GRIFFIN Dunne is known for his roles in This Is Us and After Hours.
The actor comes from a famous family, including his sister who died tragically.
Who was Griffin Dunne’s sister, Dominique?
Dominique Dunne was the sister of Academy Award-nominated actor, Griffin Dunne.
An actress in her own right, she is best known for her role as Dana Freeling in the 1982 horror film Poltergeist.
Before her untimely death, she was a rising Hollywood star. She had small roles in early 1980s TV shows like Fame and Hill Street Blues.
Griffin revisits his sister’s murder in his book, The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir, which is set for a June 13, 2024, release.
Who killed Dominique Dunne?
In 1982, Dominique Dunne met John Sweeney, a chef, at a Los Angeles party, according to her IMDb biography.
The two began a relationship that turned abusive. Per IMDb, Sweeney was so violent that Dominique required little makeup to play an abuse victim on Hill Street Blues.
On October 30, 1982, Dominique broke up with Sweeney, who later showed up at her house that same day.
She was rehearsing for the 1983 miniseries V with actor David Packer when Sweeney arrived.
Dominique met Sweeny on the porch while Packer remained inside as the former couple argued.
PageSix reports that Packer heard smacking sounds, screams, and a thud.
Dominique had been strangled by Sweeny and was put on life support with no sign of brain activity.
She was taken off life support and passed away on November 4, 1982, at the age of 22.
Where is John Sweeney today?
John Sweeney was charged with attempted murder and first-degree murder, which was lessened to second-degree murder after Dominique was taken off life support.
During the trial, Sweeny testified that he “exploded and lunged toward [Dominique]” and had no recollection of attacking her.
Sweeney was found not guilty of second-degree murder but guilty of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.
After his release from prison, Sweeney found a job at a restaurant.
Dominique’s mother and brother, Griffin, passed out flyers at the restaurant where he worked that read, “The food you will eat tonight was cooked by the hands that killed Dominique Dunne.”
TMZ reports that Dominique’s family got Sweeney fired from at least seven jobs.
The outlet retells Dominique’s murder trial in a documentary called TMZ Investigates: Killing a Movie Star: Grave Injustice, which premiered on January 29, 2024.
Per Slate, Sweeney has changed his name to John Maura and has resumed his career as a chef.
