Celebrity matchmaker Amber Kelleher-Andrews dies at 56

Amber Kelleher-Andrews, a renowned Hollywood matchmaker who worked with stars like Eva Longoria, Hoda Kotb, and Paula Abdul, has passed away at the age of 56.

According to a statement from her family shared with DailyMail.com, Kelleher-Andrews died on April 13 following a prolonged battle with ovarian cancer. She will be laid to rest in Hanalei, Hawaii. Kelleher-Andrews, who initially worked as a model and actress, became widely recognized in the relationship consulting world. She starred alongside Eva Longoria in the 2013 NBC reality series Ready for Love and made expert appearances on programs such as Good Morning America, Today, and 20/20. Throughout her career, she worked with a range of high-profile clients including singer Paula Abdul, comedian David Spade, and former NFL player Terrell Owens.

Her cousin, Morgan Kelleher, shared that Amber was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2017. Although her cancer initially went into remission within three months, it later returned more aggressively. Morgan described her resilience, noting that she fought for months without complaint, maintaining her humor and positivity throughout.

Kelleher-Andrews was the CEO of Kelleher International, one of the largest matchmaking firms in the United States, founded by her mother, Jill Kelleher-Andrews, in 1986. In addition to her matchmaking career, she served on the board of Virgin Unite, the nonprofit arm of Virgin Group. Virgin founder Richard Branson paid tribute to her, writing on X that Kelleher-Andrews was "a treasure — radiating joy, love, and purpose wherever she went."

Aside from matchmaking, Kelleher-Andrews had a background in acting, appearing under the stage name Amber Van Lent in 1990s films such as Bloodsport III, Mind Rage, and Lying Eyes, as well as TV series like Baywatch and Melrose Place.

Morgan Kelleher said she would want to be remembered as a joyful mother who loved swimming, dancing, singing, and cherishing every sunset.