Poltergeist, the 1982 horror classic directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg, remains one of the most acclaimed films in the genre, holding an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes. But behind its enduring popularity lies a series of real tragedies involving members of its cast, which have become part of the franchise's unsettling legacy.
The story behind the film
Poltergeist follows the Freeling family, whose California home becomes the centre of escalating paranormal activity after their young daughter, Carol Anne, begins communicating with spirits through the family television. The film is said to have drawn inspiration from the Hermann family of Long Island, who claimed their home was haunted during the 1950s.
Dominique Dunne's murder
Dominique Dunne, who played eldest daughter Dana in the original film, was murdered later that same year at age 22. Her former partner, John Sweeney, went to her home after their separation and strangled her when she refused to reconcile with him. She later died from her injuries. Sweeney was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and was released after serving three years and seven months.
Heather O'Rourke's death at 12
Heather O'Rourke, who played Carol Anne across all three films starting at age six, died in 1988 at just 12 years old. She had been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease the previous year, and after falling ill again, her symptoms were initially mistaken for the flu. She collapsed and suffered cardiac arrest, and died during surgery to correct a bowel obstruction. It was later believed she had actually been suffering from a congenital intestinal abnormality rather than Crohn's Disease. Poltergeist III was released four months after her death.
Further losses among the cast
Julian Beck, who played the preacher Kane in Poltergeist II: The Other Side, died from stomach cancer in 1985, shortly after completing filming, having been diagnosed with the illness in 1983. Will Sampson, who played shaman Taylor in the same film, died in 1987 following heart-lung surgery related to scleroderma.
Added to the film's eerie reputation
Other stories have contributed to the franchise's "cursed" mythology over the years, including an unverified claim from actress JoBeth Williams that real human skeletons were used as props during filming for cost reasons. Sampson, who was also a practising medicine man, is reported to have performed an authentic exorcism ritual after filming wrapped one night.
