Dominique Dunne

Dominique Ellen Dunne (November 23, 1959-November 4, 1982) was an American actress, most notable for her role as Dana Freeling in Poltergeist. Dunne was born to producer-writer Dominick Dunne and ranching heiress Ellen Griffin, and was the younger sister of actor Griffin Dunne. She was set to star as Robin Maxwell in the 1984 series V, but was tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend during a heated argument.
== Early life ==
Dominique Dunne was born on November 23, 1959, in Santa Monica, California. She was given the feminine version of her father’s name. A previous child who died in infancy was also named Dominique. Dunne had two brothers, Griffin and Alex.
Dunne attended Westlake School for Girls, Taft School, and Fountain Valley School. After completing her former education and studying abroad, she decided to become an actress and moved back to Los Angeles, where she swiftly landed her first role as an assault victim in Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. 
== Career ==
== Personal life ==
As her career blossomed, Dunne met a man named John Thomas Sweeney (now John Patrick Maura) at a party in 1981. They formed a romance which was reportedly stable at first, but quickly turned abusive. Sweeney, a respected local chef, had been raised in a home filled with domestic violence. Determined to escape, he studied cooking and moved to California. Despite the effort to move forward, he repeated abusive behavior learned from his father and brutalized Dunne on multiple occasions. He would grow increasingly paranoid and jealous of Dominique when she had roles with male actors, and would accuse her of cheating on a regular basis.
One incident resulted in Dominique escaping their shared home through a bathroom window and driving to her mother’s residence. Tufts of her hair had been yanked out during an argument. On another occasion, Sweeney strangled her and repeatedly shoved her head against the floor. This was such a severe beating by Sweeney that Dunne did not need makeup to play an abused teenager on an episode of Hill Street Blues. After this incident, she broke off the relationship and made him move out of the home.
However, Sweeney would continue to harass her, driving by her street to the point that she had the locks changed. On the evening of October 30, 1982, he attempted a phone conversation but was blown off. Gifts had also been delivered to her in an attempt to win her back. He then walked from his restaurant job to the block where Dominique lived, and knocked on the door.
Dunne refused to entertain him, but he persuaded her to speak on the front porch. David Packer, a fellow actor who had been at the home to rehearse some lines for an upcoming role, soon heard a verbal argument, a scream, and two thuds. After calling the police, he was told Dominique’s residence was not in their jurisdiction, and brushed off. Packer then phoned a friend to warn them that he may not survive the night, and gave out Sweeney’s name. He went outside to see what had occurred, where Sweeney was found kneeling by the body of Dunne in the driveway. He had strangled her to the point of unconsciousness. 
The police were alerted once more, and an ambulance arrived, where paramedics managed to get Dunne’s pulse restarted. However, once at the hospital, it became clear she had suffered extensive oxygen deprivation to the brain. She was subsequently placed on life support, but would officially die five days later when her family decided it was the best to remove her from the system. Some of her organs were donated to those in need, and an autopsy was performed, where evidence of brain death and aspiration pneumonia were found. 
On November 6, 1982, her funeral was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in the Los Angeles area. She was buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary. 
== Aftermath ==
== Filmography ==
* The Mike Douglas Show (1961) - As self
* Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker (1979) - Cathy Robinson
* Flatbush (1979) - Unknown role
* Family (1980) - Erica
* Valentine Magic on Love Island (1980) - Cheryl
* Lou Grant (1979-1980) - Teri Wilk/2nd Girl
* Breaking Away (1980-1981) - Paulina Bornstein
* The Righteous Apples (1981) - Brenda Howard
* CBS Children’s Mystery Theatre “The Haunting of Harrington House” (1981) - Polly Ames
* Unit 4 (1981) - Tracey Phillips
* The Day the Loving Stopped (1981) - Judy Danner
* Weekend (1982) - Unknown role
* Hart to Hart (1982) - Christy Ferrin
* Fame (1982) - Tracy
* Poltergeist (1982) - Dana Freeling
* The Shadow Riders (1982) - Sissy Traven
* CHiPs (1982) - Amy Kent
* The Quest (1982) - Italian Girl
* St. Elsewhere (1982) - Unconfirmed
* Bring ‘em Back Alive (1982) - Marcella
* Hill Street Blues (1982) - Cindy
* V (1983) - Robin Maxwell (uncredited; posthumous shots)
Category:1959 births
Category:Actresses
Category:American actresses
Category:Deceased