‘Poltergeist’ Star Heather O’Rourke’s Family React to ‘Hurtful’ Curse Rumors in New Documentary

Heather O’Rourke rose to fame in her role of Carol Anne Freeling in the classic ‘80s horror film Poltergeist, but her death was surrounded by rumors that the family say were hurtful.

Heather died at the age of 12 in 1988 due to intestinal stenosis months before Poltergeist III was released.

“One of the biggest things we’ve come to notice lately is these comments for years on websites and stuff where they talked about Heather,” Heather’s older sister Tammy O’Rourke said in a new documentary called She Was Here, per People. “Everyone thinks they know better than our mom, or better than us.”

Over the years, people have continually theorized about Heather’s death, including that the set of the original Poltergeist was cursed. They’ve often cited the deaths of actors in the films, including Heather’s costar Dominique Dunne, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1982.

Other details, like the fact that production used real skeletons to film the iconic scene with JoBeth Williams in the pool, only added to the lore.

“I’m sure it comes from a good place,” Tammy continued. “They have a good heart and they’re trying to be nice about it, but it’s just so hurtful. So many things, just jabs that they say about her…”

Gary Sherman, who directed Poltergeist III, appeared in the documentary and echoed similar sentiments as Tammy.

“For all of this stuff and the Poltergeist curse and all of this to be heaped upon her memory, that’s just not fair and not good,” Sherman explained, adding: “It has nothing to do with the reality of what went on.”