Acting : "POLTERGEIST" Anniversary by Matthew Gross

Matthew Gross

"POLTERGEIST" Anniversary

This month marks the 41st anniversary of the classic spookfest "Poltergeist". Here is a picture the OpenAI generated of what actress Heather O'Rourke would look like today had she survived her illness.

"They're here..."

Ashley Renee Smith

I love Poltergeist! It's such a fantastic horror movie from both a story and effects perspective. Thank you for sharing, Matthew Gross! I'll have to plan a Poltergeist night before the month is up.

Matthew Gross

I love this horror picture because no one dies. Everyone walks away in the end.

Maurice Vaughan

"Poltergeist" freaked me out growing up, especially the Tangina character. I haven't seen the remake.

Matthew Gross

The remake is good. Zelda Rubenstein, who played Tangina, use to live near me in Silver Lake. As you drive down Silver Lake Blvd near the bend in the road next to the dog park is a 3 tier green house. That is where she lived. Every time I drive past that house, I seem to take my eyes off the road. TANGINA: Carol Ann is alive and in this house.

Maurice Vaughan

Did you talk with Zelda, Matthew Gross?

Matthew Gross

No, I never had the opportunity to speak with her; but I did get to know her co-star Martin Casella. He is now a New York playwright. And I had the opportunity to work with Craig T. Nelson on "The District".

David Abrookin

As an aside to the fact that this is an all-time classic horror movie, Jerry Goldsmith's score to POLTERGIEST is also really good

Matthew Gross

I visited the Library of Congress in 1989. During my visit, librarians brought me the original "Poltergeist" screenplay printed on legal size paper and it included the full end credits as they appeared on screen. It was an amazing document to see.

Sydney Summers

Thank you for sharing!

Maurice Vaughan

Cool, Matthew Gross. What role did you play on "The District"?

Matthew Gross

I was hired as a detective in a bit of action where we stormed a brownstone with a SWAT team. It was directed by James Keach episode "Ten Thirty-Three". We shot the first half on the backlot at Universal and the brownstone interiors at their studio in Culver City. The stunt coordinator, also dressed as a detective, and I roll up in an unmarked car behind D.C. squad cars. We jumped out of the car, pistols in hand, and we followed the SWAT team into the brownstone as the uniformed officers secured the street. It was a lot of fun.

Other topics in Acting:

register for stage 32 Register / Log In