Heather O'Rourke

American actress (1975–1988)

Person

Born: 1975-12-27
Died: 1988-02-01

via Open Library + Wikidata

Film & TV

Acting · San Diego, California, USA

Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress mostly known for playing Carol Anne Freeling in the Poltergeist film trilogy.

Known for

She Was Here — Self (archive footage)2026
Child Star Confidential — Self (archive footage)2006
The Curse of Poltergeist2002
Poltergeist III — Carol Anne Freeling1988
Citizen Steve — Self - Actress1987
Poltergeist II: The Other Side — Carol Anne Freeling1986
Our House — Dana1986
Surviving — Sarah Brogan1985
Rocky Road — Russian Girl1985
Finder of Lost Loves — Jillian Marsh1984

Article

Heather Michele O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. She had her breakthrough starring as Carol Anne Freeling in the supernatural horror film Poltergeist (1982), which received critical acclaim and established her as an influential figure in the genre. She went on to reprise the role in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) and Poltergeist III (1988), the last of which was released posthumously.

O'Rourke also worked in television, appearing in the recurring roles of Heather Pfister on the comedy series Happy Days (1982–1983) and Melanie in the sitcom Webster (1983), as well as starring as Sarah Brogan in the television-film Surviving: A Family in Crisis (1985).