Heather O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress who starred in the Poltergeist movie trilogy.

She was discovered in 1980 by Steven Spielberg while she was eating lunch at the MGM Studios Commissary. Spielberg was looking for someone to play the part of 5 year old "Carol Anne" in his upcoming production of Poltergeist. He originally thought that she was too young for the part (she was four at the time) but after an interview and a "scream test", cast her in the role.

Poltergeist was released in June 1982, and Heather's line: "They're he-eere!" entered American pop culture.

In 1986, Poltergeist II was released, and once again, Heather coined another pop-culture phrase, when she said "They're ba-aaack!"

Her success in the first "Poltergeist" film led to television work, and in 1982-3 she was briefly a regular on the sitcom Happy Days playing the daughter of Fonzie's girlfriend.

Heather began filming Poltergeist III in 1987, and the movie was set to be released in 1988.

On February 1st, of 1988, a few weeks before scheduled additional filming of Poltergeist III, Heather became ill suddenly, and was rushed to the hospital where it was discovered that she had developed an acute bowel obstruction. Despite emergency surgery to relieve the blockage, Heather died of the complications produced by infection and septic shock. She was only 12 years old.

External links

• The Heather O'Rourke Memorial Site
• www.heatherorourke.co.uk
• Heather O'Rourke~ A Little Angel.