Dominique Dunne's Real Name: Dominique Dunne

Quick answer: The actor was known professionally as Dominique Dunne. A UPI report dated November 4, 1982, identifies her as the actress who made her movie debut in Poltergeist and says she died that Thursday at a hospital, at age 22. A later Los Angeles Times account independently discusses her featured role in Poltergeist and dates her death to November 4. People magazine independently gives a birth date of November 23, 1959, in Santa Monica, California, but dates her death to October 30, 1982, a wording that conflicts with the UPI and Times accounts.

Real name and early life

The sources used here identify her as Dominique Dunne. People magazine says she was born in Santa Monica, California, on November 23, 1959, to Ellen and Dominick Dunne, and that she was the younger sister of Alex and Griffin Dunne. The Los Angeles Times independently identifies her father as the author Dominick Dunne, her mother as Ellen Dunne, and her uncle as the writer John Gregory Dunne. UPI independently describes her as a niece of author-screenwriter John Gregory Dunne. UPI and the Times do not give a birth date or birthplace.

Career highlights

UPI says she made her movie debut playing the older sister in Poltergeist and also appeared in a then-recently released film it names as The Guest. The Times independently says she had a featured role in Poltergeist and, at 22, had made a good start at forging an identity as an actress. People independently says she got her start in the 1979 film Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker, appeared in 1980s series including Lou Grant, Family, Hart to Hart, and Fame, and became widely known for Poltergeist (1982).

Death and later official outcome

UPI, in a November 4, 1982, report, says she died that Thursday at a hospital after five days, at age 22. The Times independently dates her death to November 4, 1982. People instead says she died on October 30, 1982, the date the Times identifies as the night of the attack. The sources differ on the date of death. In 1983, according to both People and the Times, John Sweeney was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. People says he was acquitted of second-degree murder, sentenced to six and a half years, and later released after two and a half years. The Times independently says a jury rejected a murder conviction and that he spent three years, seven months, and 27 days in custody.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Dominique Dunne are looking for the actor known for Poltergeist.