According to an email sent to several sources by Paul Bogaards, an executive at Didion's publisher Knopf it was announced that the cause of death was Parkinson's disease. After his studies at Williams College and service in World War II, Dunne moved to New York . After a June 28, 1967 evening engagement, actress Jayne Mansfield and the occupants of her car were traveling down a winding, narrow stretch of US Hwy 90 in rural Louisiana when the car would plow into the back of a stopped big rig. [25] While she was speaking to a female friend on the phone, Sweeney had the operator break into the conversation. All welcome! Sweeney later testified that he and Dunne had argued, but he could not remember what happened after their exchange. February 27, 2023 equitable estoppel california No Comments . Cause Of Death: Assassination. Let me get him off the phone." What I saw in the courtroom filled me with the kind of rage that only writing about it could quell., The 1984 article that his journal became, Justice: A Fathers Account of the Trial of His Daughters Killer, was a powerfully dry-eyed indictment of the legal proceedings that found Sweeney guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. In the mid-1990s, Dominick Dunne was contacted by a Florida physician who came across an article which Dunne wrote about Dominique's death. Her body was found beneath a tree on her parents property in Greenwich, Conn. [35] Attorney Michael Adelson requested that Judge Katz rule Pierce's testimony inadmissible, because it was "prejudicial. Judge Katz granted the request, and the jury only learned about Pierce's testimony after the trial. Trial To Hospital", "Society crime writer Dominick Dunne, dies at 83", "Dominick Dunne Remembered at the Chateau Marmont", "Dominick Dunne dies at 83; author and former Hollywood producer", "Taking His Panache to TV, Stalking Injustice, His Way", Dominick Dunne, Chronicler of Crime, Dies at 83, The New York Times, August 26, 2009, Celebrity Author And Hartford Native Dominick Dunne Dies At Age 83". Nothing could have pleased me more, Dunne recalled in his 1999 memoir, The Way We Lived Then: Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper. I knew all the players. Returning from Mexico, he was arrested for drug possession at the airport in Los Angeles. His cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., blamed Dunne for the conviction and told talk show host Larry King that the writer was not a journalist. After her television appearances, in 1981, Dunne was cast in the supernatural horror film Poltergeist in the main role of Dana Freeling,[10] the teenaged daughter of a couple whose family is terrorized by malevolent ghosts. Dunne himself professed astonishment when he earned a Bronze Star during World War II for rescuing a wounded soldier at the Battle of the Bulge. She then got supporting roles in episodes of popular 1980s television series, such as Lou Grant, Family, Hart to Hart, and Fame. Dominique was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was put on life support. Writer-at-large Marie Brenner remembers her late friend and colleague Dominick Dunne. He went on to become both a champion for justice and a companion to an international cast of high-society characters, tales of which he recounted in his monthly diary for the magazine. Dominick and Lenny Dunne became famous in the industry for their parties, the most memorable of which was a black and white ball, held in 1964 to celebrate their 10th anniversary. [42][43], On the advice of Tina Brown, Dominick Dunne kept a journal throughout the trial. He went on unemployment, all the while terrified that his friends would see him in the line. In 2000, Mr. Dunne was found to have prostate cancer. Dominick Dunne (1925-2009) was the author of five bestselling novels, two collections of essays, and "The Way We Lived Then," a memoir with photographs. He filled the niche with panache, becoming, according to the Cambridge History of Law in America, one of the nations premier popular chroniclers of notorious criminal trials and lawsuits involving celebrities., He wrote a column, Dominick Dunnes Diary and hosted a Court TV program, Power, Privilege and Justice. His absorption with money and privilege led one writer to call him the Boswell of the bluebloods, while another less charitable critic dubbed him the Jacqueline Susann of journalism.. She fell into a coma and died five days later on November 4, 1982. Throughout his life, Dunne was a vocal advocate for victims rights.Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 29, 1925, Dunne was awarded the Bronze Star, at age 19, for his service in World War II. . The Library of America selected Dunne's account of the Menendez trial, Nightmare on Elm Drive, for inclusion in its two-century retrospective of American true crime writing, published in 2008. After graduating in 1949, he moved to New York, where he became stage manager for television shows and later an assistant to the producer of Playhouse 90. In 1954 he married Ellen Griffin, who was known as Lenny and with whom he had two sons, Griffin and Alexander, in addition to Dominique. He attributed his success to his being a good listener. It was, like, Boing in my head, and I made a genre out of the thing. [33], On September 21, 1983, after eight days of deliberation, the jury acquitted John Sweeney of second-degree murder but found him guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. Five months after the release of the movie, with her career beginning to blossom, Dominique would be strangled to death at her West Hollywood apartment by her estranged boyfriend John Sweeney. [40] The jury's foreman, Paul Speigel, later told the media that both he and his fellow jurors were surprised by Judge Katz's criticism and he called his comment "a cheap shot. Speigel felt that Judge Katz's criticism did not stem from their verdict but from the harsh criticism he received afterward. Dominique Dunne Grave (CC BY 2.0) by Ben Churchill Dominique Dunne > Death date: Oct 30, 1982 > Cause of death: Strangulation Dominique Dunne, daughter of actor and writer Dominick Dunne and niece . He sprang to national prominence with his best-selling novels The Two Mrs. Grenvilles in 1985 and An Inconvenient Woman in 1990, both focused on murders in the upper realms of society. The film documents his hardships and successes in the entertainment industry. It didnt. And his last book, Too Much Money: A Novel, is scheduled for publication in December 2009 by Random House. [32], Sweeney's trial began in August 1983 and it was presided over by Judge Burton S. Katz. He was always writing from the point of view of the victim because of what happened to his daughter, and he had a riveting way of knowing, almost like Balzac, what to tell the reader when.. Sweeney was convicted of manslaughter and served less than four years of his six-and-half year sentence. Among those is Dominique Dunne a American actress. With Dominick Dunne, Graydon Carter, Lana Clarkson, Mart Crowley. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. [19], Dunne was cast in the miniseries V in 1982; she died during filming, so her role was portrayed by actress Blair Tefkin. Though she left behind several notable turns on television and one bonafide blockbuster in "Poltergeist" (1982), actress Dominique Dunne's lasting fame came as a result of her violent death at the hands of a deranged boyfriend in 1982. Join us as we tell the story of the tragic death of POLTERGEIST actress Dominique Dunne.#DominiqueDunne #Poltergeist #TrueCrimeWant a personalized VIDEO MESS. Dominique Ellen Dunne (November 23, 1959 - November 4, 1982) was an American actress. But on Oct. 30, 1982, Dunne was attacked by her ex-boyfriend, and subsequently fell into a coma. Mr. Condit had been scheduled to testify in a deposition about his relationship with Chandra Levy, a federal government intern who disappeared in May 2001 and whose body was found in a Washington park in 2002. He then attempted to give her CPR, which caused Dunne to vomit. Dominick Dunne. The writer was a screenwriter and literary critic besides being a famous novelist. The final act in his self- destruction was when he told an offensive joke about the powerful Hollywood agent Sue Mengers and the Hollywood Reporter printed it. The account, Justice: A Fathers Account of the Trial of His Daughters Killer, was published in Vanity Fair in 1984. Notes: Grandkin; Events. Childhood & Early Life. His credits include The Boys in the Band (1970), The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Play It as It Lays (1972) -- based on the Didion novel of the same name -- and Ash Wednesday (1973). The writer was a screenwriter and literary critic apart from being a renowned novelist. Dunne's mother told him to leave and threatened to call the police. His daughter, actress Dominique Dunne, starred in the horror film "Poltergeist", and was murdered by her boyfriend in an infamous Hollywood case. Later, Humphrey Bogart brought him to Hollywood to work on the television version of The Petrified Forest. [1] Born and raised in Santa Monica, California, Dunne studied acting at Milton Katselas' Workshop, where she appeared in stage productions. The cause was bladder cancer, a family spokesman said. He then moved on to producing feature films, including The Boys in the Band, Panic in Needle Park, Play It as It Lays, and Ash Wednesday. His first article for the magazine appeared in March 1984an account of the trial of the man who killed his daughter Dominique. Her kidneys and heart were donated for transplant. He wrote memorable profiles on numerous personalities, among them Imelda Marcos, Robert Mapplethorpe, Elizabeth Taylor, Claus von Blow, Adnan Khashoggi, and Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. While the tragedies came well after . The cause of death was bladder cancer, said his son Griffin Dunne. Death 26 Aug 2009 (aged 83) . Relationship : Marriage 1954 (Dominick Dunne) Relationship : Divorce dates 1965 (Dominick Dunne) Death of Child 4 November 1982 (Dominique Dunne) chart Placidus Equal_H. Sweeney said that he also vomited, ran into Dunne's house, and consumed two bottles of pills, in an attempt to kill himself. Episode 3. Some of the crasser scribes would later attribute her death to the "Poltergeist" curse, which swirled around the sudden and unexpected deaths of several cast members from the original film and its 1986 sequel, "Poltergeist II: The Other Side." Sweeney's trial for the murder of Dominique Dunne began in August of 1983. [24], During Pierce's testimony, Sweeney became enraged, jumped up from his seat, and ran towards the door leading to the judge's chambers. Six years later he was being treated in a hospital when, he said, he decided to leave. Season 1. In April 1954, Dunne married Ellen Beatriz Griffin, who went by Lenny. Dominick Dunne at his home in Manhattan in 2002. She left The Times in 2015. Ten minutes later, however, Sweeney showed up at Dunne's home. Ellen Griffin Dunne, from whom he was divorced in 1965, died in 1997. Dunne signed a long-term contract with Vanity Fair but also tackled fiction again, this time producing a bestseller, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (1985), based on the sensational Woodward murder case in 1955. Sweeney said that he attempted to revive her by making her walk around, but she fell down. They had two sons, Griffin and Alexander, in addition to Dominique. Dominick Dunne, who gave up producing movies in midlife and reinvented himself as a best-selling author, magazine writer, television personality and reporter whose celebrity often outshone that of his subjects, died Wednesday at his home in Manhattan. [26] She never regained consciousness. In 2002, director Barry Avrich released an unauthorized documentary about Dunne, Guilty Pleasure. Dominick Dunne, who gave up producing movies in midlife and reinvented himself as a best-selling author, magazine writer, television personality and reporter whose celebrity often . [5] Although his Irish Catholic family was affluent, Dunne recalled feeling like an outsider in the predominantly WASP West Hartford suburb where he grew up.[3]. Dominique Dunne, who played the teenage daughter Dana Freeling, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend a few months after the film's premiere. Frightened, Dunne fled to her mother's house, where Sweeney showed up and began to bang on the door and windows, demanding to be let in. He began his career in film and television as a producer of the pioneering gay film The Boys in the Band (1970) and as the producer of the award-winning drug film The Panic in Needle Park (1971). Episode 2. Dunne had everyone whispering in his ear. One night he went to bed with a knife beside him, intending to kill himself, only to be jarred awake by a phone call telling him that his youngest brother, Stephen, had committed suicide. In 1979, approaching his mid 50s, he left Los Angeles. Perhaps one of the most grisly and tragic deaths was that of 22-year-old actress Dominique Dunne, who played the eldest sister in the first film, Dana Freeling. He stated that the murder of Dominique Dunne was: "A case, pure and simple, of murder. Born into a prominent family, her father, Dominick Dunne, was a journalist and her mother, Ellen Griffin, was an heiress. His social ambitions ruined his marriage, and he began drinking excessively and abusing drugs. He began his career in film and television as a producer of the pioneering gay film The Boys in the Band (1970) and as the producer of the award-winning drug film The Panic in Needle Park (1971). Reviews of The Winners were scathing, but his editor, Michael Korda, advised him to go in another direction. These rumors started on social media as Hilton. Martin Manulis and Maria Cooper-Janis (daughter of Gary Cooper) were her godparents. Born on October 29, 1925, in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, Dominick John Dunne was the second of six children of Dorothy Frances (ne Burns) and Richard Edwin Dunne. But it was the day when she has an argument with her former boyfriend while rehearsing for a scene and It was The Death of Dominique Dunne - Reel Reviews. Caption: John Gregory Dunne's wife Joan . "[10] That man was Dunne, who mixed easily with artists, actors, and writers present at the function. What was indisputable was that Dunne -- with his silver hair, tortoiseshell glasses and Turnbull & Asser finery -- became a celebrity in his own right, sympathizing with crime victims, skewering the perpetrators and riding in limousines to his front-row seat at their trials. [18], This article is about the author. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Snowboarder dies at South Lake Tahoe resort, California to alter COVID rules in healthcare settings: Masks and vaccinations not required, Welcome to the world, baby Winter, born amid a snowstorm in Lake Arrowhead, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Californias snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way, After surviving a war scene car crash, L.A. County sheriffs recruits graduate, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits. Dominique Dunne, most known for her role in the film Poltergeist, was strangled by her ex-boyfriend John Sweeney, resulting in her death on November 4, 1982. His books include The Two Mrs. Grenvilles (Crown, 1985), Fatal Charms (Crown, 1987), People Like Us (Crown, 1988), An Inconvenient Woman (Crown, 1990), A Season in Purgatory (Crown, 1993)which was adapted for television as a four-hour CBS mini-seriesand Another City, Not My Own (Crown, 1997). Los Angeles, A $150,000 executive protection dog? In addition to his son Griffin, of Manhattan, Dunne is survived by another son, Alex, of Portland, Oregon, and a granddaughter, Hannah. I made no pretense of doing balanced reporting about murder, he wrote in his memoir. He was known for his novels such was "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles" (1985), and "A Season in Purgatory" (1993). After speaking to him through the locked door, Dunne agreed to speak to him on the porch, while Packer remained inside. Even as his health declined, he would show up in his trademark round glasses and a Turnbull & Asser shirt, with the proper white collar and large blue stripes. At 22, despite her death, Dominique's heart and kidneys still functioned perfectly . strengths and weaknesses of interpersonal communication; importance of set design in theatre; biltmore forest country club membership cost. Dunne was just 22 years old. In September 2008, Dunne disclosed that he was being treated for bladder cancer. [13] It went on to become a critical and commercial success,[14] becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 1982,[15] and since its release it has acquired a cult following. Many celebrities passed away recently because of various reasons. A television station polled viewers, and found Judge Katz to be the fourth worst judge in Los Angeles County. Aug. 26, 2009. [12] On September 22, 2008, Dunne complained of intense pain, and was taken by ambulance to Valley Hospital. At Michaels restaurant in Manhattan, a favorite gathering spot of the news media elite, Mr. Dunne could often be found at his regular corner table receiving admirers. She was set to star in the miniseries V in 1982, but died during the filming.Dominique Dunne was born in 1950s. Death, Cause unspecified 9 January 1987 (Age 64) chart Placidus Equal_H. Weve lost our sense of outrage.. After earning his bachelors degree at Williams College in Massachusetts in 1949, he moved to New York and found work as a stage manager for the Howdy Doody Show and later for Robert Montgomery Presents.. [24], On August 29, defense attorney Michael Adelson also requested that Judge Katz rule that the court lacked sufficient evidence to try Sweeney on the charge of first-degree murder, because predetermination was not established. The strangulation death of dominique dunne was voluntary manslaughter and the earlier choking a misdemeanor assault. He later chronicled high-profile criminal trials and high society as a correspondent and columnist for Vanity Fair magazine. After the 1982 murder of his daughter Dominique, an actress, he began to write about the interaction of wealth and high society with the judicial system. With his appetite for gossip, a short stop at his table would usually yield some nugget. Despite the brutality of the crime committed against her, Dominique Dunne's killer, John Thomas Sweeney, got only six years in prison. At that point, Sweeney said that he, "exploded and lunged toward her." [16] She was set to reprise the role in the following installments of the franchise, but she died before production began on the sequels; Poltergeist II: The Other Side,[17] filmed in 1985 and released in 1986,[17] it explains her character's absence by stating that she has gone off to attend college. I killed her. [4][5] Dunne had two older brothers, Alexander "Alex" and Griffin Dunne, who is an actor and director. Dunne's article "Justice: A Father's Account of the Trial of his Daughter's Killer" ran in the March 1984 issue of Vanity Fair.[7]. After his Army service, he attended Williams College, where he and a group that included Stephen Sondheim started a theater. Dunne was born in 1925 in Hartford, Connecticut, the second of six children of Richard Edwin Dunne, a hospital chief of staff and a heart surgeon, and Dorothy Frances (ne Burns). In a statement, they paid tribute to the . Subsequently, Sweeney accused the Dunnes of harassing him, and in an effort to avoid further altercations, he changed his name. [24] Deputy Frank DeMilio, the first officer to arrive on the scene, testified that Sweeney told him, "Man, I blew it. [16], Dunne was married to Ellen Beatriz Griffin from 1954 to 1965. Although ill, he covered Simpsons recent armed robbery trial in Las Vegas, which resulted in a pronouncement of guilt -- a verdict that Dunne awaited for more than a decade. He made no secret of the fact that his sympathy generally lay with the victim, and he was vocal about what he considered the misapplication of justice. Poltergeist was theatrically released in 1982, which marks both her first starring role and her only appearance in a theatrical feature. [15] Vanity Fair paid tribute to Dunne and his extensive contributions to the magazine in its November 2009 issue. His work often focused on the legal system and society's . After the trial, John Sweeney was incarcerated in a medium-security prison in Susanville, California. His first assignment was to write The Winners, a sequel to gossip columnist Joyce Habers popular novel The Users. Released in 1982, it was poorly reviewed but for Dunne it wasnt a bad start. Shortly after her death, her appearance on the police drama "Hill Street Blues" aired. [7], Dominique Dunne, most known for her role in the film Poltergeist, was strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend, John Sweeney, on November 4, 1982. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame overcomes deficit to win Mission League opener, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, 12 reasons why Sycamore Avenue is L.A.s coolest new hangout, Gripped by grace: Thousands gather for Bishop OConnells funeral Mass, Civilian oversight commission calls for sheriff to outlaw deputy gangs, ban their rituals, Bullets fly amid wild police pursuit that crosses multiple counties, Photos: L.A. County sheriffs academy Class 464, derailed last year by a horrific crash, graduates, So frustrating: L.A. County condom program has faced delays, complaints. In the Summer of 1982, actress Dominque Dunne appeared to have everything going for her. Gender: Male Religion: Roman Catholic. The only footage of her which remains in the miniseries is a shot of her . I was a rotten athlete, I liked puppet shows and I was kind of a sissy, he recalled in The Times interview. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. He had started life over as a writer when his daughter, Dominique, was slain in 1982. He then returned to the driveway, where he laid down beside Dunne, waiting for the pills to take effect. [18], Dunne appeared posthumously in the Hill Street Blues episode, "Requiem For a Hairbag, which aired on November 18, 1982, only two weeks after her death. He told me there was nothing people liked more than reading about the rich and powerful in criminal situations, Mr. Dunne said. Birthplace: Hartford, CT Location of death: Manhattan, NY Cause of death: Cancer - other. His monthly column provided a glimpse inside high society, and captivated readers. He said it would be his last such assignment. According to series creator Kenneth Johnson, recovered footage of Dunne was used in a cameo appearance. He claimed that he could only recall being on top of her, with his hands around her neck. He was 83. Sweeney told Packer to call the police. His last novel, Too Much Money, is scheduled for release in December. He is survived by his sons Griffin, an actor and director of New York, and Alexander of Portland, Ore.; and a granddaughter, Hannah Dunne. Whether writing of Claus von Blow's romp through two trials; the Los Angeles media frenzy surrounding O.J. Her godfather, Martin Manulis, delivered the eulogy. But by this time drugs and alcohol had become an unmanageable part of his life, and in 1975 he drove himself up to the woods in Oregon. . Season 1. Last year, as a postscript to his Simpson coverage, Mr. Dunne defied his doctors orders and flew to Las Vegas to attend Mr. Simpsons kidnapping and robbery trial. The daughter of film producer-turned-journalist Dominick. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Others were highly placed friends of friends, such as former Philippines First Lady Imelda Marcos, who gave him an exclusive interview shortly after she and her husband took up life in exile, and Lily Safra, the international jet-setter whose banker-husband Edmond was killed in a suspicious fire. Judge Katz granted the request, and as such, the jurors were instructed to consider the charges of manslaughter or second-degree murder. Dominique Dunne's Worst Nightmare", "How Anthony Pellicano talked Dominick Dunne out of getting revenge", "Justice: A Father's Account Of the Trial Of His Daughter's Killer", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dominique_Dunne&oldid=1141488186, Episode: "The Haunting of Harrington House". [37][38], Dunne's family was outraged by the verdict, calling it an "injustice". Dominique Dunne's Early Life, Education. We were like minor-league Kennedys.. A spokeswoman for Children's Hospital of San Diego identified the cause of death as intestinal stenosis--a severe bowel obstruction that the girl evidently had from birth. 00:15. For his daughter, the actress, see, Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 21:19, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice, "Dominick Dunne, Chronicler of Crime, Dies at 83", "Celebrity Author And Hartford Native Dominick Dunne Dies at Age 83", "Dunne's Trials from Hartford to Hollywood to Hadlyme with a Writer Who's Known the Peak of Fame and Despair's Deepest Trough", "Dominick Dunne, Chronicler of High Society Justice, Dies at 83", "Justice: A Father's Account of the Trial of his Daughter's Killer", "National Briefing California: Congressman Settles Lawsuit", "Ailing Writer Says O.J. The man was later identified as the same John Sweeney, and in an effort to protect the young woman who was now engaged to John Sweeney, Dunne's brother, Griffin, contacted the woman and asked her to reconsider her decision. The tv actress Dominique Dunne died at the age of 22. Dunne started writing regularly for Vanity Fair. Before her murder, Dunne was cast in the miniseries V (1983); however, she died midway through filming, and was replaced by Blair Tefkin. Her parents were actors, and she was the youngest of three siblings. . I just lost my temper and blew it again. Vanity Fair reports. In 1957, Dunne moved to Los Angeles to work on the CBS showcase Playhouse 90. Two years later he was executive producer of the ABC drama Adventures in Paradise.. She later sustained a broken nose. Go here to read about the Death of Jayne Mansfield (and no, she wasn't decapitated). She made her on-screen debut with the television film Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker, and thereafter played the recurring roles of Erica on the drama series Family (1980), and Paulina Bornstein on the comedy series Breaking Away (19801981). Dunne felt it was fitting that Simpsons armed robbery trial should be the last one he would cover. He was a Special Correspondent for "Vanity Fair" and lived in New York City and Hadlyme, Connecticut. Before covering such high-profile trials as those of the Menendez brothers and O.J. Ms. Dunne, a 22-year-old actress, was found strangled, and Mr. Sweeney, who was found guilty only of voluntary manslaughter and a misdemeanor for an earlier assault, served less than three years. He was 83. According to the media sources, Quintana was the adoptive daughter of Joan Didion. No one in Hollywood would return the reporters calls so he asked for Dunnes help. She has been attracted by many of the boys where she has also been involved in it and later she broke up. He never pretended to be objective in covering trials, Graydon Carter, the current editor of Vanity Fair, said Wednesday. For the next few days, she stayed with her mother and she also stayed at the homes of her friends. I had some hot information about Skakel, Mr. Dunne said, and I knew Fuhrman would bring it to attention.. [23] After he discovered where Sweeney was working, Dunne's brother, Griffin, and her mother, Lenny, stood outside the restaurant, where they handed flyers out to patrons, the flyers read, "The food you will eat tonight was cooked by the hands that killed Dominique Dunne." The episode aired on November 18, 1982, 12 days after her funeral, and it was dedicated to her memory. Military service: US Army (WWII) As a child, Dominick Dunne was beaten by his father for his "sissy" attempts at writing plays and staging puppet shows. . It gave me a lifelong commitment not to be afraid to speak out about injustice.. His willingness to entertain nearly any source made him the target of an $11-million defamation lawsuit by former California Rep. Gary Condit after Dunne told a bizarre, unsubstantiated story on national television and radio programs that implicated Condit in the 2001 disappearance of Washington intern Chandra Levy. Mr. Dunne also clashed with the Kennedy family about his involvement in the 2002 trial of Mr. Skakel, a first cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Mr. Skakel was sentenced to 20 years to life in the murder of Martha Moxley in 1975. [33] The prosecution and the police investigators also dismissed Sweeney's version of events, because there was no physical evidence that he had consumed pills in an attempt to commit suicide at the time of his arrest.