The 1982 film "Poltergeist" is considered by many to be the last great haunted house movie. The film was directed by Tobe Hooper, who also gave the world the gift that is known as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Most casual movie watchers remember Poltergeist, and its sequels, as the movies that feature the cute little blonde girl being tormented by a spirits looking to use her as a guide them to an alternate plane of existence. What many aren’t aware of is the untimely death of four actors associated with the film's production. Let's examine their deaths individually to determine whether they were caused by the Poltergeist curse or are simply random tragedies.
Julian Beck as Reverend Kane. Julian Beck appeared as the insanely creepy Reverend Kane in the sequel, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, which was released in 1986. Production ended in 1985 and shortly afterward Beck died due to complications of stomach cancer. He was 60 years old. His death may seem like an unfortunate result of working on this film, but for the record, Beck was diagnosed months before the film began principal shooting.
Will Sampson as Taylor. Taylor was a Native American spiritualist who aided the Freeling family in their quest to rid themselves of Reverend Kane and his disciples in the second Poltergeist film. You may also remember Sampson from his unforgettable role as the mute schizophrenic patient who suffocates Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest". In 1987, Sampson died due to a post operative kidney infection. He was gravely ill entering into the surgery and was also in need of a heart transplant. Will Sampson was 53 years old.
Dominique Dunne as Dana Freeling. Dominique Dunne portrayed the oldest Freeling sibling. She was prominently featured in the first half of the original Poltergeist film, but was rarely seen in the movie’s latter scenes. In October 1982, Dunne had finished her role in Poltergeist and was dating a man named John Thomas Sweeney. In a jealous rage, Sweeney strangled Dunne in the driveway of her home after she had refused to return to the couple’s abusive relationship. Sweeney was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was convicted to 6 1/2 years in prison. Dominique Dunne was only 22 years old at the time of her death.
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Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne Freeling. Heather O’Rourke is the most recognizable figure of the Poltergeist series and the only actor to appear in all three films. Her iconic portrayal of the angelic Carol Anne captured the hearts of even the most cynical movie goers, including me. In 1987, Heather O’Rourke became violently ill. She was rushed to Kaiser Permanente Hospital where she was wrongly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and sent home. In early 1987, the young actress began violently vomiting and finally collapsed. En route to the hospital, O’Rourke suffered a cardiac arrest and died soon after. She was only 12 years old.
You can draw your own conclusions about these events. I personally don’t believe in any Poltergeist curse and the fact that all these actors were associated with the same franchise is a mere coincidence. Many of the other actors who appeared in these films, including Jo Beth Williams, Craig T. Nelson and Tom Skerritt, are alive, well, and still acting.
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