Dominique Dunne: Notable Works and Career Highlights

Born into a prominent Hollywood family, her father, Dominick Dunne, was a producer and writer, and her brother, Griffin Dunne, became a successful actor. Dominique carved out her own path in the entertainment industry. 

She is best remembered for her breakthrough role as Dana Freeling in Steven Spielberg's supernatural horror film Poltergeist (1982). 

Her career, which spanned from 1979 to 1982, was tragically cut short when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at the age of 22, just as she was emerging as a rising star in Hollywood.

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Complete Television Filmography

Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker (1979)

Network: ABC 

Genre: TV movie- Thriller/Drama

Role: Cathy Robinson 

Air Date: September 21, 1979

Running Time: 1h 36m

Dominique made her professional on-screen debut in this ABC television movie, which dealt with the dangerous world of teenage hitchhiking in Southern California. 

Cathy Robinson portrayed a teenager caught up in the potentially hazardous lifestyle of hitchhiking, a topic that resonated with contemporary social concerns about youth safety in the late 1970s. 

The film served as an important stepping stone in her career, showcasing her ability to handle serious dramatic material and establishing her as a promising young actress capable of tackling challenging social themes. 

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Her performance demonstrated maturity beyond her years, as she convincingly portrayed the vulnerability and naivety of a young person making dangerous choices.

The role required her to convey both the adventurous spirit that would lead someone to hitchhike and the underlying fear and uncertainty that comes with such risky behaviour.

Critics noted her natural screen presence and ability to make her character relatable rather than simply a cautionary tale figure.

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Family (1980)

Network: ABC 

Type/Genre: Drama Series/Family

Roles: Erica 

Seasons/episodes: 5 Seasons, 86 episodes

Following her television movie debut, Dominique landed a recurring role in the critically acclaimed ABC drama series Family. 

The show, which ran from 1976 to 1980, focused on the lives of the middle-class Lawrence family in Pasadena, California, and was known for its realistic portrayal of family dynamics and willingness to tackle controversial social issues.

Dominique joined the cast during the show's final season, playing the character Erica. Her role allowed her to work within an ensemble cast and handle the naturalistic dialogue and situations that Family was renowned for. 

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The series had a reputation for launching the careers of young actors, and Dominique's work on the show further established her reputation as a talented actress capable of bringing authenticity and emotional depth to her roles.

Her character Erica was integrated into the show's ongoing storylines, allowing Dominique to demonstrate her ability to maintain character consistency across multiple episodes while adapting to different dramatic situations. 

The role showcased her talent for ensemble work and her ability to hold her own alongside established television actors.

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Breaking Away (1980-1981)

Network: ABC 

Type/Genre: Comedy Series 

Role: Paulina Bornstein 

Seasons/Episodes: 1 season, 8 episodes 

One of Dominique's most significant television roles was as Paulina Bornstein in the ABC comedy series Breaking Away. 

The series was based on the Academy Award-winning film of the same name and followed the lives of four working-class friends in Bloomington, Indiana. 

The show explored themes of class distinction, friendship, and coming of age in small-town America.

As Paulina Bornstein, Dominique played a college student who becomes romantically involved with one of the main characters. 

Her portrayal was notable for its intelligence and warmth, bringing depth to what could have been a stereotypical "college girl" role. 

The series, while short-lived, was praised for its authentic portrayal of working-class life and the challenges faced by young people trying to find their place in the world.

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Dominique's work on Breaking Away demonstrated her versatility as an actress, showing she could handle both dramatic and comedic material with equal skill. 

Her chemistry with the other cast members and her ability to bring nuance to her character's relationships made her a standout performer in the series. 

The role allowed her to showcase her comedic timing while maintaining the character's intelligence and independence.

Her character served as more than just a love interest; Paulina was portrayed as an educated, ambitious young woman with her own goals and perspectives. 

Dominique brought authenticity to the character's interactions with the working-class protagonists, highlighting the class differences without making them seem insurmountable or stereotypical.

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CHiPs (1982)

Network: NBC 

Type/Genre: Police Procedural Series/Crime drama

Role: Guest appearance 

Seasons/Episode: 6 Seasons, 139 episodes 

Air Date: February 27, 1982

Shortly before her death, Dominique made a guest appearance on the popular NBC police procedural series CHiPs. 

The show, which followed California Highway Patrol officers Jon Baker and Frank Poncherello, was known for its action sequences and light-hearted approach to police work. Her appearance came in a two-part episode titled "Roller Disco."

This guest spot represented one of her final completed television performances and demonstrated her ability to work within the action-adventure format. 

While the role was smaller compared to her recurring television work, it showcased her professional versatility and willingness to take on different types of projects. 

The appearance on CHiPs also reflected the steady work she was finding in television as her career progressed.

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Complete Film Filmography

Poltergeist (1982)

Genre: Horror/Fantasy

Role: Dana Freeling 

Running Time: 1h 54m

Release Date: June 4, 1982

Dominique's most significant and memorable film role was as Dana Freeling in Steven Spielberg's supernatural horror film Poltergeist. 

Directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Spielberg, the film became a massive commercial and critical success, earning three Academy Award nominations and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1982.

In Poltergeist, Dominique played the eldest daughter of the Freeling family, whose suburban home becomes the centre of supernatural activity. 

Dana portrayed a typical teenager dealing with the extraordinary circumstances of her family's haunting. 

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Her performance was praised for its naturalism and believability, helping to ground the film's supernatural elements in authentic family dynamics.

Dana Freeling was portrayed as a typical American teenager, concerned with boys, appearance, and social life, who gradually becomes aware of the supernatural forces affecting her family. 

Poltergeist became a cultural phenomenon and established Dominique as a rising star in Hollywood. 

The film's success opened doors for her and demonstrated her potential to carry major roles in significant productions. 

Her work in the film remains her most widely seen and remembered performance, introducing her to audiences worldwide.

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The Shadow Riders (1982)

Network: CBS 

Type/Genre: Television Movie (Western Romance) 

Role: Kate Connors 

Running Time: 1h 40m

Air Date: September 28, 1982

Following the success of Poltergeist, Dominique appeared in The Shadow Riders, a made-for-television Western film that aired on CBS. 

The film starred Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott as brothers who must rescue their family members kidnapped by Confederate raiders after the Civil War. 

Dominique played Kate Connors, one of the kidnapped family members. Her work in The Shadow Riders demonstrated her versatility as an actress and her ability to adapt to different genres. 

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The Western format allowed her to showcase different aspects of her acting skills, working within the constraints of the period setting while maintaining her natural screen presence. 

The role required her to convey both vulnerability as a kidnap victim and strength as someone determined to survive.

The film was well-received by television audiences and showcased Dominique's ability to work alongside major television stars. 

This would prove to be one of her final completed works, as the film aired just weeks before her tragic death. 

The role demonstrated her continued growth as an actress and her potential for taking on more substantial film and television projects.

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Career and Performance 

Throughout her brief but impactful career, Dominique Dunne demonstrated remarkable versatility, moving seamlessly between television and film, drama and comedy, contemporary and period pieces. 

Her television work showed her ability to handle both recurring character development and guest appearances, while her film roles demonstrated her capacity to work within major studio productions.

Her performances were characterised by their naturalism and emotional authenticity. Critics and co-workers noted her professionalism and collaborative approach to working with directors and fellow actors. She was known for always seeking to serve the story and create authentic moments on screen, whether in dramatic television series or supernatural horror films.

Dominique Dunne's filmography stands as a testament to her talent and potential, serving as both an inspiration and a reminder of what might have been achieved had her promising career not been cut short.

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