Mary Louise Weller, who played sorority girl Mandy Pepperidge in the 1978 comedy classic Animal House and had two dozen other film and TV credits, died October 1 after a brief illness — one day before her 80th birthday.
Weller had played bit roles in a pair of movies and guested on TV dramas Kojak and Baretta before landing the Mandy role in John Landis’ early-’60s college tale Animal House. It was a key supporting role, with the character being the girlfriend of Greg, president of Delta Tau Chi’s rival fraternity, and who had a fling with Delta’s Otter (Tim Matheson).
The queen bee of her Pi sorority, Mandy is riding a float during the climatic homecoming parade scene when she is abducted by pirate-clad John “Bluto” Blutarsky (John Belushi) of the Delta house. In the film’s “What became of…” epilogue, Mandy is seen snuggling with Bluto as they drive off in a convertible and ID’d as Senator and Mrs. Blutarsky.
Born on October 2, 1946, in New York City, Weller’s post-Animal House career saw her guesting on such popular TV series as Starsky & Hutch, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, B.J. and the Bear, Vega$ and twice on Fantasy Island and CHiPs. She co-starred opposite Chuck Norris in the 1982 big-screen crime thriller Forced Vengeance and also appeared that same year the features Bloodtide and Q: The Winger Serpent.
Her final credit was a 1983 episode of the Jack Klugman-led crime drama Quincy, M.E.
Information on survivors or a memorial service was not available.