According to her friend Peter Davis, O’Heaney passed away on May 18 in Westchester County, New York. The two had recently collaborated on the short film Faith and Forgiveness. No cause of death was disclosed.
A Career Spanning Film, Television, and Broadway
Trained at the prestigious Juilliard School under John Houseman and Michael Kahn, O’Heaney built a diverse career across stage and screen.
She worked alongside Katharine Hepburn on Broadway, portrayed a 1930s Hollywood actress in A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy by Woody Allen, and later starred as Snow White in the ABC sitcom The Charmings.
Breakthrough Role in a Cult Horror Classic
O’Heaney gained recognition in the 1980 slasher film He Knows You’re Alone, playing Amy Jensen, a bride-to-be stalked by a killer obsessed with brides.
Director Armand Mastroianni reportedly reviewed more than 4,000 photographs and interviewed over 100 actresses before selecting her for the role.
The film is also notable for featuring the big-screen debut of Tom Hanks.
Star of Tales of the Gold Monkey
On the adventure series Tales of the Gold Monkey, O’Heaney played Sarah Stickney White, an American spy and lounge singer set in the South Pacific in 1938.
Her character served as the romantic interest of pilot Jake Cutter, played by Stephen Collins.
Early Life and Juilliard Training
Born Kathleen Helen Heaney on August 16, 1952, in Milwaukee, O’Heaney grew up in the suburb of Whitefish Bay.
She became involved in theater at age 11 through the North Shore Children’s Theatre and later earned a scholarship to the Juilliard School at just 17 years old.
Her classmates included future stars such as Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams, Christine Baranski, and William Hurt.
Broadway Success and Hollywood Opportunities
At age 21, O’Heaney modeled for renowned artist Salvador Dalí in New York, though the project was ultimately abandoned.
She later reunited with Christopher Reeve on Broadway in A Matter of Gravity, starring Katharine Hepburn.
O’Heaney also came close to landing several major film roles. She auditioned extensively for Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and later expressed regret for declining a role in Altered States.
Television Career
In addition to her best-known roles, O’Heaney appeared in numerous popular television series, including:
- AfterMASH
- Spenser: For Hire
- Silver Spoons
- St. Elsewhere
- Murder, She Wrote
- Beauty and the Beast
- L.A. Law
- Matlock
Her film credits also included Wolfen and the Spielberg-produced Three O’Clock High.
A Life Beyond Acting
Outside of entertainment, O’Heaney pursued a variety of interests. In 1990, she served as an assistant cook aboard a vessel operated by Greenpeace in the North Sea.
She later created a perfume called “Caitlin,” taught acting, sang with Pete Seeger, and remained a devoted animal lover.
Speaking Out About Hollywood
In 2017, O’Heaney told BuzzFeed News that she was physically injured during an audition for The Doors.
She alleged that actor Val Kilmer shook and threw her to the floor during the audition while director Oliver Stone looked on. The role of Pamela Courson ultimately went to Meg Ryan.
O’Heaney said she later received a settlement and chose to speak publicly about the incident amid broader conversations about harassment and abuse in Hollywood following allegations against Harvey Weinstein.
Survived by Family
O’Heaney is survived by her sisters, Maureen and Coleen, along with several nephews, grandnephews, and grandnieces.
A celebration of life is being planned. Her family has requested that memorial donations be made to animal welfare organizations.
