It's just my name I'm writing. Heather was born on December 27, 1975, to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke. On her mothers advice, Heather accepted and was cast in the movie. She has been working with the station since 2002. One scene in particular was very physically demanding and could not be performed convincingly with a stunt double. She screamed until she broke down in tears. Of all her achievements, Heather was proudest of being elected student body president of her 5th grade class in 1985. She had an older sister, Tammy O'Rourke, also an actress. class in school that day but never said why. Official Sites. Born in San Diego, California, she was discovered in 1980 by director Steven Spielberg, while eating lunch with her mother in the MGM Studio Commissary. Drew Barrymore had auditioned, but Spielberg felt she wasnt quite right for that particular movie (he gave her a part in ET instead though, which launched her career) and so he kept on looking. Shortly before pre-production on Poltergeist III was to start, Heather began to show signs and symptoms of a kind of illness never before seen by her mother. For the next 8 hours they were subject to every kind of horrible thing you can imagine. Two years later, she reprised her role of Carol Anne Freeling in the sequel of Poltergeist, titled Poltergeist II: The Other Side. He asked her to scream a lot. The movie was Poltergeist. In September of 1987, Heather started 7th grade at Tierra del Sol Middle School in Lakeside and gradually settled back into a typical life of family, friends, and school. When Heather was being fitted with a mask to administer oxygen, she protested, insisting that she did not need it. Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975 in San Diego, California, USA, to Michael and Kathleen. She instantly became a star overnight and was easily recognized at her favorite theme park, Disneyland, and everywhere in California. Performed from age 3 in numerous commercials before her, As a gift from the crew, she got to keep the goldfish from. The operation was a common procedure with a high rate of success and recovery, and was routinely performed on pediatric patients at Childrens Hospital, and Heathers mother immediately agreed to it, but because of the overwhelming bacterial infection, septic shock, and apparent brain damage that she had suffered, Heathers condition was uncertain even before the surgery was attempted, and so her mother was also informed that Heather might not survive. They returned home and her mother was told to monitor her condition and to bring her back if needed. But the illness lingered and as pre-production for Poltergeist III approached, Heathers mother and even her agent and manager were worried that she was still ill. After Heather was stabilized, her mother was informed of her critical condition and that she would have to be transported by LifeFlight helicopter to another hospital. She is best remembered for being a popular young actress in the 1980s with numerous television shows and the Poltergeist films where she had the starring role as Carol Anne Freeling. In the early Spring of 1975, Kathleen ORourkes doctor delivered the wonderful news that she and her husband Michael had waited for several weeks to hear: they were going to have their second child. Her mother was a seamstress while her father worked as a carpenter. Heather screamed until the windows rattled. With the room tilted on its side, objects would be literally falling into the closet and finally Heather herself, appearing to be holding horizontally onto the headboard of her bed (but actually vertically suspended by a cable on the ceiling about 30 ft. above the floor) would be raised into the closet, also appearing to be sucked in. This not only saved them costly embarrassment, but it also greatly increased the chances of the sequels success. She was sitting alone in the MGM Commissary waiting for her mother when a stranger approached her asking her name. Since they had already been staying there most of the week, the physical transition between old home life and new was eased somewhat, and so Tammy and Heather coped with the emotional stress by getting on with their lives and engrossing themselves in their acting. O'Rourke died from an acute bowel obstruction . The film, which was released in 1982, made her an instant child star. They had heard of Spielberg and knew that he was a film director, and so they thought that he just happened to be passing-by, until he told them that he was casting a little girl for a movie that he was making. Heather would continue to remain busy with her many guest spots on television shows and commercials and by the end of 1983, Tammy, who was now 12, had started junior high school and worked only occasionally. Before Heather had left for Chicago to begin the filming of Poltergeist III, the family decided to move back to the San Diego area. 95 8 1 Pepperann. She died during surgery in 1988 after being misdiagnosed with Crohn's disease. The second one I only saw twice because I didn't think it was too great. Heather bubbled with enthusiasm about this film and to the amusement of her co-stars became an active participant in technical and other discussions at script readings and frequently offered her professional opinion and advice. Born in San Diego, California, she was discovered in 1980 by director Steven Spielberg, while eating lunch with her mother in the MGM Studio Commissary. The most well-known death that sparked and fuels the " Poltergeist curse" fire to this day was the shocking loss of Heather O' Rourke, who played Carol Ann the young, angelic face of the. Heathers response was Mom, I cant swallow. Still the cautious mother that she was, Kathleen took Heather back to San Diego for several more thorough follow-up examinations before leaving for Chicago in April to start filming Poltergeist III. In the years that followed, Heather was a familiar face on TV in Happy Days (1974) (1982-1983), Webster (1983) (1983-1984), and The New Leave It to Beaver (1983) (1986-1987), three shows in which she had recurring roles. Drugs were commonplace. She died in Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego on February 1, 1988. While posing shirtless in his bathroom, Sam slicked back his hair with his hand and showed off his shaven chin. On January 29th, a Friday morning, Heather had casually mentioned to her sister Tammy that she did not feel like attending P.E. Heather O'rourke Husband Heather is a married woman. Her parents divorced in 1981, and O'Rourke's mother married part-time truck . Heather O'Rourke Family, Parents, Siblings Attempts to establish her parents' identities were in vain since no information about them is available to the public. The shock prompted full cardiac and pulmonary arrest. When the paramedics arrived, they immediately began assessing her condition and treating her accordingly. She told Heather to get dressed but shortly after getting up from the table, Heather cried out to her mother as she slumped to the floor holding her stomach. Monday morning, February 1st, Heather awakened for school as usual, and joined her mother who was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Heather had been Ill before we started shooting and her parents had been taking her to doctors. After the miscarriage she was still feeling life inside of her. But according to her mother Kathy, shopping with Heather was a tremendous effort. And the unusual circumstances of her passing fueled a lot of parent's fears that maybe such a fate could take their children away just as abruptly. She would have graduated in 1989. 131 Heather O Rourke Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE Collections Project #ShowUs Creative Insights Custom Content EDITORIAL VIDEO BBC Motion Gallery NBC News Archives MUSIC BLOG BROWSE PRICING BOARDS CART SIGN IN Editorial Images Images Creative Editorial Video Creative Editorial FILTERS CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO All heather o'rourke, the young actress pulled into a supernatural vacuum in the "poltergeist" movies, died because the doctors who treated her throughout her childhood failed to diagnose a. She remained alive but shortly after 2:00p.m., her condition began to worsen and soon after, her heartbeat faltered and her breathing stopped. May 12, 2022 1:25 PM. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a carpenter. That is when she found out she was pregnant with Heather. Planned to attend college at UCLA and major in filmmaking. This special baby, who almost never was, would be destined for much more than just an ordinary life; she would eventually charm her way into the minds and hearts of people throughout the world, and with the words theyre here, and the eerie image of her tiny silhouette and little hands upon a television screen, would become an indelible memory to an entire generation of horror movie fans. The audition lasted practically all day as more than 350 kids danced their hearts out but when the dust settled, only ten of them were left standing. Heather O'Rourke appeared destined for greatness after breaking through as a child star in the Poltergeist movies and on Happy Days in the 1980s. The shock prompted full cardiac and pulmonary arrest. She arrived there in stable, yet critical condition and remained unconscious and unresponsive while they evaluated her and prepared for possible surgery. The girl had to have everything match, from shoes to earrings. Being able to memorize 60 pages of script an hour, she would have already memorized the entire script. Was an avid reader; her former 7th Grade English teacher honors this passion of hers by making all her students observe what she calls "Heather O'Rourke Love of Reading Week"; the last book she was reading was "Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl". Under medical supervision with a local doctor in Chicago though, Heather seemed to improve, and she tolerated the duration of the treatment quite well. When her mother returned, the stranger introduced himself as Steven Spielberg. Heather O'Rourke is an American Emmy Award-winning Anchor/Reporter working for WABC in New York City as a Traffic Anchor. Spielberg was looking for a. Though neither of the actor/directors whom she admired went to film school themselves, Heather already had a plan to attend either USC or the rival UCLA to study directing and so working on this production would present a good opportunity for her to start developing her director skills. Spielberg quickly offered her the role of Carol Anne Freeling in his upcoming movie Poltergeist. The informant claims "the parents were told some crap story. Her parents divorced in 1981, and O'Rourke's mother married part-time truck driver Jim Peele in 1984, while . Tammy O'Rourke, her older sister, is also an actress. Heather's parents, who live in Big Bear but are also believed to have a home in San Diego, were too distraught to comment, Wardlowe said. In between TV appearances she would go on to film Poltergeist II and ultimately Poltergeist III, reprising her now famous character Carol Anne in both films. Soon, her feet were swollen, and after more tests, doctors said she had a bacteria and prescribed some medicines to kill it. They had been living in Big Bear Lake for three years and had many wonderful times there, but Heather and Tammy had been longing for some time to return to their hometown of Santee to be closer to family, and to attend their old schools and see their childhood friends again. Perhaps her most famous moment . When MGM started the Pennies from Heaven production in the summer of 1980, rehearsing and filming was several days a week beginning early in the morning and often lasting all day long. A year later, she appeared in Poltergeist III, the third installment of the Poltergeist film series. At the end of each day, Tammy and Heather were often so exhausted that they fell asleep during the more-than-two-hour drive home. Heather was still alert during most of the trip and was able to talk to her attending paramedics but shortly before arriving to the hospital she lapsed into unconsciousness. Actress: Poltergeist. That miracle was finally realized when, two days after Christmas 1975, in San Diego, California, Heather Michele ORourke was born. They continued until pulling up to the entrance of the emergency room where a team of doctors and nurses, who had been notified and were prepared for their arrival, met them. In the Spring of 1981 when filming on Poltergeist started, Heather had just turned five a few months earlier and had a few commercials and Fantasy Island to her acting credit, but her experiences did not include doing anything that actually scared her. Heather died in 1988. In 1984, their mother Kathy met and married a part-time truck-driver named Jim Peele who lived in the same mobile home park. Still, she believes it was precisely this naivete that ultimately led her to beat out prominent actors, like Poltergeist star Heather O'Rourke, for the role of the Childlike Empress. It is also not known if O'Rourke has any siblings. She is best remembered for her roles of 'Carol Anne Freeling' in the Poltergeist horror movie franchise (1982, 1986, and 1988). Her last words were "I love you," addressed to her dear mother. Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky dubbed them the "Irish Mafia", but they preferred to call their group the "Boy's Club". Soon enough she was earning an estimated $100,000 a year, money which her parents came to depend on. Heather agreed, and as promised, did not talk to him. The NeverEnding Story was released in 1984, five years after the German novel upon which it is based. She started with tap lessons, and liked it so much that after a short time began performing in little recitals with her class. Heather stands at an average height and in moderate weight. A child . You meet a lot of people. Poltergeist (1982) -- (Movie Clip) They're Here The younger kids (Oliver Robins, Heather O'Rourke), frightened by thunder, have wound up in bed with their parents (Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams) when young Carol Anne, watching the TV sign-off again, has her most tangible contact yet with the visitors, in the Steven Spielberg-produced . During a brief discussion about how she felt, Heather told her mother that she was O.K and that she was still intending to go to school. As terribly heartbreaking as this is there may be more . Heather O'Rourke Husband O'Rourke is very private about her personal life therefore it is not known if she is in any relationship. At the end of January 1988, Heather started feeling slightly ill again. She appears to be tall in his pictures. In real life, she loved to go shopping. Heather has not shared any information about his family. He thought she was just too young (she had just turned five), and he was actually looking for a girl at least 6 years old, but he saw something in her and asked her to come in a second time with a scary story book. She was ranked at No 65 on VH1's list of '100 Greatest Kid Actors'. Spielberg continued to chat with Mrs. ORourke and Tammy briefly, with an occasional word to Heather, but after finding out more about Heathers age and lack of experience, he said that he was really looking for someone a bit older. Heather Michele O'Rourke sinh ngy 27 thng 12 nm 1975 ti San Diego, [2] [3] con gi th hai ca Kathleen v Michael O'Rourke. Heather O'Rourke Age. About Latest Posts Her mother claimed a wrong diagnosis was responsible for her (Heather's) death. They gently placed her onto a gurney and loaded her into the back of the ambulance. Heather Michele O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. Heather was well known for her role as Carol Anne Fleming in the blockbuster 1982 Steven Spielberg film series Poltergeist. C b c mt ch gi, Tammy O'Rourke, cng l mt din vin. This time, doctors thought it possible that Heather was having some kind of reaction to an insect or spider bite. At the time of her death, Heather was a 7th grade student at Tierra del Sol Middle School in Lakeside. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a carpenter. She is 46 years old and is a Capricorn. Nonetheless, Heather had gotten the cinematic exposure that her young career needed and it soon became obvious that she had attracted the attention of casting agents for television. She had German, Danish, English, and Irish ancestry.Heather entered American cinematic pop-culture before first grade. Heather O'Rourke. Ranked #65 on VH1's '100 Greatest Kid Actors' special. O'Rourke was the student-body president in her elementary school as well. O'Rourke Born and raised in Bergen county, the United States, she manages to keep information regarding her . She had German, Danish, English, and Irish ancestry. Kathleen however, felt otherwise and wanted to be sure that Heather was not more ill than she seemed to be. After that series ended, Heather continued to audition and receive offers and over the course of the next five years she was a familiar face on television. But in addition to having regular fun, the two ORourke sisters also found ways to express themselves artistically. Children came to the set where they were left alone by their parents. She was only twelve years old. Biography. Heather entered American cinematic pop-culture before first grade. She was on medication throughout the filming of her next project, Poltergeist III (1988), and her cheeks were puffy in some scenes. But the unnatural movement of the bedroom-set startled Heather and the wire-harness was very uncomfortable, not to mention the huge special effects fans, which constantly blew air in her face and ears for long periods of time, wearing away at her patience. Terry Merryman, spokeswoman for Children's Hospital of San Diego, said Heather died Monday of septic shock due to congenital stenosis of the lower intestine, or bowel. She was prescribed prednisone to treat the disease, which caused her cheeks to appear puffy and large. A top entertainment lawyer has confirmed that the child star of movie Poltergeist, Heather O'Rourke, was killed by an elite Hollywood pedophile ring. O'Rourke upptcktes som liten av regissren Steven Spielberg. When this occurred, the infectious contents spilled into Heathers abdomen and bacteria had entered her bloodstream, where they rapidly multiplied and spread throughout her body. She had taken a break from TV acting but was looking forward to the following spring, which was when some additional filming of Poltergeist III would need to be done in order to make its scheduled release in the Summer of 1988. Joined Sep 11, 2013 . Shortly before Heather was born, her mother Kathleen had decided to work for a few hours a day but to be able to do that, she first needed to find someone to take care of Heathers older sister Tammy who, at that time, was only three. Said that if a Poltergeist IV would to happen it would have been her last film in the series. Dating & Relationship status She is currently single. Her favorite movie of all time was Disney's. They eventually closed-up shop for good and Heather decided to stick with acting. Heather O'Rourke was the child actress made famous by Poltergeist, directed by Steven Speilberg . They admitted her to the hospital this time and did a complete examination. Heather was well until January 31, 1988, Super Bowl Sunday. The question of whether or not Heather was seriously ill was answered some minutes later when Kathleen noticed that Heather was having difficulty eating and that she seemed lethargic. Her mother called out to her, and Heather came into their room and crawled into bed with them for a few hours. Heather was prescribed a medication called Flagyl and her condition improved over the next few weeks. If there is a sequel, a 'Poltergeist IV,' I hope it's the last. More information about her husband will be updated as soon as possible. Sees candies, which were not normally available in Big Bear, were the featured sale item as well as hot chocolate and a few other goodies. That means she died of shock caused by infection in the blood, which in turn was caused by a birth defect that made a section of her intestine abnormally narrow. "My name is Heather O'Rourke," she said. Sadly, Heather would neither complete the additional filming, nor win her academy award. To the surprise and delight of everyone, it showed that she was indeed still pregnant, though when they found out how and why, the discovery itself was not without some sadness. It didn't excite me, it didn't even scare me. Born to a middle-class family, she attended Big Bear Elementary School. They had also overlooked one other important detail: No one had yet contacted any of the original cast most of whom by then, had thriving careers and other commitments, but with a larger production budget than the first film, they were able to avoid disaster by offering generous financial compensation. She had appeared in ads and on packaging for Mattel toys including one of the Barbie dolls, but with an agent who represented actors, now she would be auditioning for acting roles, in addition to appearing in restaurant commercials for McDonalds and later, Long John Silvers. She was sitting alone in the MGM Commissary waiting for . She had a twin brother who died during pregnancy. Now thoroughly alarmed, Kathleen called the local hospital, which advised her to bring Heather in right away. Appeared on the doll box for Mattel's "My First Barbie" in 1980. The following three years that Heather, Tammy, and their mother Kathy lived in Anaheim would be a bit of struggle for them and yet, the girls had adapted remarkably well to their new lives and surroundings and were very happy. The ORourkes family and closest friends consoled and supported the grieving couple as they coped with their loss, and they resolved to get on with their lives. Due to these facts, we have retracted the original story. At first, they didnt recognize him but when he introduced himself as Steven Spielberg to them, they became quite flustered. Cha m c b ly d nm 1981 v m ca Heather kt hn vi ti x xe ti Jim Peele vo nm 1984. He has managed to keep his family away from the media. This living arrangement made it easier for Tammy to fulfill her dance role, but it also meant giving up certain things such as spending time with family and school friends from Santee. Heather O'Rourke made a guest appearance on "CHiPs" in "Fun House" as Lindsey.. Heather O'Rourke Height, Weight & Measurements At 13 years old, Heather O'Rourke height is 142 cm . The article claims there was no prior indication of intestinal troubles, but other sources indicate O'Rourke was being treated for Crohn's Disease before her death. In 1982, O'Rourke was also cast in the recurring role of Heather Pfister in the television series Happy Days. Poltergeist II began production in the summer of 1985 and Heather was very excited to be working with her onscreen family again but filming with director Brian Gibson soon became an arduous task as the production was plagued with delays and other strange occurrences. Heather entered American cinematic pop-culture before first grade. She never regained consciousness and as was feared, her brain showed no activity. Spielberg promptly cast her in the horror film Poltergeist (1982) as Carol Anne Freeling, and O'Rourke earned recognition for her performance. This website is dedicated to the life and memory of child actress Heather O'Rourke. They also described cast meetings with her: everyone would be quickly leafing through the script, while Heather was sitting calmly. After Heather moved to Big Bear, she continued to work steadily but her acting always revolved around her home life. By the following day though, it was apparent that Heather was ill. Sunday morning, Heathers mother and stepfather were awakened to the sound of her being sick. Heather was delighted that she would be able to step out of the door of their mobile home and walk to the set at Disneyland a few blocks away. It was both Heather and Tammys love of sweets (especially chocolate) that gave them the idea to share their delicious obsession with other Big Bear residents by becoming entrepreneurs for a while. However, the real cause of her death might be infinitely more disturbing: Hollywood depravity. The shot was painstakingly setup by Spielberg himself and had all the promise of being a spectacular effect on film. Her mother was her constant companion and, Heather declared, her best friend, but she also made friends on the set quickly and would eventually become very dear to the cast and crew, especially director Gary Sherman. [on the first two Poltergeist movies]: The first one I saw 12 times. During all the horrors that proceeded while filming. They finally decided upon a road trip and so Heathers stepfather Jim Peele, also a part-time truck driver, drove Heather and her mother in the tractor of his semi-trailer rig from Chicago to Disney World in Florida and back across the southeastern United States, finally arriving in California at the end of August. Spielberg was looking for a. She was 12. Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. While her family was initially too distraught to make a statement, after. Heather is most known for her portrayal as Carol Anne Freeling in the 1982 hit movie Poltergeist and its sequels. Her home life did not, ironically, include the viewing of certain filmsparticularly not horror films. Heather Michele O'Rourke was born in San Diego, California, on December 27, 1975, to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke. O'Rourke suffered from giardiasis in 1987 and was later diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The paramedics immediately began attempting to revive her as the ambulance radioed ahead that cardiac arrest had occurred. Tammy received this praise with enthusiasm and began dancing in small productions and entering local talent shows, often coming home with top honors. She did not improve and so her mother took her to San Diego again. Aside from her TV and movie roles, she was, at heart, a regular kid who loved school, performed household chores, quarreled with her sister, and lived for shopping. With this setup, they could tilt the entire room and camera and with fans blowing, make things look like they were being sucked into the closet by a spectral vacuum cleaner when in reality, objects were sliding by gravity towards the low end of the room. Unable to discover the source of the infection, they could not prove conclusively that Heather had gotten Giardia from water in Big Bear. Heather also did not particularly care for the movie itself personally, but for her this was work and so she completed the role with her usual dedication and professionalism, which was something rarely seen in a nine-year-old actor. The next day at the commissary, Spielberg told her and her family, "I don't know what it is about her, but she's got the job." He then asked Heather if she had ever made a movie. She had been getting tired of doing sequels to Poltergeist (1982) as she didn't want to be typecast. I hope to do a different character some day. Why do people want my autograph? The obstruction caused an infection that, in turn, brought on septic shock. Her parents divorced in 1981, following which her mother married Jim Peele, a part-time truck driver, in 1984. Sometimes, the girls even performed onstage together. During the month that followed, Kathleen recovered emotionally somewhat but continued to feel all the normal symptoms, and still show some signs, of being pregnant. . In this interview Kathy talks about how her daughter got into acting and her death Show more. Her parents split in 1981, and O'Rourke's mother married part-time truck driver Jim Peele in 1984 while . She had an older sister, Tammy O'Rourke, also an actress. On this particular day, Heather was sitting by herself waiting, as usual, for her mother and Tammy to return. Was featured on The Great Mouse Ride in Disney World. O'Rourke was also known for making numerous television appearances as a guest. When I have to look really frightened, I concentrate on scary things like losing my kittens or something like that. O'Rourkeov sa narodila 27. decembra 1975 v San Diegu v Kalifornii rodiom Kathleen a Michaelovi O'Rourkeovm. She was taken to Kaiser Hospital, and they confirmed it was only the flu, but when symptoms continued, they diagnosed her as having Crohn's Disease, a chronic inflammation of the intestine. She is not dating anyone. Heather entered American cinematic pop-culture before first grade. Her father was a carpenter, and her mother was a seamstress. O'Rourke had an elder sister named Tammy, who was also an actress. Heathers face was pale, and when her mother touched her hands she noticed that they were cold and that her fingers had a bluish tint to them. At the interview, he told Heather that it was a scary movie and that she would have to pretend to act scared and scream a lot even though there was nothing really there to scare her. The next morning, February 1, sitting at the breakfast table, she couldn't swallow her toast or Gatorade. (Heather O'Rourke's) older sister, actress Dominique Dunne was murdered. Her big break came when she auditioned for The Don Crichton Dancers, a dance troupe consisting of 5 boys and 5 girls that was scheduled to appear regularly on CBSs The Tim Conway Show. Heather O'Rourke, familiar to moviegoers as the child swept into another world by ghosts in ''Poltergeist'' and its sequel, ''Poltergeist II,'' died at Children's Hospital and Health Center in San . May 25, 1988. She was discovered by director Steven Spielberg when she was visiting MGM's studios. The young actor played Carol-Anne Freeling in all three of Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist films and also had parts in popular TV shows Webster and Happy Days. I just thought it was too boring. Four days later, the O'Rourke family and friends gathered to greet the 1976 Bicentennial New Year, and to celebrate the homecoming of Baby Heather; the newest addition to the O'Rourke family. She was diagnosed as have Crohn's disease, and they were treating her she was on steroids and I guess the only side effects were the chipmunk . O'Rourke also made a guest appearance in The New Leave It to Beaver the same year. She may not have felt well, but Heather seldom, if ever, complained about feeling sick, and so eventually she went to the class. The original members of the club were Frank McHugh, James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and Spencer Tracy, all of whom were Irish-Americans hence the name Irish Mafia." ^ "Archived copy". Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975, in San Diego, [3] [4] to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke. He had not yet found a suitable actress to play a key role in the movie though and as the project took shape, began running out of time. She would never be alone though. Heather prefers to keep details about her spouse and family members private. The local doctor in Big Bear said that it was winter, they lived in the mountains, it was, after all, cold and flu season, and Heathers symptoms seemed to be flu-like. Heather responded appropriately with a loud and piercing scream. Naturally, Heather was the first actor to be contacted for Poltergeist III because by now, MGM knew fully well that any future successes depended upon her. However, the girl's health kept worsening. In a strange and yet consistent coincidence, MGM, as with the original Poltergeist, was once again unable to entice the writer/producer/director team of Poltergeist II to do another sequel that soon, and so again scrambled to find someone to take the helm for the third film. She made her debut after being discovered by director Steven Spielberg while visiting MGM studios. She is best remembered for her roles of 'Carol Anne Freeling' in the Poltergeist horror movie franchise (1982, 1986, and 1988). Was given the clapperboard from her final movie Poltergeist III. Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. For more than half an hour, doctors tried desperately to rescuscitate her but finally, all hope was lost, and Heather died peacefully at 2:43p.m. Heather died Feb. 1 on the operating table at Children's Hospital of San Diego. M c b lm th may cn b lm th mc. Heather O'Rourke (1975-1988) Heather Michele O'Rourke (Bernie or Heath ) was born on December 27, 1975 in Santee, San Diego, California, to Kathleen, a seamstress, and Michael O'Rourke, a construction worker. After Heather was born, Tammy continued with classes and performances until her teacher took her mother aside one day and said that she was good enough to consider her dancing not just a hobby, but a serious talent that could be developed. Back then it never crossed my mind that the girl could have been sexually abused. Still feeling the same several weeks after her last visit, she returned to her doctors office insisting that she was carrying a child and asked for another examination to be sure. Sam captioned the post, "From landing to TV . The initial examination had determined that Heather was in shock, but they also noticed that her stomach looked swollen and other signs of what strongly indicated a bowel obstruction. Heather was a blessing for more than just those closest to her, though. O'Rourke studied at Big Bear Elementary School. With the introduction of Sherman also came a source of fresh creativity and so the traditional Poltergeist formula that called for a setting that was homely, rustic, and suburban, was replaced with one that was slick, modern, and metropolitan. This is a look back at her life and legacy. Still a bit shy in front of the stranger, Heather just looked at her mother, who answered for her. Their family was proud of their talents and the girls even became a little famous locally, but to Tammy and Heather, it was all a normal everyday thing and they were really just a couple of kids having a lot of fun. Their small house was on a quiet street located just two blocks away from Tammys elementary school and also close to playgrounds and parks where, on weekends, the ORourkes and their family, or friends, would often go to socialize, to watch or play sports, or to barbeque while the kids had fun just being kids. Even though this was a mandatory requirement to comply with the existing labour laws for child actors, it only added to her already grueling schedule that included commuting with her mother and Heather from Santee to the MGM Studios in Culver City on an almost daily basis. Her ex boyfriend strangled her. The overwhelming infection and build-up of bacterial toxins eventually caused septic shock, and the situation was now life-threatening and required immediate emergency surgery to remove the obstruction and to repair Heathers small intestine. She planned to attend UCLA and major in filmmaking. In the ambulance, Heather suffered cardiac arrest and died on the operating table at 2:43 p.m. at the tender age of 12. They found an agent to represent Tammy and with perseverance, succeeded in getting some acting spots in television commercials but dancing always remained her focus. Was a fan of River Phoenix with whom she appeared in the 1985 TV movie "Surviving". In 1984, the little actress had a minor role in the TV program Finder of Lost Loves. . The only unanswered questions were, could she act, and more importantly, could she scream convincingly? Heathers new-found success would come at a price though, and during the filming of Poltergeist, at the very beginning stages of her career, the lives of her, and her sister and mother changed practically overnight and were not completely without their share of stress and unhappiness. Heather O'Rourke Family O'Rourke has managed to keep her personal life away from the limelight hence she has not disclosed any information about her parents. Heather O'Rourke's Parents and Siblings. She has black hair and brown eyes. My parents put everything in a trust fund for me. Heather O'Rourke Husband, Is She Married? Publicity Listings In 1987, she got featured in an episode each of Our House and Rocky Road. She died of a heart attack caused by septic shock brought on by congenital stenosis of the intestine. But her mother was not convinced and again returned to San Diego when Heathers symptoms persisted despite taking the prescribed medications. Aside from that scene and a few others that really frightened her, Heather had great fun making her scary movie both on and off the set. I'd been thinking about it for a while. The paramedics asked her how she was feeling. Finally, he cued her for a screaming demonstration. Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975 in Santee, San Diego, California, to Kathleen, a seamstress, and Michael O'Rourke, a construction worker. O'rourke and her husband are blessed with two children. Well, after you see it a lot of times, it isn't so much. After the success of Poltergeist, with her own agent and manager, Heather began to appear regularly on television, first landing a recurring role on Happy Days in the Fall of 1982. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/heather-o-rourke-43478.php, American Female Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities. It wasn't. . When the paramedics came in, Heather insisted that she was "really okay" and was worried about missing school that day. Filming was eventually completed behind schedule in late 1985 and after rushed post-production, the movie premiered in May of the following year. LOS ANGELES (AP) The death of 12-year-old Poltergeist actress Heather O'Rourke was distinctly unusual because she lacked prior symptoms of the bowel defect that reportedly killed her, gastrointestinal doctors say. She had an older sister, Tammy O'Rourke, who was also an actress. O'Rourke and her husband are proud parents to their 2 children, whose identities are under review. The someone turned out to be Gary Sherman, a veteran writer and director known for a few low-budget movies in the shocker genre. She spent the remainder of the day resting on the sofa, while her mother periodically checked on her. It is also not known if O'Rourke has any siblings. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. Actress. Not quite satisfied, Spielberg asked her to scream again, but louder and longer this time. Egy nvre szletett, Tammy. Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975 in Santee, San Diego, California, to Kathleen, a seamstress, and Michael O'Rourke, a construction worker. This website is dedicated to the life and memory of child actress Heather ORourke. She was thrilled to be doing a movie again so soon but the surprising disappointment for her was that due to a small production budget, only one of her original co-stars would appear in the movie with her. Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975, in San Diego, to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke. O'Rourke was buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. She quickly won the respect, admiration, and especially the affection of the entire cast and crew, and, as an added consolation for her suffering, Heather was also allowed to take home the two goldfish that had been used for one of her less scary scenes. Her mother was a seamstress while her father worked as a carpenter. She suffered a cardiac arrest while being taken to the hospital. With plenty of relatives living close-by, the ORourkes and their extended family enjoyed a typical and comfortable suburban existence. Further suspecting that the obstruction might have already burst and started an infection, they made preparations to transport her to another facility that specialized in pediatric critical care. Actress. Heather O'Rourke's death at the age of 12 is well-documented because of a medical malpractice lawsuit her parents filed against her doctors for misdiagnosing the condition blamed for her death. The ER team immediately took over the resuscitation of Heather and after several long minutes, succeeded in restoring her vital signs. O'Rourke, Heather . That would make me happy because I'd be bringing others pleasure while doing something I like. 2/ Heather was conscious when paramedics arrived, contrary to the claims put forth in the original article. Ever since completing the first Poltergeist, Heather had marveled about its success to her agent and so was not totally taken by surprise when he contacted her about reprising her role in a sequel so soon after the original. Heather played the character Carol-Anna Freeling in all three of Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist films. Her mother noticed her fingers were blue and her hands were cold. The unexpected death of the child star Heather O'Rourke at age 12 cemented an urban legend that was circulating for years: The movie "Poltergeist" was cursed. In one early collaboration, a genuine sister act, Tammy did a dance routine while Heather sang. Before O'Rourke began acting, the family lived in a trailer park in Anaheim. It seemed that he wanted to get to know Heather better and that maybe she might be right for the part after all. | She made her debut after being discovered by director Steven Spielberg while visiting MGM 's studios. The little actress never refused an autograph. She had German, Danish, English, and Irish ancestry. Heather was born in 1975 and died at the age of only 12 in 1988 from intestinal stenosis a severe bowel obstruction that the girl evidently had from birth. Sherman chose the John Hancock Center, a skyscraper in his hometown of Chicago, for his version of the ghost story. This was the famous closet-sucking scene for which they used a special moveable room. Heather Michele O'Rourke, fdd 27 december 1975 i San Diego, Kalifornien, dd 1 februari 1988 i San Diego, Kalifornien, var en amerikansk barnskdespelare. A multitalented girl, she was skilled in drawing, calligraphy, singing, and dancing. She had surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine. A very tired and hoarse Heather went home that night not really caring if she got the part, but Spielberg already knew that he had found his leading (little) lady because a 4-year-old actress who could sit still for an hour, take direction, and actually read a script, was worth her weight in gold. Though the ORourkes grief was renewed with this knowledge, they understood that because of the loss of the boy, the girl had survived and so everyone agreed that this was nothing short of a miracle. Shortly after Heather turned three, she herself won a local Little Miss pageant as well. Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. It's therefore not clear if she has any siblings. Eventually, the medications were to be gradually reduced according to the standard of treatment and so by the end of principal filming in June of 1987, Heathers appearance began returning to normal. Heathers signs and symptoms were again becoming flu-like and so her mother kept her comfortable and gave her fluids as recommended by the advice nurse with whom she had consulted earlier by phone. She had Irish, English, German, and Danish ancestry. Heather O'Rourke was an American child actress, who, after being discovered by director Steven Spielberg, played Carol Anne Freeling in the horror movie Poltergeist. She became known for saying the line, "They're here!" Sam's cheeks were shaven, getting rid of the stubble anymore that had grown out during his vacation. You could fall asleep. After her parents' divorce, O'Rourke rarely saw her birth father and called her stepfather "Dad". Heather even had a daring side to her personality: she had an ATC (a three-wheeled all-terrain-cycle) that her stepfather got her while working at the local Honda dealer and so, clad in an extra-small sized helmet and size 1 riding boots, she could often be seen rumbling (cautiously) around the trails and back roads of Big Bear. Still not convinced, he asked her to scream again, and again, and again, until finally, Heathers patience (which was unusual for a 4-year-old to have) began to run out and she informed him (politely) that she was finished screaming and that she would like to go home. Mala stariu sestru Tammy, ktor sa venovala tie herectvu. Loved: roses, swimming, pepperoni pizza, computer games, and more. Check out our heather o'rourke selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. This caused countless parents to believe that the movie was OK for children to watch. She failed her first audition when she laughed at a stuffed animal Spielberg presented her with. Spielberg realized that this was Heathers way of telling him that the interview was over and so he called in her mother. Kathleen called the doctor's and was getting ready to put her clothes on when Heather fainted on the kitchen floor. She was misdiagnosed by the hospital and the parents later sued but settled out of court. . That summer, they finished filming their movies and by the Fall of 1981, their mother starting working again, the girls started at new schools, and the acting and auditioning for new parts continued. Seating in the commissary dining room was sometimes scarce so upon finding an unoccupied table, it was Heathers job to sit there and save it while Tammy and her mother would go and get their lunch. That miracle was finally realized when, two days after Christmas 1975, in San Diego, California, Heather Michele O'Rourke was born. Heather Michele O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) [3] was an American child actress. She made more toy commercials, several made-for-TV movies/specials such as Massarati and the Brain, Believe You Can, And You Can, and Surviving: A Family in Crisis, and had guest appearances on a string of the most popular primetime and syndicated shows from the 1980s such as CHiPs, Webster, Matt Houston, Finder of Lost Loves, Our House, The New Leave It To Beaver, the short-lived series Rocky Road, and lastly, Here to Stay, an unsold television pilot. For this reason, she had a little difficulty remaining calm during some of the sequences involving special effects. It was a terrible shock for their small household, especially for three-year-old Tammy ORourke, who couldnt quite understand why she was not going to have a new baby brother or sister that year. With the filming going on, his family (Tammy, Heather, and their mother) was away from home almost 5-days out of a week. With the actors now secure, they found their director in Brian Gibson, an Englishman who had directed many projects for British film and television but was a relative newcomer to the U.S. film industry. | When her mother and stepfather arrived they were informed of her condition and that she might have already suffered permanent brain damage due to the episode of cardio-respiratory arrest that occurred during the ambulance trip. It's fun. Heather Michele O'Rourke is best known as the little girl (Carol Anne Freeling) in the Poltergeist movies. The agent handling Tammys career recognized this as well and offered to represent Heather, and so soon enough, the photogenic 4-year-old starting getting some exposure. Heather O'Rourke was chosen for the film when she was eating lunch with her mother and sister at an "MGM" commissary. By the time O'Rourke was airlifted to San Diego, she was in critical condition, and the surgeons could not save her. Because she was believed to have Crohn's, she wasn't tested for other issues. What made her death especially unsettling was the fact that she lacked prior . Heather O'rourke Family and Relationship Father (Dad): Not Known Mother: Not Known Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): An elder sister Marital Status: Married Husband/Spouse: Married to Anonymous Dating / Boyfriend: Not Applicable Children: Two Heather O'rourke Networth and Salary Net Worth: Under Review Salary: $28,774 - $71,519 Kathleen s Michael 1981-ben elvltak, s O'Rourke desanyja 1984-ben sszehzasodott Jim Peele teherautvezetvel. Heather O'rourke Family Information about her parents and siblings is not available but will be updated as soon as possible. She would only be twelve years old when the movie would be completed and released the following year, but not too young, Heather thought, to get herself an Academy Award nomination for best actress. Next day, again at lunch, Spielberg was back at their table and this time he sat and talked for a little while. She also loved to make and sweets. Since Heather was still too young for school, she always accompanied her mother to Tammys rehearsals and filming, and it did not take long before Mrs. ORourke noticed that Heather too, seemed interested in acting. Early on, when they were still making their debut on the local talent circuit, their father was tolerant and even supportive of what they were doing since their activities did not dominate or disrupt family life, but as Tammy started filming Annie and Heather started filming Poltergeist at about the same time, it became apparent that even though he was proud of them, he did not want to share his family that much. By age five, barely after starting kindergarten, she would be making her first TV show appearance on ABCs Fantasy Island. 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