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Heather O'Rourke 1975 - 1988

Heather Michelle O'Rourke of Lakeside, San Diego County, California United States was born on December 27, 1975 in San Diego to Kathleen O’Rourke and Michael O’Rourke. She had a sister Tammy Walker. Heather O'Rourke died at age 12 years old on February 1, 1988 at Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego 3020 Children's Way, in San Diego, and was buried on February 5, 1988 at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary 1218 Glendon Ave, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County.

Heather Michelle O'Rourke
Name
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Lakeside, San Diego County, California United States
Last residence
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December 27, 1975
San Diego, California, United States
Birth
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February 1, 1988
Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego 3020 Children's Way, in San Diego, California, 92123, United States
Death
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Updated: December 9, 2024
Biography ID: 192801073 What's this
Heather O'Rourke Heather O'Rourke (1975 - 1988)
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Heather Michelle O'Rourke's History: 1975 - 1988

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  • Introduction

    Heather Michelle O'Rourke was born to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke. She had a sister, Tammy O'Rourke, who was born four years before Heather. She is best remembered for being a popular young actress in the 1980s appearing on numerous television shows and the Poltergeist films where she had the starring role as Carol Anne Freeling. See Heather O'Rourke's Acting Career for a list of Heather's acting credits. Heather was born in San Diego in the final week of 1975: her mother Kathleen worked as a seamstress and her father Michael was a carpenter. Her parents divorced in 1981 and Heather lived with her mother, who remarried a part-time truck driver Jim Peele in 1984. At the time they were living in a trailer park in Anaheim. When Heather's career blossomed the family purchased a home in Big Bear Lake California. It's an interesting story how Heather was chosen for the role of Carol Anne in Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist films. Spielberg was having lunch at MGM's commissary and saw Heather eating with her mother while Heather's sister Tammy was shooting 'Pennies from Heaven'. Spielberg offered her the part after his lunch and the following day she was signed, beating Drew Barrymore who was also up for the role. Heather died at only 12 years old on February 1, 1988 in Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, California of congenital stenosis of the intestine. She is buried in Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. See a lovely video showing numerous photos taken during Heather's short life at Heather O'Rourke (1975-1988) and see another video showing her mother talking about Heather's passing, the attorney Heather's mother hired to sue the hospital where Heather passed, and her costar talking about the deaths of other actors after they filmed Poltergeist at Show Biz Today - Memory of Heather O'Rourke - June 14, 1988.
  • 12/27
    1975

    Birthday

    December 27, 1975
    Birthdate
    San Diego, California United States
    Birthplace
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  • Ethnicity & Family History

    O'Rourke is an Irish surname

  • Nationality & Locations

    Born in San Diego, she lived in Anaheim before her actress career took off. The family purchased a home in Big Bear Lake and at the time of her death she was living in Lakeside California.

  • Early Life & Education

    Between her acting roles she attended Big Bear Elementary School. She was president of her 5th grade class.

  • Professional Career

    Heather began acting at a very early age. Her first television role was an episode of Fantasy Island called "Elizabeth's Baby / The Artist and the Lady" where she starred as five year old Liza Blake. She also had roles in numerous popular television shows during the 1980s including: CHiPs, Webster, Our House and Rocky Road. Of course she is best remembered for her starring roles in Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist movies. She played Carol Anne Freeling in Poltergeist (1982), Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), and Poltergeist III (1988).

  • Personal Life & Family

    As an actress she was nominated numerous times for various 'Young Actress' awards. She won the 1985 Young Artist Award as 'Best Young Actress, Guest in a Television Series' for her role in Webster.
  • 02/1
    1988

    Death

    February 1, 1988
    Death date
    Congenital stenosis of the intestine and septic shock
    Cause of death
    Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego 3020 Children's Way, in San Diego, California 92123, United States
    Death location
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  • 02/5
    1988

    Gravesite & Burial

    February 5, 1988
    Funeral date
    Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary 1218 Glendon Ave, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California 90024, United States
    Burial location
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9 Memories, Stories & Photos about Heather

Heather O'Rourke
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.5k+ favorites
08/05/2024
Heather O'Rourke
1984 publicity photo for actress Heather O'Rourke who is best remembered as playing the role of Carol Anne Freeling in the 1980's films Poltergeist.
Date & Place:
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Heather O'Rourke (1975-1988)
Heather O'Rourke (1975-1988)
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
32.9k+ favorites
08/05/2024
Heather O'Rourke (1975-1988)
Collection of photos from the short life of child actress Heather O'Rourke.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Show Biz Today - Memory of Heather O'Rourke - June 14, 1988
Show Biz Today - Memory of Heather O'Rourke - June 14, 1988
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
32.9k+ favorites
08/05/2024
Show Biz Today - Memory of Heather O'Rourke - June 14, 1988
An interview with the mother of child actress Heather O'Rourke plus memories from others.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.5k+ favorites
12/06/2020
Heather O'Rourke's Acting Career
Of course Heather is most famous for the Poltergeist trilogy, however she appeared in a number of films and television shows:

Movies:
1982 Poltergeist Carol Anne Freeling
1982 Massarati and the Brain Skye Henry Television film
1985 Surviving: A Family in Crisis Sarah Brogan Television film
1986 Poltergeist II: The Other Side Carol Anne Freeling
1986 Around the Bend The Daughter Television film
1988 Poltergeist III Carol Anne Freeling Posthumous release and Final film role

Television:
1981 Fantasy Island Liza Blake (age 5) Episode: "Elizabeth's Baby / The Artist and the Lady"
1982–1983 Happy Days Heather Pfister Recurring role, 12 episodes
1983 CHiPs Lindsey Episode: "Fun House"
1983 Matt Houston Sunny Kimball Episode: "The Woman in White"
1983 Webster Melanie 3 episodes
1984 Finder of Lost Loves Jillian Marsh Episode: "Yesterday's Child"
1986–1987 The New Leave It to Beaver Heather Episodes: "Material Girl", "Bad Poetry"
1987 Our House Dana Episode: "A Point of View"
1987 Rocky Road Russian Girl Episode: "Moscow on the Boardwalk"
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Barbara Brady
9 favorites
07/27/2024
Great
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Barbara Brady
9 favorites
07/27/2024
Good!
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Barbara Brady
9 favorites
07/27/2024
I.l0ve.you
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Heather Michelle O'Rourke
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.5k+ favorites
12/06/2020
Heather Michelle O'Rourke
Heather O'Rourke around the time she became famous for her roles in the 1980s movies Poltergeist.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Actress Heather O’Rourke
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.5k+ favorites
08/25/2021
Actress Heather O’Rourke
Child actress Heather O'Rourke who will live on forever in people's minds thanks to her role as Carol Anne Freeling in the Poltergeist series.
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Heather Michelle O'Rourke
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.5k+ favorites
12/06/2020
Heather Michelle O'Rourke
A very young Heather Michelle O'Rourke (maybe 2?).
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Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.5k+ favorites
12/06/2020
I had to add a biography for you. I will update more as I'm able. Thank you for dedicating so much of your short life to entertaining all of us. Such a bright light.
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Other Biographies

Other O'Rourke Family Biographies

O'rourke, John (Born 1871) O'rourke, Peter (Dec 1, 1936 - Mar 11, 2007) O'rourke, Kevin (Dec 15, 1947 - Nov 26, 2008) O'rourke, George (Nov 26, 1943 - Feb 16, 1997) O'rourke, Patricia (Apr 2, 1935 - Jan 6, 2009) O'rourke, Ryan (Jun 30, 1987 - Feb 21, 2004) O'rourke, Christine (Oct 12, 1915 - Jul 7, 1996) O'rourke, Edward (Nov 3, 1930 - Jun 15, 2009) O'rourke, Patricia (Nov 5, 1941 - Mar 12, 2005) O'rourke, Patricia (May 10, 1956 - Nov 4, 2009)
O'rourke, Gail (Jun 20, 1950 - Dec 12, 2004) O'rourke, Rory (Feb 25, 1955 - Oct 7, 2008) O'rourke, William (Jun 19, 1944 - Jan 25, 2004) O'rourke, Anna (Jun 17, 1939 - Jul 1, 1997) O'rourke, Carol (Sep 8, 1934 - Apr 27, 2010) O'rourke, William (Aug 5, 1956 - Feb 10, 2005) O'rourke, Kenneth (May 1, 1913 - Jun 19, 1997) O'rourke, William (Oct 9, 1939 - Apr 19, 1994) O'rourke, Delores (Sep 9, 1941 - Nov 24, 1997) O'rourke, Joseph (Feb 7, 1942 - Jul 10, 1995)
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