Dominique Dunne

Dominique Dunne (November 23 1959 – November 4 1982) was an American actress. Dunne made appearances in several made for television movies, television series, and films, but is probably best known for her role as the oldest daughter, Dana, in the 1982 film Poltergeist. Dunne was born in Santa Monica, California, the daughter of Ellen Griffin, a ranching heiress, and producer/journalist/novelist Dominick Dunne. She was also the niece of novelists John Gregory Dunne and his wife, Joan Didion, and the sister of actor and director Griffin Dunne. Dunne attended schools in Los Angeles, California as well as Fountain Valley School and Colorado State University. After spending a year in Italy, Dunne worked for a short period in L.A. as a receptionist and translator for the Italian Trade Commission but eventually turned to acting. Dunne's first role was in the 1979 made for TV movie Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. She then got small roles in episodes of popular 1980s television series such as Family, Hart to Hart and Fame. She also appeared in four episodes of the short lived TV series Breaking Away and several more made for TV movies. After three years, she finally received her big break with a starring role in producer Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist, which was directed by Tobe Hooper. After Poltergeist, she appeared in the final season premiere of "CHiPs" and the 1982 TV movie The Shadow Riders with Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott. In the fall of 1981, after completing work on Poltergeist, Dunne met and later moved in with a popular Los Angeles chef, John Thomas Sweeney, who was working at the restaurant Ma Maison. After a short and abusive relationship, Dunne ended her relationship with Sweeney. A few weeks later, Sweeney strangled Dunne in the driveway of her home after she refused to reconcile with him. She died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California a few days later, at the age of 22. Her last TV appearance, aired after her death, was in an episode of Hill Street Blues. She played a teenage mother who is a victim of parental abuse. Some of her bruise marks were actual bruises inflicted from abuse by Sweeney the night before filming. The episode was dedicated to her memory. Sweeney was convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison. He served less than four years before his release, having been given credit for time served before conviction. Dominique Dunne was buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery near family friend Natalie Wood. In 1988, Heather O'Rourke, Dunne's young Poltergeist co-star, was buried near her. Dunne had been cast as Robin Maxwell in the 1983 miniseries V and had been filmed only briefly before her death. The role was recast with actress Blair Tefkin. The only scene in which Dunne appears, according to the DVD director's commentary by series creator Kenneth Johnson, is the scene in which the Maxwells and others watch the L.A. mothership glide in on the day the Visitors first arrive. Dunne's back is all that is seen. The original miniseries is dedicated to Dominique Dunne.

External links

• Dominique Dunne at the Internet Movie Database
• Find A Death - Dominique Dunne
• Dominique Dunne memorial at Find A Grave
• Justice for Homicide Victims - The official site of the victim’s rights organization founded by Dominique’s mother in 1984
• Tony’s Chamber - Ode to Dominique Dunne
• Dominique Dunne memorial site