JoBeth Williams as Diane Freeling, Craig T. Nelson as Steve Freeling, and Heather O’Rourke as Carol Anne Freeling lead the cast of Tobe Hooper’s 1982 classic Poltergeist, which follows a California family whose home is haunted by violent…
Main cast
- Diane FreelingJoBeth WilliamsMain
- Steve FreelingCraig T. NelsonMain
- Carol Anne FreelingHeather O’RourkeMain
- Dr LeshBeatrice StraightMain
- Tangina BarronsZelda RubinsteinMain
Supporting cast
- Dana FreelingDominique DunneSupp
- Robbie FreelingOliver RobinsSupp
- Marty CaseyMartin CasellaSupp
- RyanRichard LawsonSupp
- Dr PoolJames KarenSupp
Guest & voice
- Mr TeagueMichael McManusGuest
- Mrs TeagueVirginia KiserGuest
- Young PhotographerDirk BlockerGuest
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About this cast
Poltergeist (1982) is a supernatural horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written by Steven Spielberg. The story centres on the Freeling family, who experience terrifying paranormal activity in their suburban home. The main cast includes JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson as the parents, and Heather O’Rourke as their youngest daughter Carol Anne, whose famous line ‘They’re here’ is one of…
FAQs
Who plays Carol Anne in Poltergeist 1982?
Heather O’Rourke plays Carol Anne Freeling, the young daughter who becomes the focus of the supernatural activity and famously utters ‘They’re here’.
Who directed Poltergeist (1982)?
The film was directed by Tobe Hooper, though Steven Spielberg was heavily involved as co-writer and producer, leading to much speculation about the extent of his direction.
Is Poltergeist based on a true story?
No, it is a fictional story, but it was inspired by real-life paranormal research and the ‘Amityville Horror’ case, and the screenplay drew on the experiences of parapsychologists.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026