Dominick John Dunne (October 29, 1925 - August 26, 2009) was an American writer, investigative journalist, and producer.
Early life[]
Dominick Dunne was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to Richard Edwin Dunne and Dorothy Frances Dunne (neé Burns). He was named after his maternal grandfather, Dominick Burns. His father was a prominent heart surgeon and his mother was an heiress, making the Dunne family well-off financially.
Dunne was the second of six children. As a child, he was abused by his father for being perceived as a “sissy”. After a trip with his aunt Harriet to Hollywood, he fell in love with the celebrity life. After his schooling, Dunne served in WWII, receiving a purple heart upon his return for saving the life of a fellow soldier. He went on to attend Williams College, graduating in 1949.
In 1953, he met Ellen Beatriz Griffin, a ranching heiress. They swiftly married in April 1954, though since childhood, Dunne knew he was attracted to men. To maintain an expected image, he attempted to live an upper-class and unsuspecting life. They had five children, though three survived to adulthood while two daughters died shortly after birth. Their surviving children were Griffin Dunne, Alexander Dunne, and Dominique Dunne , who tragically died at 22 years old in 1982.
Career[]
Personal life[]
Filmography[]
Acting Roles
- Bad Marien’s Last Year (1971) - Guest
- Frasier (1993) - Jeff (voice)
- Addicted to Love (1997) - Matheson
- An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997) - Himself
- Bernard and Doris (2006) - Board Member
- The Closer (2007) - Himself
- Changeling (2008) - Man on Jury (uncredited)
Other