Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

Tragic Murder of Dominique Dunne

Dominique Ellen Dunne (November23, 1959 – November 4, 1982) was an American actress. She appearedin several films and television series from 1979 to 1982, but wasbest known for portraying Dana Freeling in the 1982 horror filmPoltergeist.

On October 30, 1982, Dunne wasstrangled by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, in the drivewayof her West Hollywood home and went into a coma. She never regainedconsciousness and died five days later. In a controversial courtcase, Sweeney was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Dunne'sdeath and served three and a half years in prison.

Early life

Dunne was born in Santa Monica,California, the youngest child of Ellen Beatriz "Lenny"(née Griffin), a ranching heiress, and Dominick Dunne, a writer,producer, and actor. She had two older brothers, Alexander "Alex"and Griffin Dunne, an actor. She was also the niece of marriednovelists John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. Her godparents wereMaria Cooper-Janis, daughter of actors Gary Cooper and Veronica"Rocky" Cooper, and producer Martin Manulis. Herparents divorced in 1967.

Dunne attended Harvard-Westlake Schoolin Los Angeles, Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut, and FountainValley School in Fountain, Colorado. After graduation, she spent ayear in Florence, Italy, where she learned Italian. She studiedacting at Milton Katselas' Workshop and appeared in various stageproductions including West Side Story, The Mousetrap, and My ThreeAngels.

Career

Dunne's first role was in the 1979television film Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. She then gotsupporting roles in episodes of popular 1980s television series suchas Lou Grant, Family, Hart to Hart and Fame. Dunne also had arecurring role on the comedy-drama television series Breaking Awayand appeared in several other television films.

In 1981, she was cast in her firstfeature film, Poltergeist. Dunne portrayed Dana Freeling, theteenaged daughter of a couple whose family is terrorized bymalevolent ghosts. Produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by TobeHooper, the film opened on June 4, 1982, and went on to gross morethan $70 million. This was her only theatrical film appearance beforeher death. After Poltergeist, she appeared in the final seasonpremiere episode of CHiPs and the 1982 television film The ShadowRiders, starring Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott.

Shortly before her death, Dunne wascast as Robin Maxwell in the miniseries V. She died during filmingand her role was recast with actress Blair Tefkin. According to theDVD director's commentary by series creator Kenneth Johnson, Dunneappears in the scene in which the Maxwells and others watch the L.A.mother ship glide in on the day the Visitors first arrive. Her backis all that is seen. The miniseries is dedicated to her.

Dunne appeared posthumously in the HillStreet Blues episode "Requiem For a Hairbag", whichaired on November 18, 1982, two weeks after her death. She played ateenaged mother who was a victim of parental abuse and gives her babyup for adoption out of fear of repeating what her parents had done toher. The episode was dedicated to her in memoriam in the openingcredits.

Relationship with John Sweeney