In 1981, she was cast in her first feature film, "Poltergeist". Dunne portrayed Dana Freeling, the teenaged daughter of a couple whose family is terrorized by malevolent ghosts. Produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper, the film opened on June 4, 1982, and went on to gross more than $70 million. This was her only theatrical film appearance before her death. After "Poltergeist", she appeared in the final season premiere episode of "CHiPs" and the 1982 television film "The Shadow Riders", starring Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott.