Age, Biography and Wiki

Heather O'Rourke (Heather Michele O'Rourke) was born on 27 December, 1975 in San Diego, California, U.S., is an American child actress (1975–1988). Discover Heather O'Rourke's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is she in this year and how she spends money? Also learn how she earned most of networth at the age of 12 years old?

Popular As Heather Michele O'Rourke
Occupation Actress
Age 12 years old
Zodiac Sign Capricorn
Born 27 December 1975
Birthday 27 December
Birthplace San Diego, California, U.S.
Date of death 1 February, 1988
Died Place San Diego, California, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 27 December. She is a member of famous actress with the age 12 years old group.

Heather O'Rourke Height, Weight & Measurements

At 12 years old, Heather O'Rourke height not available right now. We will update Heather O'Rourke's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
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Dating & Relationship status

She is currently single. She is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, She has no children.

Family
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Heather O'Rourke Net Worth

Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Heather O'Rourke worth at the age of 12 years old? Heather O'Rourke’s income source is mostly from being a successful actress. She is from United States. We have estimated Heather O'Rourke's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income actress

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Timeline

1975

Heather Michele O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 – February 1, 1988) was an American child actress.

Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975, in San Diego, to Kathleen and Michael O'Rourke.

Her mother worked as a seamstress and her father was a carpenter.

She had an older sister, Tammy O'Rourke, also an actress.

1981

Her parents divorced in 1981, and O'Rourke's mother married part-time truck driver Jim Peele in 1984, while they were living in a trailer park in Anaheim, California.

Her success later allowed the family to purchase a home in Big Bear Lake, California.

Between acting jobs, O'Rourke attended Big Bear Elementary School, where she was president of her fifth grade class.

At the time of her death, the family was living in Lakeside, California, a suburb of San Diego.

1982

She had her breakthrough starring as Carol Anne Freeling in the supernatural horror film Poltergeist (1982), which received critical acclaim and established her as an influential figure in the genre.

O'Rourke also worked in television, appearing in the recurring roles of Heather Pfister on the comedy series Happy Days (1982–1983) and Melanie in the sitcom Webster (1983), as well as starring as Sarah Brogan in the television-film Surviving: A Family in Crisis (1985).

Throughout her career, O'Rourke was nominated for six Young Artist Awards, winning once for her role in Webster.

In a contemporary interview with American Premiere magazine, producer Steven Spielberg explained that he was looking for a "beatific four-year-old child...every mother's dream" for the lead in his horror film Poltergeist (1982).

While eating in the MGM commissary, Spielberg saw five-year-old O'Rourke having lunch with her mother while older sister Tammy was shooting Pennies from Heaven.

After his lunch, Spielberg approached the family and offered O'Rourke the Poltergeist role; she was signed the next day over Drew Barrymore, who instead received the role of Gertie in ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

In Poltergeist, O'Rourke played Carol Anne Freeling, a young suburban girl who becomes the conduit and target for supernatural entities.

During production, Spielberg twice accommodated the child actress when she was frightened; when she was scared by performing a particular stunt, Spielberg replaced O'Rourke with a stunt double wearing a blonde wig, and when she was disturbed by the portrayal of child abuse, Spielberg did not require her to perform the take again.

For her work on the film, O'Rourke earned between $35,000 and $100,000.

Poltergeist would go on to receive a cult following and critical acclaim, garnering three Academy Award nominations and a Young Artist Award nomination for O'Rourke.

She was lauded for her performance, with The New York Times noting that she played a key role, writing that "With her wide eyes, long blonde hair and soft voice, she was so striking that the sequel played off her presence."

Her delivery of the lines "They're here!"

in the first film, and "They're baa-aack!"

in the second (that film's tagline), placed her in the collective pop culture consciousness of the United States.

"They're here!"

is ranked No. 69 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Movie Quotes, and PopSugar included the line on their list of "100 Greatest Movie Quotes".

After her work in Poltergeist (1982), O'Rourke secured several television and TV movie roles.

1983

In April 1983, she starred as herself alongside Morey Amsterdam and well-known Walt Disney animated characters in the hour-long television special, Believe You Can...and You Can! She also appeared in CHiPs, Webster, The New Leave It to Beaver, Our House, and had a recurring role on Happy Days as Heather Pfister.

For Webster, O'Rourke won her first Young Artist Award.

She also appeared in the television movies Massarati and the Brain and Surviving: A Family in Crisis.

1986

She went on to reprise the role in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) and Poltergeist III (1988), the last of which was released posthumously.

O'Rourke went on to reprise the role of Carol Anne Freeling in the second and third installments, Poltergeist II: The Other Side in 1986 and Poltergeist III in 1988 respectively; unlike its predecessor, the films garnered mixed reviews, although O'Rourke's performances were praised.

1987

In early 1987, O'Rourke became ill with giardiasis, which she contracted from well water at her family's home in Big Bear Lake.

She was subsequently diagnosed as having Crohn's disease.

She was prescribed cortisone injections to treat the disease during the time she was filming Poltergeist III.

The steroidal injections resulted in facial swelling of the cheeks, which O'Rourke's mother said she was very self-conscious about.

1988

On February 1, 1988, O'Rourke died following two cardiac arrests, her cause of death later being ruled as congenital stenosis of the intestine complicated by septic shock.

Poltergeist III was her final feature, released in June 1988, four months after her death.

On January 31, 1988, O'Rourke began exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

The following morning, she collapsed in her home, and was rushed to Community Hospital in El Cajon.

En route, she suffered cardiac arrest, but paramedics were able to restart her heart at 9:25a.m. She was subsequently flown to the Children's Hospital of San Diego, where it was discovered she had intestinal stenosis and went into emergency surgery.

She survived the surgery, but suffered another cardiac arrest while in the recovery room.