Mary Louise Weller, best known for playing Mandy Pepperidge in the 1978 comedy classic Animal House, has died at 79. Weller passed away on October 1 following a brief illness, just one day before her 80th birthday. Her death was announced through her Facebook account, with her family asking for privacy and thanking supporters for their kindness. Her cause of death has not been disclosed.

Born October 2, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York, Weller began her screen career in 1972 with the comedy Hail. She later appeared in an uncredited role alongside Al Pacino in Serpico and made guest appearances on television shows including Starsky and Hutch, Baretta and Kojak.

Her breakthrough came in Animal House, where she portrayed Mandy Pepperidge, a glamorous sorority sister alongside John Belushi, Tim Matheson and a young Kevin Bacon. The movie became one of the most popular comedies of the 1970s, and Weller’s performance became the role she was most widely remembered for. She later acknowledged that she had been warned the film might define her career—and that prediction ultimately came true.

Beyond Animal House, Weller appeared in films including The Bell Jar and Bloodtide, with her final screen appearance coming in 1983 on Quincy, M.E. She later stepped away from acting to pursue her love of horses and writing, becoming an accomplished equestrian. Weller is survived by her longtime partner, Michael Roy Curtis, and her cousin, author Sheila Weller. ❤️