The truth about the mysterious death of Heather O'Rourke, the girl from 'Poltergeist', at 12 years old

The composition of the girl Carol Anne, with her long blonde hair facing an out-of-tune television in a mundane living room dimly lit, has become one of the most iconic images in horror cinema of all time.

Not surprisingly, it became the literal poster of 'Poltergeist,' released in 1982, which is now a classic bearing the signature of Steven Spielberg as the producer. The line spoken by the young star in that scene - "They're here" - also became part of the genre's canon.

However, the status of a "cursed production," which persists to this day, became inevitable due to the deaths of several people involved in the film during or in the years following the production. All of this was further amplified by the shocking death of the young actress who portrayed the little girl haunted by spirits inhabiting their new house, built on land that was once an Indian cemetery.

Heather O'Rourke passed away at the tender age of 12 on February 1, 1988, merely eight months after filming her part in the third installment of the franchise - worth mentioning that she was also part of the cast of 'Poltergeist II: The Other Side' in 1986. However, the explanation for her death was all too earthly. Nevertheless, it was no less tragic or sad.

The young artist - who was also known for her role in the series 'Happy Days' - fell victim to a severe intestinal obstruction, likely congenital. The blockage caused an infection and led to septic shock. Subsequently, cardiac and pulmonary arrests followed, culminating in her demise, as reported by a spokesperson for the Children's Hospital of San Diego, where Heather was urgently taken when she complained of abdominal pain, as documented at the time by the Los Angeles Times.

The parents of the girl were inconsolable, to the point where they couldn't give statements to the press, and the studio responsible for the horror franchise, Metro Goldwyn-Mayer, expressed solidarity with the family. However, they still went ahead with the release of 'Poltergeist III: The Final Chapter' during that year's high season.

Despite a deluge of media attention, the box office performance didn't meet expectations: the third film grossed only $14 million in the US theaters, falling far short of the first film ($77 million) or the previous one ($40 million), according to data from the specialized website Box Office Mojo.

Cursed?

The fact is that the tragedy of O'Rourke's death was ripe for various speculations and conspiracy theories involving the supernatural and the deaths of three other cast members of the franchise.

Some believe that the "Poltergeist Curse" began soon after the release of the first film. Dominique Dunne, who made her film debut as Carol Anne's older sister, died at the age of 22 on November 4, 1982, shortly after appearing in successful TV series of the 1970s and 1980s like 'Hart to Hart' and 'CHiPs.' She was a victim of domestic violence, strangled by her boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

Julian Beck, who played Kane - the main antagonist to Carol Anne in 'Poltergeist II' - died during the film's production and before its release in theaters. The actor, known for his prestigious theater career in New York and roles in famous films of the 1980s such as 'The Cotton Club' and '9 1/2 Weeks,' succumbed to stomach cancer on September 14, 1985, at the age of 60.

Finally, one of the legends of American cinema, Will Sampson, who had a significant role alongside Jack Nicholson in 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and became one of the great symbols of Native American representation in Hollywood, died after portraying a "spirit of light" trying to help Carol Anne and her family in 'Poltergeist II' as well.

The artist passed away on June 3, 1987, at the age of 53, due to a chronic degenerative condition.