Heather O'Rourke

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Biography

Recent Role:
Heather Montgomery on The New Leave It to Beaver
Gender:
Female
Born:
12-27-1975
Died:
2-1-1988 (Complications of acute bowel obstruction)
Birthplace:
Santee, San Diego, California, USA
Birth Name:
Heather Michele O'Rourke
AKA:
Heather Michele O'Rourke, Heath O'Rourke, Heath Michele O'Rourke
The late Heather O'Rourke is perhaps best remembered for her film role as "Carol Ann Freeling" in Steven Spielberg's 1982 horror classic "Poltergeist". Her trademark long blonde hair and bangs, the image of her tiny silhouette and little hands splayed across an illuminated television screen, and the words, "They're heeeeeere", are all still instantly recognizable even today, more than 20 years later, by horror movie fans the world over. A television actress as well, Heather had numerous appearances on some of the most popular 80's TV shows, as well as starring in the two "Poltergeist"… More sequels.

Born Heather Michele O'Rourke in San Diego, California on December 27th, 1975, Heather, (or "Bernie" as she was known to her family), grew up in the nearby town of Santee, where from an early age, she displayed a natural talent for performing. As a 3-year-old, Heather won a local "Little Miss" pageant and was already singing and dancing on stage both alone and with her 7-year-old sister Tammy, who was an accomplished tap dancer and budding young performer herself.

At the age of four, the photogenic Heather became an ad model for Mattel Toys and was appearing in television commercials for McDonald's and Long John Silver's restaurants, and by age five, barely after starting kindergarten, she had made her first TV acting appearance on ABC's "Fantasy Island" in early 1981.

During the previous summer, Heather's sister Tammy had gotten a part as a dancer in the MGM movie "Pennies From Heaven" and during the daily breaks between rehearsals and filming, the two O'Rourke sisters and their mother would usually go to the legendary MGM Studios Commissary for lunch where, on one of their outings, Heather was noticed by future "superdirector" Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg, on a chance visit to MGM, had decided to go to the commissary for lunch that day and when he saw the tiny, angelic, and blonde-haired Heather sitting alone at a nearby table, he just had to find out who she was. Heather's first words to her future director were said to have been: "I'm not allowed to talk to strangers". An interview and a "scream test" later, and Spielberg knew that he had found his leading (little) lady for one of his next films and so with his direction, and Heather's now famous words: "They're heeeeere", together they made horror movie history. The film was of course, "Poltergeist".

After "Poltergeist", Heather went on to television where, from 1982-1987, in addition to commercials, she had parts in several made-for-TV movies and specials, and had recurring roles and guest appearances on some of the most popular prime time and syndicated shows of the 1980's including: "Happy Days", "CHiPs", and "Webster". She also filmed two series' pilots, and had other non-acting appearances on a talk show, a telethon, and an amateur talent show.

The two "Poltergeist" sequels were also a major part of Heather's "filmography" and it was shortly before pre-production of "Poltergeist III" in 1987 that she began to show the first signs of the illnesses that would contribute to her untimely death at age 12 less than a year later.

On the morning of Monday, Feb. 1st, 1988, Heather woke up intending to go to school as usual, but her mother was concerned that she did not look well and had not recovered from the apparent flu that she had over the past weekend. When Heather's symptoms suddenly became worse and she collapsed, an ambulance was summoned. On the way to a local hospital, Heather went into shock and lost consciousness, followed by cardiac arrest. She was resuscitated and airlifted to Children's Hospital in San Diego where they specialized in pediatric critical care.

Exploratory surgery revealed that Heather had developed an intestinal obstruction that had later burst, causing infection to spread throughout her body. An emergency operation was immediately performed to correct the problem, and Heather survived the procedure, but she never regained consciousness, and her body could not recover from the overwhelming infection and septic shock that had followed. As complications set in, her condition worsened and later that afternoon, she died peacefully at 2:43 p.m.

On February 5th, Heather was taken to a small cemetery in the heart of the historic Westwood Village district of Los Angeles where, after a short memorial service, she was laid to rest among other well-loved and famous celebrities. The plaque that marks her resting place reads: Heather O'Rourke - Beloved Daughter - Sister - "Carol Anne" - Poltergeist I, II, III

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    The most amazing little girl i have ever seen. The best child actor ever. hide show

    The Best child actor ever. She is so talented, adorable, little, special little girl. Who toughed everyones hearts who acted with her, seen her, meet her. She is so professional in her acting it's so great. She can play any role happy, sad, emotional, funny etc. She's so great. I have seen her in Matt Houston, Webster, Happy days (12), New To Beaver, Our House and Chips and Poltergeist. She plays all kinds of characters. She is truly the best child actor, she is so charming. She puts all her energy into. If u see see all of these shows she is in you know what a talented little amazing girl she is. perfect 10.

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    markie2007 Added Jul 14, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Heather o'rourke was one of the greatest child stars ever. hide show

    Heather o'rourke was one of the greatest child stars ever.She was a late star and would of gone on to do many more things if her death wasnt so sudden.her greatest role in my opinion was her part on poltergeist as carol ann freeling.She will not be remembered by the way she died but the way she lived.

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    fame122 Added Mar 11, 2006 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Heather was my all-time favorite child actress.She was a beautiful,and talented 1980's child actress,
    who could play any type of character in any type of TV show,or movie.She was a great child actress and will be missed by everyone of her fans! hide show

    The Poltergeist movies were the first horror movie I ever watched,and the only modern one I could watch,without getting too grossed out.Heather O'Rourke played the main character,a little girl that gets kidnapped by evil spirits who want her to "Lead them into the Light".In the first movie,these are unknown spirits that are angry that their eternal slumber was disturbed by a new housing development going up in Southern California.In the second movie,we learn that most of the ghosts from the first movie were really members of an early 1800's religious cult who died in a cavern that the Freeling family home was eventually built over, though it's not really explained why they want Heather's character,Carol Anne,to lead them into the light,until in the third,and last movie,we find out that they chose Carol Anne because she was born in the house that was built over the cavern.The third movie gets a bad rap because most of the stars from the first 2 movies aren't in it,as well as for the poor script,and sound-track,but all 3 movies will be my favorite in my mind because Heather made the movies.I don't know too many child actors that could've pulled off Heather's Carol Anne better than she did.She was also in several TV shows,and made-for-TV movies,during her brief career,that was tragically cut short in early 1988.All of us fans of hers will sorely miss her,but she will always live on in our hearts.

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    horrorfan114 Added Aug 6, 2005 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    A look at a special little actress's television career, undeniable talent, beautiful looks, but, most importantly, her extraordinary range. hide show

    Heather O'Rourke...where do I begin? I first saw her in the movie Poltergeist as a 4-year-old child and instantly fell deeply in love with her. My first glimpse (literally, it was only about 12 seconds worth) of her on TV was the "Happy Days" episode "I Drink, Therefore I Am" in the summer of 1997. I have since seen her in "Fantasy Island", "Chips", "Matt Houston", "Still The Beaver", "Webster", "Our House" "Believe You Can and You Can", "Surviving", and "Finder of Lost Loves", and she was superb in each production. She makes me wonder if she was only a 6-year-old to 11-year-old girl or a 40-year-old acting veteran! Her looks were deceiving, but etherially beautful, with her corn-silk blond hair and big, aqua-marine eyes. She showed us her comedic timing in "Happy Days", her uncanny ability to cry at a moment's notice in "Matt Houston", her rapier wit in "Webster", her straight-laced, commanding, compassionate side in "Our House" and her nasty, conning, bratty alter-ego in "Still The Beaver". She had tremendous range by age 9--appearently, the Youth in Films Awards agreed because they gave her the award for "Best TV Guest Appearance" in a sitcom in 1985 for her work in "Webster".

    Sadly, in her brief acting career, Heather never had her own TV series because fate determined she would die a very ill pre-teen in early 1988.

    Those who only remember her as the "Poltergeist girl" are sorely selling her short and undereducated. My advice to them is to check out all 12 of her "Happy Days" episodes (season 10), "Matt Houston" episode ("The Woman In White"), "Webster" episodes ("Katherine's Swan Song", "Second Time Around", "Travis"), "Our House" episode ("A Point Of View"), and "Still The Beaver" episodes ("Bad Poetry", "Material Girl").

    You'll discover an amazing little actress's talent, ability, and surprisingly wide range which was, most unfortunately, both underrated and cut short by her untimely death.

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    suaviterinmodo1 Added Jul 24, 2005 All my reviews
 

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