Dominique Ellen Dunne (November 23, 1959 â€" November 4, 1982) was an
American actress. She appeared in several films and television series
from 1979 to 1982, but was best known for portraying Dana Freeling in
the 1982 horror film Poltergeist.On October 30, 1982, Dunne was
strangled by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, in the driveway of
her West Hollywood home and went into a coma. She never regained
consciousness and died five days later. In a controversial court case,
Sweeney was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Dunne's death and
served three and a half years in prison.Dunne was born in Santa
Monica, California, the youngest child of Ellen Beatriz "Lenny" (née
Griffin), a ranching heiress, and Dominick Dunne, a writer, producer,
and actor. She had two older brothers, Alexander "Alex" and Griffin
Dunne, an actor. She was also the niece of married novelists John
Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. Her godparents were Maria Cooper-Janis,
daughter of actors Gary Cooper and Veronica "Rocky" Cooper, and
producer Martin Manulis. Her parents divorced in 1967.
American actress. She appeared in several films and television series
from 1979 to 1982, but was best known for portraying Dana Freeling in
the 1982 horror film Poltergeist.On October 30, 1982, Dunne was
strangled by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, in the driveway of
her West Hollywood home and went into a coma. She never regained
consciousness and died five days later. In a controversial court case,
Sweeney was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Dunne's death and
served three and a half years in prison.Dunne was born in Santa
Monica, California, the youngest child of Ellen Beatriz "Lenny" (née
Griffin), a ranching heiress, and Dominick Dunne, a writer, producer,
and actor. She had two older brothers, Alexander "Alex" and Griffin
Dunne, an actor. She was also the niece of married novelists John
Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. Her godparents were Maria Cooper-Janis,
daughter of actors Gary Cooper and Veronica "Rocky" Cooper, and
producer Martin Manulis. Her parents divorced in 1967.
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