, The Greeley Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1L6zl9e ).

Doctors didn't find recent morphine prescriptions for Peterson. But she had been prescribed multiple medications for lung and heart disease. She was also prescribed Gabapentin after a recent hysterectomy.

The coroner's office found high levels of Gabapentin in her body but concluded Peterson died from respiratory depression because of a morphine overdose.

The Greeley, Colorado native was found dead July 5 at her apartment by herself.

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.

Peterson also had roles in the TV series' "Father Murphy," "Silver Spoons" and "Doogie Howser."

She worked alongside River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke in the 1985 fantasy movie "Explorers," but her most well known role would come two years later when she got the lead in the romantic comedy "Can't Buy Me Love." She played the the most popular girl in high school, who is paid $1,000 by the class outcast to hang out with him. Eventually they fall in love. The outcast was played by Patrick Dempsey.

Peterson was nominated for a Young Artist award for that role, but did not win. She did win the Young Artist award later that year for her role in the TV drama "A Year in the Life."

Her last credited movie role was in the 1994 film "Windrunner," according to IMDB.com.