10 Things You Didn't Know About Poltergeist

Since the release of Poltergeist in 1982, there has always been a legend that the film set was cursed, due to all the strange activity that happened during production – Oliver Robbins near death, Zelda Rubinstein's futuristic visions etc. And those who truly believe in the curse often blame the aforementioned real skeletons used as props.

But the supposed curse really took force after the film was released to cinemas, when many members of cast and crew associated with the picture were meeting their untimely deaths. The first victim was Dominique Dunne – a rising star, aged twenty-two, who was strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend just months after the film’s release.

Her co-star Heather O’Rourke went on to reprise her role as Carol Anne for the next two sequel movies but died during the production of Poltergeist III, aged just twelve. Her demise was caused by complications with being misdiagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

Richard Lawson, who played Ryan in the first movie, narrowly avoided death in 1992 when he and his wife survived the USAir Flight 405 Plane Crash. Two actors who appeared in Poltergeist II, Julian Beck and Will Sampson, both died as a result of chronic illnesses.

It’s up to you whether you believe in the Poltergeist curse or not. JoBeth Williams herself believed all the tragic deaths related to the franchise were just coincidences. However, the Poltergeist curse is still very much believed in and a legend which Hollywood are still obsessed with.