FILMFACTS

TRIVIA

Poltergeist Trivia

1982

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They're Here!

Trivia

The 'Poltergeist' house. See the locations section for more info.

Totally Trivia

Film facts for the 1982 Horror / Occult movie starring Heather O'Rourke, JoBeth Williams, Oliver Robins, Craig T. Nelson

Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, Michael McManus, Virginia Kiser, Martin Casella, Richard Lawson, Zelda Rubinstein, Lou Perryman, Clair E. Leucart, James Karen, Dirk Blocker, Allan Graf, Joseph Walsh Update Cast

We believe the following trivia is all legit. If it's bogus or you have additional info, please update us.

Thanks to Angela Meil

Update

Dominique Dunne, the actress who had played Carol Anne's older sister, died tragically, several months after the film was completed. She was strangled into a coma by her abusive boyfriend and never woke up. She died on Nov 4, 1982, she was 22 years old.

Editor Kara Petty

Update

Heather O'Rourke (Carol Anne) tragically died before finishing the 3rd Poltergeist movie.

It is often said that she had Crohn's Disease, a chronic inflammation of the intestine. In fact, she apparently had acute intestinal stenosis (an obstructed bowel). During attempts to operate, she sadly died of a cardiac arrest on the operating table.

She was only 12.

Rewind Archive

Update

As homage to his friend George Lucas, Spielberg populated the children's bedroom with Star Wars toys. He did the same in "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982).

Thanks to Steven Murray

Update

Dominique Dunne's character isn't mentioned in either Poltergiest 2 or 3.

Rewind Archive

Update

Did you know that four of the main characters from the poltergeist movies have died? Are the movies cursed? Read about it at the gold rated site listed in the links section!

Thanks to Steven Murray

Update

Heather o' Rourke also appeared in several episodes of 'Happy Days.'

Thanks to Steven Murray

Update

In an interview, Heather o' Rourke stated that when she grew up she wanted to be a director.

Thanks to nutz'n'boltz

Update

Zelda Rubinstein, the psychic in Poltergeist, is actually the voice-over presenter for TV's 'Scariest places on Earth.'

Thanks to Johnney Perkins

Update

In the film Carol Ann is said to be the Lifeforce to the ghosts that are Haunting the family. Tobe Hooper the director would go on to direct a movie several years later called "Lifeforce"

Thanks to ADRIENNE SWANSON

Update

The skeletons that emerge from the swimming pool while Diane searches for help are actual skeletons. JoBeth Williams didn't know this until after the scene was shot.

Thanks to C.T. Warren

Update

The late 00's saw a homage to Poltergeist in a DirecTV commercial (they'd previously done ads based on Alien, Ferris Bueller, Terminator, and Back To The Future).

Craig T. Nelson reprises his family father role, complaining to both Carol Ann and the audience that the haunted static on the TV is only bad cable reception, and quips "Not getting rid of cable, THAT'S gonna come back to HAUNT me!"

Heather O'Rourke's family was pleased with the ad keeping her memory alive.

Thanks to C.T. Warren

Update

Craig T. Nelson, Carol Anne's father in the film, went on to star in the long-running sitcom "Coach" and the hit drama series "The District".

Today, he plays family patriarch Zeke Braverman in the NBC series "Parenthood". However, most kids will hear his voice and recognize him as the star of Disney-Pixar's blockbuster "The Incredibles!"

Thanks to stl-80s-lover198

Update

In the scene in the kitchen where Dr. Lesh tells Steve and Diane that she has to display the video tapes at the college, Steve says "Please, not on '60 Minutes'" and Diane says "Or 'That's Incredible!'".

For those unfamiliar with it, "That's Incredible!" was a type of Ripley's Believe It Or Not/Guinness World Records show in the early 80's that featured strange people with abnormalities or supposive supernatural abilities.

Rewind Archive

Update

The classic line "They're here" is said by Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) in the movie. If you look at her lips while she is saying it, she actually says, "They're all here"

Today, Sirius XM radio has their Channel * dedicated to the 80's, and is hosted by all the original VJ's of MTV(except the late J.J. Jackson). In promo spots, host Martha Quinn still pays homage to Carol Anne by telling viewers, "We're All He-eeeeeere!"

Thanks to Derek Moore

Update

The clown puppet that was used in the film "Poltergeist" is on display in the "PLANET HOLLYWOOD" in Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas!

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Bogus Trivia

There's often fake stuff floating round, y'know? -Like the 'ghost boy' that can allegedly be seen in "Three Men And A Baby".

But, nothing bogus that we know yet for "Poltergeist".

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1982 MGM
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