Rebecca Schaeffer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rebecca Schaeffer
Press photo of Schaeffer c. 1987
Born	Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer (1967-11-06)November 6, 1967 Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
Died	July 18, 1989(1989-07-18) (aged 21) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Murder
Resting place	Ahavai Sholom Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	1985–1989

Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer (born November 6, 1967 – died July 18, 1989) was an American actress and model. She started her career as a teen model. Later, she became an actress. In 1986, she got a main role in the TV show My Sister Sam.

The show ended in 1988. Rebecca then appeared in several movies. Sadly, she was killed at age 21 by an obsessed fan. Her death helped create new laws in California. These laws aim to prevent stalking, which is when someone follows or harasses another person repeatedly.

Early Life

Rebecca Schaeffer was born on November 6, 1967. Her hometown was Eugene, Oregon. She was the only child of Danna and Dr. Benson Schaeffer. Her mother was a writer and teacher. Her father was a child psychologist.

Rebecca grew up in Portland. She went to Lincoln High School. At first, she wanted to become a rabbi. But in high school, she started modeling. She appeared in store catalogs and TV ads.

In 1984, when she was 16, she worked in New York City. She joined Elite Model Management. With her parents' permission, she stayed in New York to continue modeling.

Career Highlights

While in New York, Rebecca went to the Professional Children's School. She also had a small part on the TV show Guiding Light.

In late 1984, Rebecca got a role on ABC's One Life to Live. She played Annie Barnes for six months. During this time, she tried to get more modeling jobs. But at 5 feet 7 inches tall, she was considered too short for high-fashion modeling.

In 1985, she moved to Japan to find more modeling work. But she still found it hard because of her height. She returned to New York City. Then, she decided to focus on acting.

In 1986, Rebecca had a small role in the movie Radio Days. Most of her part was cut out. She kept modeling and also worked as a waitress. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine. This caught the eye of TV producers. They were looking for actors for a new comedy called My Sister Sam.

Rebecca won the role of Patti Russell. Patti was a teenager who moved from Oregon to San Francisco. She lived with her older sister, Sam. My Sister Sam was very popular at first. It was one of the top 25 shows. But its ratings dropped, and the show ended in April 1988.

After My Sister Sam, Rebecca acted in other films. These included Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills and Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair. She also helped a children's charity called Thursday's Child.

Impact of Her Death

On July 18, 1989, Rebecca Schaeffer was killed at her home. She was 21 years old. A 19-year-old fan named Robert John Bardo shot her. He had been stalking her for three years.

Bardo had written many letters to Rebecca. She even answered one of them. In 1987, he tried to visit her on the set of My Sister Sam. Security guards turned him away. He tried again later, but was stopped.

Bardo paid a detective agency to find Rebecca's home address. He got her address from records at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He then went to her home in West Hollywood.

Rebecca was expecting a script for an audition. So, she answered the door. Bardo showed her a letter and autograph she had sent him. After a short talk, she asked him to leave. He left, but came back an hour later. When she answered the door again, he shot her. Rebecca was taken to the hospital. She died about 30 minutes later. She was buried in Portland, Oregon.

Changes After Her Death

Police arrested Robert John Bardo the next day. He quickly admitted to the murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Rebecca's death led to important changes in the law. The way personal information was shared by the DMV changed. In 1994, the Driver's Privacy Protection Act became law. This law stops the DMV from giving out private addresses.

Her death also helped create America's first anti-stalking laws. California Penal Code 646.9 was passed in 1990. These laws make stalking a crime.

At the time of her death, Rebecca was dating director Brad Silberling. Her death influenced his movie Moonlight Mile (2002). This film is about a man's sadness after his fiancée is killed.

After Rebecca's death, her co-stars from My Sister Sam made a public service announcement. They did this for the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence. It was a way to honor Rebecca.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Rebecca Schaeffer para niños