<P> Before O'Rourke began acting, the family lived in a trailer park in Anaheim . Her success later allowed the family to purchase a home in Big Bear Lake, California . In between acting jobs, O'Rourke attended Big Bear Elementary School where she was president of her class . At the time of her death, the family was living in Lakeside, California . </P> <P> In a contemporary interview with American Premiere magazine, producer Steven Spielberg explained that he was looking for a "' beatific' four - year - old child...every mother's dream" for the lead in his horror film Poltergeist (1982). While eating in the MGM commissary, Spielberg saw five - year - old Heather O'Rourke having lunch with her mother while older sister Tammy was shooting Pennies from Heaven . After his lunch, Spielberg approached the family and offered O'Rourke the Poltergeist role; she was signed the next day, beating Drew Barrymore, who was up for the role . </P> <P> In the Poltergeist trilogy, O'Rourke played Carol Anne Freeling, a young suburban girl who becomes the conduit and target for supernatural entities . The New York Times noted that she had played the key role in the films and commented, "With her wide eyes, long blonde hair and soft voice, she was so striking that the sequel played off her presence ." During the production of the original Poltergeist, Spielberg twice accommodated the child actress when frightened . When scared by performing a particular stunt, Spielberg replaced O'Rourke with a stunt double wearing a blonde wig; and when disturbed by the portrayal of child abuse, Spielberg did not require her to perform the take again . For her work in Poltergeist, O'Rourke earned between $35,000 and $100,000 . O'Rourke played the role in all three films . O'Rourke and Zelda Rubinstein were the only original cast members to appear in the third film, Poltergeist III . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> They're here! O'Rourke's performance of her famous line from Poltergeist </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What happened to the little blonde girl from poltergeist