Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Dominique Dunne was just 22 years old and already breaking through in a major Hollywood blockbuster when her life was cut brutally short, and that injustice never stops stinging. Her role as Dana Freeling in Poltergeist (1982) was genuinely good — she brought a grounded older-sibling energy to a film full of chaos and screaming, the kind of calm presence that made the horror feel real. She had already put in solid TV work on Family and Breaking Away, so this was clearly a career just finding its stride. The fact that she was murdered by an abusive ex-boyfriend weeks before Poltergeist even hit its full theatrical run is one of Hollywood's most heartbreaking footnotes. What she could have become, we'll never know. What she left behind is worth remembering with real respect.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Dominique Dunne
- Name (Japanese)
- ドミニク・ダン
- Reading
- どみにく・だん
- Born
- November 23, 1959 – November 4, 1982
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Boar
- Origin
- Santa Monica, California, United States
- Occupation
- actor
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Poltergeist | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Dominique Dunne born?
November 23, 1959 – November 4, 1982.
Where is Dominique Dunne from?
Dominique Dunne is from Santa Monica, California, United States.
What does Dominique Dunne do?
Dominique Dunne works as actor.
What is Dominique Dunne known for?
Notable works include Poltergeist.
Actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.