Famous Like Me > Actress > O > Heather O'Rourke
Profile of Heather O'Rourke
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Name: |
Heather O'Rourke |
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Date of Birth: |
27th December 1975 |
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Place of Birth: |
San Diego, California, USA |
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Profession: |
Actress |
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From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia Heather Michele O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988, both in San Diego, California) was an American child actress who starred in the Poltergeist movie trilogy.
Heather O'Rourke was discovered in 1980 by Steven Spielberg while eating lunch at the MGM Studios Commissary. Spielberg was looking for someone to play the part of 5-year-old "Carol-Anne Freeling" in his upcoming production of Poltergeist. He originally thought that she was too young for the part (she was four at the time) but after an interview and a "scream test", he cast her in the role.
Poltergeist was released in June 1982, and Heather's line: "They're he-eere!" entered American pop culture.
Her success in Poltergeist immediately led to television work, and in 1982-3 she was briefly a regular on the sitcom Happy Days, playing the daughter of Fonzie's girlfriend.
In 1986, Poltergeist II was released, and once again, Heather coined another pop-culture phrase, when she said "They're ba-aaack!"
Heather began filming Poltergeist III in 1987, and the movie was set to be released in 1988. Principal photography on the film lasted between April-June of 1987, and by all accounts she finished her work on the film.
On February 1, 1988, Heather became ill suddenly and was rushed to the hospital where it was discovered that she had developed an acute bowel obstruction. Despite emergency surgery, Heather died from septic shock and infection, complications of the obstruction. She was only 12 years old. MGM, which apparently had completed a re-shoot of "Poltergeist III's" climax in December of 1987, did another re-shoot in March, 1988, after Heather passed away. This time a body double was used, shot only from the back, as a stand in for Heather.
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