Heather Michele O'Rourke was born on December 27, 1975, in Santee, San Diego, California, to Kathleen, a seamstress, and Michael O'Rourke, a construction worker. Her ancestry consisted of German, Danish, English, and Irish heritage.
At the tender age of five, Heather entered the world of American cinematic pop-culture. A chance encounter with Steven Spielberg at the MGM Commissary led to her first audition, where she initially failed due to her young age. However, Spielberg saw something in her and asked her to return for a second attempt, this time with a scary story book. Heather's screams and tears impressed Spielberg, and she was subsequently cast in her first role.
Heather's overnight stardom led to her being recognized at Disneyland and various locations in California. She went on to have recurring roles in several TV shows, including Happy Days, Webster, and The New Leave It to Beaver. In 1986, she starred in the highly anticipated sequel to her first film, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, cementing her place in Hollywood history.
In 1987, Heather began experiencing flu-like symptoms, which were later diagnosed as Crohn's Disease. Despite her condition, she continued to film Poltergeist III, taking medication throughout the process. Her cheeks appeared puffy in some scenes, but she never complained during filming.
After completing filming in June, Heather and her family embarked on a road trip across the country. However, her health began to decline in January 1988. She was unable to keep food down and eventually crawled into bed with her parents, saying she didn't feel well. The next morning, February 1, Heather's condition worsened, and she suffered cardiac arrest in the ambulance. She died on the operating table at the age of 12.
Despite her untimely passing, Heather was proud of her achievements, including being elected student body president of her 5th-grade class in 1985.
