Dominique Dunne was born to a life of privilege in Santa Monica. After her parents' divorce, she moved first to New York, then to a posh home in Beverly Hills. Upon graduation from high school, Dominique went to the University of Colorado to study acting, leaving after one year to pursue her career. Three weeks after arriving in Hollywood, she landed her first gig. Others soon followed, notably her role as Dana Freeling, the eldest daughter in "Poltergeist", and Dominique was soon well known in the Hollywood social scene. Well liked by all that knew her, Dominique seemed to be at the top of the world. Then, at a party she met John Thomas Sweeney, the chef at popular LA nightspot Ma Maison. The two began a relationship, which turned stormy. Sweeney was uncontrollable and abusive (so abusive that Dominique did not need makeup to play the role of an abuse victim on "Hill Street Blues"). Dominique ended the relationship on October 30, 1982. That same night, a distraught Sweeney raced to her house, where she and actor David Packer were rehearsing a scene from V, dragged her outside, and strangled her, leaving her brain dead. Five days later, she was removed from life support and died, cutting short a brilliant career and leaving behind scores of shocked and angry loved ones.



Murdered by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, just nineteen days before her 23rd birthday. Niece of John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. John Thomas Sweeney, Dunne's killer, was 26 years old at the time. After being sentenced to 6 years in prison for assault and unintentional manslaughter, he was freed after less than four years. Found work within three weeks of her arrival on the Hollywood scene. After John Sweeny was released from prison after only serving two and a half years he found work quickly. Dunne's mother, Ellen Griffin, started a grievance support group called, "Justice for Victims of Homicide." On the nights that he worked (as a chef) Griffin and other group members would hand out slips of paper to restaurant patrons that read, "The hands that will prepare your meal tonight also murdered Dominique Dunne." He was fired almost immediately. Drove a blue VW Bug convertible. Loved cooking, foreign countries and languages (Dominique spoke Italian well) and playing baseball. Some of her favorite actresses were Julie Andrews, Jane Fonda, Susan Hayward and Natalie Wood. And for actors of her own generation, she liked Kristy McNichol and Timothy Hutton. Her murderer, John Thomas Sweeney, later moved to the Northwestern USA and changed his name to John Maura. Traveled to Florence, Italy where she studied art and Italian at the Michelangelo- School and at the British Institute. First of two co-stars from Poltergeist (1982) to die unexpectedly within a few years of each other, the second being Heather O'Rourke. Dunne at age 22 and O'Rourke at age 12.