Post by Harriet on Mar 22, 2008 8:04:31 GMT -5
Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress, best known for her role in the Poltergeist film trilogy.
Born Heather Michele O'Rourke in San Diego, California, she was discovered at the age of five by Steven Spielberg while having lunch at the MGM Studios Commissary with her mother and older sister Tammy O'Rourke, a dancer in the film Pennies From Heaven. Spielberg, who was preparing to film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, was also looking for a child to play the role of Carol-Anne Freeling in his upcoming production of Poltergeist and when he approached Heather inquiring if she had any acting experience, she advised him that she was not allowed to talk to strangers. Despite her initial shyness, an interview soon followed and she was cast in the part.
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 1982–83 she was a regular on the sitcom Happy Days, playing the daughter of Fonzie's girlfriend.
In between Heather's numerous television appearances, Poltergeist II was filmed and released in 1986 and once again, she delivered another pop culture phrase, "They're ba-aaack!".
When production of Poltergeist III began in early 1987, Heather had been ill for several months with what was eventually diagnosed as Crohn's disease, and subsequently underwent medical treatment during parts of the filming, which took place in Chicago, Illinois. Principal photography lasted between April and June of that year, with June 1988 as its scheduled release date, and by all accounts Heather finished her work on the film. After a family vacation, she returned home to California, her illness apparently in remission.
Heather remained healthy and symptom-free until January 31, 1988, when she again began to show signs of illness. The following morning her condition worsened and while being taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, Heather suffered cardiac-arrest. She was successfully resuscitated and immediately airlifted by air ambulance helicopter to the PICU at Children's Hospital in San Diego where it was discovered that she had developed an acute bowel obstruction. Despite surviving emergency surgery, she died of complications caused primarily by septic shock resulting from the obstruction and ensuing infection. She had only recently turned 12.
MGM decided to re-shoot the ending of Poltergeist III in March 1988 using a body double stand-in. The director of the film, Gary Sherman, claims the ending was not a re-shoot, and that Heather died "before they could film the original ending." However, his claim is unsubstantiated, as the finished film was rated "PG" by the MPAA in November 1987, before Heather died.
Heather was interred in a niche on the outer wall of the "Sanctuary Of Tenderness" mausoleum at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Her tomb is close to that of the late Dominique Dunne, who played her sister in Poltergeist.
[glow=red,2,300]
Trivia [/glow]President of her class in the 5th grade.
Her mother claimed a wrong diagnosis was responsible for her death.
During all the horrors that proceeded while filming Poltergeist (1982), only one scene really scared her: that in which she had to hold onto the headboard, while a wind machine blew toys into the closet behind her. She fell apart; Steven Spielberg stopped everything, put her in his arms, and said that she would not have to do that scene again. (Cinefantasque, July 1988)
In real life, she loved to go shopping. But according to her mother Kathy, shopping with Heather was a tremendous effort. The girl had to have everything match, from shoes to earrings. She also loved to make and eat sweets, and was the student-body president at her school. For a pet, she had a St. Bernard. Her home life did not, ironically, include the viewing of certain films...particularly not horror films.
Fellow cast members described Heather as having a calming influence on the set. They also described cast meetings with her: everyone would be quickly leafing through the script, while Heather was sitting calmly. Being able to memorize 60 pages of script an hour, she would have already memorized the entire script.
During the filming of Poltergeist III (1988), she suffered flu-like symptoms. The symptoms were a result of congenital intestinal stenosis (blockage), which ultimately claimed her life.
She died while on hiatus from filming Poltergeist III (1988), her final movie, which is dedicated to her memory. She was replaced with a blonde stand-in.
Performed from age 3 in numerous commercials before her Poltergeist (1982) role, most notably for Mattel and McDonalds. She started modeling in 1979 for Mattel "Tuff Stuff" Number Blocks.
As a gift from the crew, she got to keep the goldfish from Poltergeist (1982).
She grew very close to director Gary Sherman while filming Poltergeist III (1988), and was very proud of the fact that she performed all her own stuntwork for this movie.
Her last words were "I love you" spoken to her mother.
Never took acting classes.
Acted in her middle school Library/Literature Club's production of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" in her nightgown with her favorite teddy bear in December of 1987.
Could read at age 5.
Never refused an autograph.
Rests in a mausoleum next to Truman Capote and Mel Tormé.
Tried out for the role of Vicki on "Small Wonder" (1985).
Born at 12:28 AM Pacific Standard Time.
Was a fraternal twin to an unborn baby brother.
Sister of actress Tammy O'Rourke.
Ranked #65 on VH1's '100 Greatest Kid Actors' special.
Her line, "They're here", ranked #69 on the 'AFI'S TOP 100 Movie Quotes' special which aired on CBS. She also holds the distinction of being the youngest (age 5 at the time) actor/actress to utter the line that made the list.
Was a straight-A student throughout her entire school career.
Her favorite movie of all time was Disney's Dumbo (1941), and her favorite movie she appeared in was the original Poltergeist (1982).
Her favorite TV shows were "Three's Company" (1977) and "The Benny Hill Show" (1969).
Some of her lesser known creative talents were calligraphy, drawing, baking, singing, and dancing.
Was an avid reader; her former 7th Grade English teacher honors this passion of hers by making all her students observe was she calls "Heather O'Rourke Love of Reading Week"; the last book she was reading was "Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl"
Astonished Steven Spielberg in his office during her initial interview with her ability to read the Poltergeist (1982) script aloud.
Planned to attend college at UCLA and major in filmmaking.
Of Danish-Irish descent and heritage
Mentioned in Denis Leary's "Downtrodden Song," the finale to his one man show "No Cure For Cancer," where he names a bunch of famous people who died. He calls her "The chick from the Poltergeist movies".
Appeared on the doll box for Mattel's "My First Barbie" in 1980.
Heather's Poltergeist III (1988) co-star Tom Skerritt was one of her pallbearers at her funeral.
Is buried in the same cemetery as Poltergeist costar Dominique Dunne.
Nickname
Bernie
Heath
[glow=red,2,300]Awards [/glow]
1987 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Starring in a Feature Film - Comedy or Drama in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
1986 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Television Special or Mini-Series in Surviving (1985) (TV)
1985 - Won - Young Artist Award Best Young Actress - Guest in a Television Series in "Webster" (1983)
1984 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Best Young Actress, Guest in a Television Series in"Webster" (1983)
1983 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series in"Happy Days" (1974)
Best Young Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in Poltergeist (1982)
Born Heather Michele O'Rourke in San Diego, California, she was discovered at the age of five by Steven Spielberg while having lunch at the MGM Studios Commissary with her mother and older sister Tammy O'Rourke, a dancer in the film Pennies From Heaven. Spielberg, who was preparing to film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, was also looking for a child to play the role of Carol-Anne Freeling in his upcoming production of Poltergeist and when he approached Heather inquiring if she had any acting experience, she advised him that she was not allowed to talk to strangers. Despite her initial shyness, an interview soon followed and she was cast in the part.
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 1982–83 she was a regular on the sitcom Happy Days, playing the daughter of Fonzie's girlfriend.
In between Heather's numerous television appearances, Poltergeist II was filmed and released in 1986 and once again, she delivered another pop culture phrase, "They're ba-aaack!".
When production of Poltergeist III began in early 1987, Heather had been ill for several months with what was eventually diagnosed as Crohn's disease, and subsequently underwent medical treatment during parts of the filming, which took place in Chicago, Illinois. Principal photography lasted between April and June of that year, with June 1988 as its scheduled release date, and by all accounts Heather finished her work on the film. After a family vacation, she returned home to California, her illness apparently in remission.
Heather remained healthy and symptom-free until January 31, 1988, when she again began to show signs of illness. The following morning her condition worsened and while being taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, Heather suffered cardiac-arrest. She was successfully resuscitated and immediately airlifted by air ambulance helicopter to the PICU at Children's Hospital in San Diego where it was discovered that she had developed an acute bowel obstruction. Despite surviving emergency surgery, she died of complications caused primarily by septic shock resulting from the obstruction and ensuing infection. She had only recently turned 12.
MGM decided to re-shoot the ending of Poltergeist III in March 1988 using a body double stand-in. The director of the film, Gary Sherman, claims the ending was not a re-shoot, and that Heather died "before they could film the original ending." However, his claim is unsubstantiated, as the finished film was rated "PG" by the MPAA in November 1987, before Heather died.
Heather was interred in a niche on the outer wall of the "Sanctuary Of Tenderness" mausoleum at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Her tomb is close to that of the late Dominique Dunne, who played her sister in Poltergeist.
[glow=red,2,300]
Trivia [/glow]President of her class in the 5th grade.
Her mother claimed a wrong diagnosis was responsible for her death.
During all the horrors that proceeded while filming Poltergeist (1982), only one scene really scared her: that in which she had to hold onto the headboard, while a wind machine blew toys into the closet behind her. She fell apart; Steven Spielberg stopped everything, put her in his arms, and said that she would not have to do that scene again. (Cinefantasque, July 1988)
In real life, she loved to go shopping. But according to her mother Kathy, shopping with Heather was a tremendous effort. The girl had to have everything match, from shoes to earrings. She also loved to make and eat sweets, and was the student-body president at her school. For a pet, she had a St. Bernard. Her home life did not, ironically, include the viewing of certain films...particularly not horror films.
Fellow cast members described Heather as having a calming influence on the set. They also described cast meetings with her: everyone would be quickly leafing through the script, while Heather was sitting calmly. Being able to memorize 60 pages of script an hour, she would have already memorized the entire script.
During the filming of Poltergeist III (1988), she suffered flu-like symptoms. The symptoms were a result of congenital intestinal stenosis (blockage), which ultimately claimed her life.
She died while on hiatus from filming Poltergeist III (1988), her final movie, which is dedicated to her memory. She was replaced with a blonde stand-in.
Performed from age 3 in numerous commercials before her Poltergeist (1982) role, most notably for Mattel and McDonalds. She started modeling in 1979 for Mattel "Tuff Stuff" Number Blocks.
As a gift from the crew, she got to keep the goldfish from Poltergeist (1982).
She grew very close to director Gary Sherman while filming Poltergeist III (1988), and was very proud of the fact that she performed all her own stuntwork for this movie.
Her last words were "I love you" spoken to her mother.
Never took acting classes.
Acted in her middle school Library/Literature Club's production of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" in her nightgown with her favorite teddy bear in December of 1987.
Could read at age 5.
Never refused an autograph.
Rests in a mausoleum next to Truman Capote and Mel Tormé.
Tried out for the role of Vicki on "Small Wonder" (1985).
Born at 12:28 AM Pacific Standard Time.
Was a fraternal twin to an unborn baby brother.
Sister of actress Tammy O'Rourke.
Ranked #65 on VH1's '100 Greatest Kid Actors' special.
Her line, "They're here", ranked #69 on the 'AFI'S TOP 100 Movie Quotes' special which aired on CBS. She also holds the distinction of being the youngest (age 5 at the time) actor/actress to utter the line that made the list.
Was a straight-A student throughout her entire school career.
Her favorite movie of all time was Disney's Dumbo (1941), and her favorite movie she appeared in was the original Poltergeist (1982).
Her favorite TV shows were "Three's Company" (1977) and "The Benny Hill Show" (1969).
Some of her lesser known creative talents were calligraphy, drawing, baking, singing, and dancing.
Was an avid reader; her former 7th Grade English teacher honors this passion of hers by making all her students observe was she calls "Heather O'Rourke Love of Reading Week"; the last book she was reading was "Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl"
Astonished Steven Spielberg in his office during her initial interview with her ability to read the Poltergeist (1982) script aloud.
Planned to attend college at UCLA and major in filmmaking.
Of Danish-Irish descent and heritage
Mentioned in Denis Leary's "Downtrodden Song," the finale to his one man show "No Cure For Cancer," where he names a bunch of famous people who died. He calls her "The chick from the Poltergeist movies".
Appeared on the doll box for Mattel's "My First Barbie" in 1980.
Heather's Poltergeist III (1988) co-star Tom Skerritt was one of her pallbearers at her funeral.
Is buried in the same cemetery as Poltergeist costar Dominique Dunne.
Nickname
Bernie
Heath
[glow=red,2,300]Awards [/glow]
1987 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Starring in a Feature Film - Comedy or Drama in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)
1986 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress in a Television Special or Mini-Series in Surviving (1985) (TV)
1985 - Won - Young Artist Award Best Young Actress - Guest in a Television Series in "Webster" (1983)
1984 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Best Young Actress, Guest in a Television Series in"Webster" (1983)
1983 - Nominated - Young Artist Award Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series in"Happy Days" (1974)
Best Young Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture in Poltergeist (1982)
