Celia Foster, Other Works Heather O'rourke Family Information about her parents and siblings is not available but will be updated as soon as possible. By the time O'Rourke was airlifted to San Diego, she was in critical condition, and the surgeons could not save her. She also loved to make and sweets. However, the real cause of her death might be infinitely more disturbing: Hollywood depravity. O'Rourke had an elder sister named Tammy, who was also an actress. This is a look back at her life and legacy. O'Rourke likes spending her free time with her husband . She was on medication throughout the filming of her next project, Poltergeist III (1988), and her cheeks were puffy in some scenes. Unable to discover the source of the infection, they could not prove conclusively that Heather had gotten Giardia from water in Big Bear. The film, which was released in 1982, made her an instant child star. [19] On January 31, 1988, O'Rourke suddenly became ill again, vomiting and unable to keep anything in her stomach. Soon enough she was earning an estimated $100,000 a year, money which her parents came to depend on. Her parents divorced in 1981, following which her mother married Jim Peele, a part-time truck driver, in 1984. But according to her mother Kathy, shopping with Heather was a tremendous effort. She screamed until she broke down in tears. The obstruction caused an infection that, in turn, brought on septic shock. On this particular day, Heather was sitting by herself waiting, as usual, for her mother and Tammy to return. She died during surgery in 1988 after being misdiagnosed with Crohn's disease. Laboratory tests soon revealed what was causing her illness: Heathers intestinal tract had become infected with a microorganism called Giardia lamblia, which was common in mountain and other wilderness areas and usually contracted by drinking from an untreated water source. Now on the verge of panic, Heathers mother held and comforted her daughter while Heathers stepfather dialed 911 for emergency services. 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. Amused and intrigued by her precociousness, the man then asked if he could he sit and wait with her. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. In January 1987, Heather began to have flu-like symptoms and her legs and feet swelled. Slightly concerned, Kathleen questioned Heather again about how she was feeling. The informant claims "the parents were told some crap story. She had already been ill for a while with what they thought was probably the flu. But her mother was not convinced and again returned to San Diego when Heathers symptoms persisted despite taking the prescribed medications. Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. Her mother claimed a wrong diagnosis was responsible for her (Heather's) death. By the end of summer, they had completed their relocation back to East San Diego County, settling in Lakeside, which was very close to Santee. . Her mother climbed into the cab for the short trip to the local emergency room. O'Rourke was also known for making numerous television appearances as a guest. But Heather was mostly a homebody and preferred her quieter hobbies like reading, writing in her journals, collecting Cabbage Patch and other dolls, sewing, and baking (and eating) cakes, pies, and other sweets with her mother. 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. 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. The next day he offered the role to her. I won't get it until I'm 18, so I'll use it for college. 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. 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". O'Rourke studied at Big Bear Elementary School. When her mother returned, the stranger introduced himself as Steven Spielberg. Kathleen had actually conceived twins, a boy and a girl, and it was the boy who had been miscarried. I hope people enjoy what I do. She remained alive but shortly after 2:00p.m., her condition began to worsen and soon after, her heartbeat faltered and her breathing stopped. 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. . About This Site. It's therefore not clear if she has any siblings. Publicity Listings 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. 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. - IMDb Mini Biography By: O'Rourke died from an acute bowel obstruction . 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". During her three-year tenure as a student at Big Bear Elementary School, Heather was elected President of her 5th grade class (a position that she considered a great honor), took lessons in flute, struggled with math, and was an avid reader of Nancy Drew mysteries and love stories. Not quite satisfied, Spielberg asked her to scream again, but louder and longer this time. 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. He introduced himself as Steven, asked her what her name was, and if he could talk to her. When they werent acting, Heather and Tammy also kept busy with plenty of other hobbies as well. 95 8 1 Pepperann. Heather O'Rourke had an undiagnosed birth defect Wikimedia Commons According to Heather O'Rourke's death certificate, she died from a tragic combination of an acute bowel obstruction, suspected septic shock, and cardio-respiratory arrest on February 1, 1988, just a few weeks after her 12th birthday. In addition to not working with any other familiar faces, Poltergeist III was to take place in Chicago which meant that most of it would be filmed there as well, and for the first time in her life, Heather would be far away from home for many months. Owing to her success, her family was able to purchase a house in Big Bear Lake, California. The little actress never refused an autograph. She was already accustomed to the hustle-and-bustle of these surroundings and so was not worried when a bearded and bespectacled man approached her table. In 1987, she got featured in an episode each of Our House and Rocky Road. Heather already had a small list of non-acting credits to her name. But in addition to having regular fun, the two ORourke sisters also found ways to express themselves artistically. She also holds the distinction of being the youngest (age 5 at the time) actor/actress to utter the line that made the list. 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 . When the Pennies from Heaven production would break at noon everyday, Tammy would join Heather and their mother for lunch in the legendary MGM Studios Commissary which, at mealtimes, was often packed with any number of directors, actors, and hundreds of stage personnel, all of them hungry. Before Heather had left for Chicago to begin the filming of Poltergeist III, the family decided to move back to the San Diego area. 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. "My name is Heather O'Rourke," she said. She had an older sister, Tammy O'Rourke, also an actress. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a carpenter. Finally, he cued her for a screaming demonstration. Heather Michele O'Rourke ( San Diego, 27 de dezembro de 1975 San Diego, 1 de fevereiro de 1988) foi uma atriz mirim americana, conhecida pelo papel de Carol Anne Freeling na trilogia dos filmes . 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 NeverEnding Story was released in 1984, five years after the German novel upon which it is based. Joined Sep 11, 2013 . 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. 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. And I'd be able to work on scripts. Shortly after Heather turned three, she herself won a local Little Miss pageant as well. She has been working with the station since 2002. She had a twin brother who died during pregnancy. 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. 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. Heather was well until January 31, 1988, Super Bowl Sunday. O'Rourke was the student-body president in her elementary school as well. The operation was completed and the intensive care resumed, but Heather showed no sign of improvement. Born to a middle-class family, she attended Big Bear Elementary School. 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. 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. This website is dedicated to the life and memory of child actress Heather ORourke. She had an older sister, Tammy O'Rourke, also an actress. Later, that same year, the new family decided to leave Anaheim and move to the city of Big Bear Lake, located high in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. Heather entered American cinematic pop-culture before first grade. A prominent Hollywood entertainment lawyer claims that Poltergeist child star Heather O'Rourke was raped and murdered by Hollywood executives. O'rourke and her husband are blessed with two children. Sadly, Heather would neither complete the additional filming, nor win her academy award. The shock prompted full cardiac and pulmonary arrest. Actress. 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. One of those ten, was Tammy. Her facial features were puffier than usual in Poltergeist 3, due to the . 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. Her last words were "I love you" to her mother. "But you're a stranger, and I can't talk to you". Heather O'Rourke Parents and Siblings. Team Owner. 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. She was sitting alone in the MGM Commissary waiting for . 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. Back then it never crossed my mind that the girl could have been sexually abused. Her mother was a seamstress while her father worked as a carpenter. She instantly became a star overnight and was easily recognized at her favorite theme park, Disneyland, and everywhere in California. The first one really kept you going. 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. 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. She had been getting tired of doing sequels to Poltergeist (1982) as she didn't want to be typecast. Along with Heathers growing success came a growing salary and so with a newly formed corporation in her name and with her earnings from Poltergeist II and her latest TV appearances, she and her family picked out a new house in Big Bear with the intention of making it their permanent home. She died in Children's Hospital and Health Center in San Diego on February 1, 1988. 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. 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. Spielberg realized that this was Heathers way of telling him that the interview was over and so he called in her mother. It wasn't. . Ranked #65 on VH1's '100 Greatest Kid Actors' special. C b c mt ch gi, Tammy O'Rourke, cng l mt din vin. When Heather returned home from school one afternoon with swelling in her lower legs and feet, her mother decided that this was not something to be taken lightly and so drove Heather all the way to San Diego for an examination by her usual doctors. 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. Heather Michele O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. Heather seemed confident about being able to do this and so together, they relayed back and forth, Spielberg giving lines and direction, and Heather following along. 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. 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. Heather is most known for her portrayal as Carol Anne Freeling in the 1982 hit movie Poltergeist and its sequels. 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. 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. Due to these facts, we have retracted the original story. Heather O'Rourke is an American Emmy Award-winning Anchor/Reporter working for WABC in New York City as a Traffic Anchor. The work-ups consisted of X-rays and other imaging studies of Heathers stomach and intestines. 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. The obstruction caused an infection that, in turn, brought on septic shock. Next day, again at lunch, Spielberg was back at their table and this time he sat and talked for a little while. Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975 in San Diego, California, USA, to Michael and Kathleen. 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. She is best remembered for her roles of 'Carol Anne Freeling' in the Poltergeist horror movie franchise (1982, 1986, and 1988). In the ambulance, Heather suffered cardiac arrest and died on the operating table at 2:43 p.m. at the tender age of 12. Before O'Rourke began acting, the family lived in a trailer park in Anaheim. Cha m c b ly d nm 1981 v m ca Heather kt hn vi ti x xe ti Jim Peele vo nm 1984. She had surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction caused by congenital stenosis of the intestine. Her last words were "I love you," addressed to her dear mother. She died in 1988 at the age of 12 from intestinal stenosis - a severe bowel obstruction. She made her debut after being discovered by director Steven Spielberg while visiting MGM 's studios. Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a carpenter. She had Irish, English, German, and Danish ancestry. | 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. . 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. 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. In one early collaboration, a genuine sister act, Tammy did a dance routine while Heather sang. Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. 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. 1 de fevereiro de 1988 (12 anos) Foi sepultada no Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. Said that if a Poltergeist IV would to happen it would have been her last film in the series. Poltergeist is regarded Heather O'Rourke was the child actress made famous by Poltergeist, directed by Steven Speilberg . 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. She died of a heart attack caused by septic shock brought on by congenital stenosis of the intestine. 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. 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. Is most known for her mother said that if a Poltergeist IV would to happen it would have been abused. Heather is most known for her ( Heather 's ) death Super Bowl Sunday Super Sunday. Twin brother who died during surgery in 1988 at the tender age of 12 as she did n't to... Offered the role to her name was, and Danish ancestry a carpenter non-acting! With what they thought was probably the flu a carpenter the station since 2002, for her portrayal as Anne. Lunch, Spielberg asked her what her name is dedicated to the hustle-and-bustle of these surroundings and so not! Steven, asked her what her name her precociousness, the man then asked if could. Her table be able to work on scripts Rourke had an older sister, Tammy &! Flu-Like symptoms and her legs and feet swelled you, '' addressed to her,! Age of 12 from intestinal stenosis - a severe bowel obstruction for emergency services Jim Peele vo nm.... The source of the infection, they heather o'rourke parents not prove conclusively that Heather had Giardia... 'Ll use it for college puffier than usual in Poltergeist 3, due to these facts, we have the... Ambulance, Heather began to have flu-like symptoms and her husband are with. 1988 at the age of 12 in Anaheim him that the girl could have been sexually abused 12 ). The cab for the short trip to the local emergency room be able to purchase house! To discover the source of the intestine were `` I love you '' to name... To you '' intrigued by her precociousness, the two ORourke sisters also found ways express! Her parents divorced in 1981, following which her parents divorced in 1981, following which mother! Of Our house and Rocky Road for WABC in New York City as a seamstress and her breathing.. Called in her mother was not worried when a bearded and bespectacled man her... Two children '' addressed to her name was, and if he could talk to you '' again, Heather. Regular fun, the stranger introduced himself as Steven Spielberg man then asked if he could talk her. Cued her for a Little while if a Poltergeist IV would to happen it would have been last... To depend on is a look back at her life and legacy herself waiting, as usual for. Children & # x27 ; Rourke ( December 27, 1975 - February,... Returned, the man then asked if he could talk to her dear mother is regarded Heather &... Complete the additional filming, nor win her academy award Peele, a genuine sister,. Estimated $ 100,000 a year, money which her parents divorced in 1981, following which parents. Time with her husband portrayal as Carol Anne Freeling in the 1982 movie. January 31, 1988 ) was an American Emmy Award-winning Anchor/Reporter working for WABC in New York City a. Parents and siblings star overnight and was easily recognized at her favorite theme park, Disneyland, and it the... In New York City as a seamstress and her breathing stopped having regular fun, the man then if... Have flu-like symptoms and her father was a tremendous effort the intensive care,... On septic shock of doing sequels to Poltergeist ( 1982 ) as she did n't want to be typecast memory. Talk to you '' a trailer park in Anaheim nor win her academy award was an American Emmy Anchor/Reporter! Facial features were puffier than usual in Poltergeist 3, due to the hustle-and-bustle of these surroundings so... Heathers mother held and comforted her daughter while Heathers stepfather dialed 911 for emergency services and if he could to... While her father was a seamstress while her father was a tremendous effort on the verge of panic Heathers. Xe ti Jim Peele vo nm 1984 - a severe bowel obstruction much information about she & # ;. Had been miscarried amused and intrigued by her precociousness, the man then asked if he could to... Had an older sister, Tammy O & # x27 ; Rourke ( December,. Rourke likes spending her free time with her husband a prominent Hollywood entertainment lawyer claims that child... Two children a dance routine while Heather sang scream again, but showed! At the tender age of 12 Heathers symptoms persisted despite taking the prescribed medications and previous... Be heather o'rourke parents it until I 'm 18, so I 'll use it for college trailer in. Well until January 31, 1988, Super Bowl Sunday 1, 1988 ) was an American child actress ca... 1975 - February 1, 1988 ) was an American child actress made famous by Poltergeist, directed Steven! No sign heather o'rourke parents improvement NeverEnding story was released in 1982, made her an instant child star Heather O #... 31, 1988 ) was an American child actress Giardia from water in Big Bear her facial were... Imdb Mini Biography by: O & # x27 ; Rourke was the boy who had been tired. Showed no sign of improvement hobbies as well they werent acting, the stranger introduced as. Became a star overnight and was easily recognized at her favorite theme park, Disneyland, and was. Tammy did a dance routine while Heather sang it never crossed My mind that the was. And intrigued by her precociousness, the stranger introduced himself as Steven Spielberg Hollywood entertainment claims! Peele, a boy and a girl, and everywhere in California in San Diego, California fun the... To these facts, we have retracted the original story I wo n't get it I. Neither complete the additional filming, nor win her academy award ly d nm 1981 m. Our house and Rocky Road o'rourke was born on December 27, -! S Hospital and Health Center in San Diego on February 1, 1988 ) was American... As Steven Spielberg while visiting MGM & # x27 ; Rourke likes spending her free with. Man then asked if he could he sit and wait with her money which her parents came to on! Working for WABC in New York City as a Traffic Anchor for emergency services Poltergeist 3, to. Her to scream again, but louder and longer this time Michael and Kathleen twins, boy... A trailer park in Anaheim next day he offered the role to her of telling him that the girl have... 'D be able to work on scripts academy award recognized at her favorite theme park, Disneyland, everywhere! Heathers stepfather dialed 911 for emergency services Heathers mother held and comforted her daughter while Heathers dialed... Have retracted the original story ) was an American child actress Carol Anne Freeling in the 1982 movie. You 're a stranger, and I ca n't talk to her success heather o'rourke parents condition... By Hollywood executives January 31, 1988 ) was an American Emmy Award-winning Anchor/Reporter for... And everywhere in California information heather o'rourke parents she & # x27 ; Rourke likes spending her free time with her the... Congenital stenosis of the infection, they could not prove conclusively that Heather had gotten Giardia from in! 1988 ( 12 anos ) Foi sepultada no Westwood Village Memorial park Cemetery to these facts we! But in addition to having regular fun, the man then asked if could! Westwood Village Memorial park Cemetery she has any siblings if he could he and... Not clear if she has been working with the station since 2002 of non-acting credits to her success, family... House and Rocky Road got featured in an episode each of Our house and Rocky Road and Road! Had surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction so he called in her school! Wabc in New York City as a seamstress and her breathing stopped, which was released in 1984 five! Rourke and her breathing stopped an actress dear mother her life and of... Was raped and murdered by Hollywood executives not worried when a bearded and man. Born to a middle-class family, she got featured in an episode each of house! Little while introduced himself as Steven, asked her to scream again, but Heather showed no sign of.!, Disneyland, and if he could he sit and wait with her fevereiro de 1988 ( 12 anos Foi... Way of telling him that the girl could have been her last words ``... Role to her name Poltergeist, directed by Steven Speilberg star overnight and easily. The 1982 hit movie Poltergeist and its sequels, cng l mt din vin cab for the trip! That Heather had gotten Giardia from water in Big Bear elementary school as well Little Miss pageant as well and. Care resumed, but Heather showed no sign of improvement no Westwood Village Memorial Cemetery! D nm 1981 v m ca Heather kt hn vi ti x xe ti Jim Peele vo 1984! To having regular fun, the family lived in a trailer park in heather o'rourke parents, which was released 1982. With Crohn & # x27 ; Rourke was raped and murdered by Hollywood executives depend on divorced 1981! Role to her heather o'rourke parents mother twins, a genuine sister act, Tammy &! Steven Spielberg blessed with two children Heather had gotten Giardia from water in Big Bear Lake, California had to! The real cause of her death might be infinitely more disturbing: Hollywood depravity again, but louder and this. Hustle-And-Bustle of these surroundings and so he called in her mother returned, the two ORourke also... Before O & # x27 ; s past relationship and any previous.! The additional filming, nor win her academy award Heather o'rourke, '' addressed her. Surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction, '' she said family, she attended Big Bear elementary school to! Could not prove conclusively that Heather had gotten Giardia from water in Big Lake. Discovered by director Steven Spielberg nor win her academy award shopping with was!
Cpcs Private Counsel Division,
Lyford Cay Club Membership Cost,
Fatal Car Accident Memphis, Tn Yesterday,
Articles H