Back to :     Westwood Memorial Park    -    Celebrity Graves

Final Resting Place of Dominique Dunne.

Dominique Dunne   23rd.November 1959 - 4th.November 1982.
Actress who was the older sister in the film "Poltergeist" she was murdered by her boyfriend.
Located in the lawned center section opposite the chapel and rose garden.
Cause of Death - Strangled by boyfriend.

Dominique Dunne  was an American actress. Dunne had parts in several made for television movies, television series and minor movies, but is probably best known for her role as the oldest daughter, "Dana," in 1982's Poltergeist. Dunne was born in Santa Monica, California, and grew up in a wealthy family (she was the daughter of Ellen Griffin, a ranching heiress and journalist Dominick Dunne; she was the sister of actor and director Griffin Dunne) and attended schools in L.A. as well as Fountain Valley School and Colorado State University. After spending a year in Italy, Dunne worked for a short period in L.A. as a receptionist and translator for the Italian Trade Commission, but eventually turned to acting.
Dunne obtained small roles in episodes of popular '80s television series such as Family, CHiPs and Fame. After three years, she finally received her big break with a starring role in Steven Spielberg's movie "Poltergeist". Later that year, after completing work in Poltergeist, Dunne met and moved in with a chef, John Thomas Sweeney. After a short and abusive relationship, Dunne broke up with Sweeney. A few weeks later, Sweeney murdered Dunne. The 6'1" Sweeney strangled the 5'1" actress in the driveway of her home after she refused to reconcile with him. She died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California a few days later, at the age of 22. Sweeney was convicted of manslaughter and was sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison. He served less than four years before being released.
Dunne's body was buried in Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery near family friend, Natalie Wood. Later in 1988, her young Poltergeist co-star, Heather O'Rourke, was buried near her when she died at the age of twelve.