Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. She was discovered at the age of five by director Steven Spielberg while eating lunch with her mother at the MGM commissary. Spielberg cast her as Carol Anne Freeling in the 1982 horror film Poltergeist. She would go on to reprise the role in the second and third installments.
In addition to her roles in the Poltergeist series, O'Rourke also had a recurring role on Happy Days from 1982 to 1983, and made several television guest appearances. She died at the age of 12 of cardiac arrest and septic shock caused by a misdiagnosed intestinal stenosisin February 1988.
O'Rourke was born in San Diego, California to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a construction worker. She had an older sister, Tammy. Kathleen and Michael divorced in 1981, and O'Rourke's mother married truck driver James A. "Jim" Peele in 1984. After her parents' divorce, O'Rourke rarely saw her birth father and called her stepfather "Dad".
Before O'Rourke began acting, the family lived in a trailer park in Anaheim. Her success later allowed the family to purchase a home in Big Bear Lake, California. In between acting jobs, O'Rourke attended Big Bear Elementary School where she was president of her class. At the time of her death, the family was living in Lakeside, California
Career
In a contemporary interview with American Premiere magazine, director Steven Spielberg explained that he was looking for a "'beatific' four-year-old child...every mother's dream" for the lead in his 1982 horror film Poltergeist. While eating in the MGM commissary, Spielberg saw five-year-old Heather O'Rourke having lunch with her mother while older sister Tammy was shooting Pennies from Heaven. After his lunch, Spielberg approached the family and offered O'Rourke the Poltergeist role; she was signed the next day, beating Drew Barrymore who was up for the role.
Tributes
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Blessed are they that mourn : for they shall be comforted.
(Matthew 5:4)
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you : not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 14: 18, 27.
May our Heavenly Father comfort us and bless us with peace to know that Heather is well and waiting for us all as she will soon be reunited with her family for time and all eternity.
In the Holy name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Everyday u are in someway in my thoughts, but at the begining and ending of each thought is my purest of love for u heather..It drives me through each and every day.
Forever will my bond of love and connection to u beam stronger than any bright ray of light...
I will always love u heather...My unmatched true love just for u heather..heather michele orourke.
Your memory stays strong forever more...
Love u dearly heather more and more.
Sfanleon ×××
To the light. I'm not that demo. God bless her family in San Diego California. I feel sorry for them. Come in my life heather young lady be with me in sprit her fan. & best friend she is Dal. I love u heather
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I grew up in Santee in Stoyer drive just down the street from Heather and her older sister Tammy.
Sleep with Angels little Heather we miss you still so so much.