Dominique Dunne

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The tragic story of Dominique Dunne

A young actress's life cut short

Dominique Dunne was an American actress whose career was tragically cut short when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney, in 1982. Dunne was just 22 years old at the time of her death.

Dunne was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 23, 1959. She began acting at a young age, appearing in commercials and television shows. In 1979, she made her film debut in the horror film "The Swarm." Dunne went on to star in several other films, including "Poltergeist" (1982) and "Valley Girl" (1983).

A chilling murder

Dunne's murder shocked the Hollywood community. She was killed in her West Hollywood apartment on October 31, 1982, just six weeks after she had broken up with Sweeney. Sweeney had been stalking Dunne in the weeks leading up to her death, and he had threatened to kill her if she did not get back together with him.

On the night of the murder, Sweeney went to Dunne's apartment and got into an argument with her. He then strangled her to death. Sweeney was arrested and charged with murder. He was convicted of second-degree murder in 1983 and sentenced to six years in prison.

A lasting legacy

Dominique Dunne's murder had a profound impact on the Hollywood community. It led to the passage of the California stalking law in 1990, which made it a crime to stalk someone. Dunne's murder also raised awareness of the dangers of domestic violence.

Dunne's legacy lives on through her work. She was a talented actress who had a promising career ahead of her. Her murder was a senseless tragedy that cut her life short.

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