Dominique Dunne: The Poltergeist Curse

What Happened to Dominique Dunne?

Just hours after midnight on November 4, 1982, Dominique Dunne was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney. Dunne was an 18-year-old actress who had recently starred in the horror movie Poltergeist. Sweeney was 25 years old and had a history of violence.

Dunne and Sweeney had met in 1981 while they were both working on the film Poltergeist. They began dating shortly after filming wrapped, but their relationship was tumultuous from the start. Sweeney was possessive and jealous, and he often physically abused Dunne.

In October 1982, Dunne ended her relationship with Sweeney. However, Sweeney refused to accept the breakup, and he continued to stalk and harass Dunne. On November 4, 1982, Sweeney entered Dunne's West Hollywood apartment and strangled her to death.

The Aftermath of Dunne's Murder

Dunne's murder shocked the nation. She was a rising star in Hollywood, and her death seemed senseless and tragic. In the wake of her death, Dunne's family and friends established the Dominique Dunne Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing domestic violence.

Sweeney was convicted of Dunne's murder in 1983 and sentenced to six years in prison. He was released on parole in 1989 and died in 2009.

The Poltergeist Curse

In the years since Dunne's murder, there have been persistent rumors of a "Poltergeist curse." Many people believe that Dunne's death was just one of a series of tragedies that have plagued the cast and crew of the film.

In 1985, actress Heather O'Rourke, who played Carol Anne Freeling in Poltergeist, died at the age of 12 from a heart defect. In 1988, actor Julian Beck, who played Kane in Poltergeist II, died at the age of 60 from stomach cancer. And in 2005, actress Zelda Rubinstein, who played Tangina Barrons in Poltergeist, died at the age of 76 from a heart attack.

Some people believe that the Poltergeist curse is real, and that it is responsible for the deaths of Dunne, O'Rourke, Beck, and Rubinstein. Others believe that the curse is simply a coincidence, and that the deaths of these four actors were unrelated to the film.

Conclusion

The death of Dominique Dunne was a tragedy. She was a talented young actress with a promising future. Her murder was a senseless act of violence that shocked the nation. In the years since her death, there have been persistent rumors of a "Poltergeist curse." However, there is no evidence to support the existence of such a curse. The deaths of Dunne, O'Rourke, Beck, and Rubinstein were likely just coincidences.