Dominique Dunne

It is always sad when someone, who barely past acne treatments and puberty is murdered. This is what happened to Dominique Dunne.

Dominique Dunne was born November 23, 1959 in Santa Monica, California. Her father is the famous journalist and author Dominick Dunne. Dunne attended Colorado State University and then spent a year in Italy. After her return, she worked for a short while as a translator and receptionist in the Italian Trade Commission. She then turned to acting.

Her first role was in the made for TV movie, Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker in 1979. After that, she played small roles in television series and movies. Her breakout role was as Dana in the movie Poltergeist.

In 1981, Dominique meet John Thomas Sweeney, a popular Los Angeles chef. The two moved in together, but Sweeney was abusive and Dominique broke up with him. A few weeks later, Sweeney strangled Dominique to death in the driveway of her home after she refused to get back together with him. Sweeney was charged with manslaughter and served only four years in prison.

Dominique is buried close to her co star in Poltergeist, Heather O’Rourke.