The Murder of Rebecca Schaeffer

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by tpksstories

by tpksstories

Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer(November 6, 1967 – July 18, 1989) was an American actress andmodel. She began her career as a teen model before moving on toacting. In 1986, she landed the role of Patricia "Patti"Russell in the CBS comedy My Sister Sam. The series was canceled in1988, and she appeared in several films, including the black comedyScenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills. At the age of 21,she was shot and killed by Robert John Bardo, a 19-year-old obsessedfan who had been stalking her. Schaeffer's death helped lead to thepassage in California of legislation aimed at preventing stalking.

Early life

Schaeffer was born into a Jewish familyin Eugene, Oregon, on November 6, 1967, the only child of Danna (néeWilner), a writer and instructor at Portland Community College, andDr. Benson Schaeffer, a child psychologist. She was raised in theJewish religion in Portland, Oregon, where she attended Lincoln HighSchool. She initially had aspirations to become a rabbi, but shebegan modeling during her junior year in high school. She appearedin department store catalogs and television commercials, and as anextra in a television film. In August 1984, her parents allowed herto move to New York City by herself to pursue a modeling career.

Career

While working in New York, Schaefferattended Professional Children's School. She also had a short-termrole on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light.

In late 1984, Schaeffer landed the roleof Annie Barnes on ABC's One Life to Live for a stint that lasted sixmonths. During this time, she attempted to further her modelingprospects. At 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), she was considered too short forhigh fashion modeling and struggled to find work. In 1985, she movedto Japan in hopes of finding more modeling jobs, but stillencountered difficulty due to her height and weight. She returned toNew York City and decided to focus on an acting career.

In 1986, Schaeffer won a small role inWoody Allen's comedy Radio Days, but her performance was ultimatelyedited from the film; only a brief scene featuring her characterremains in the film. She continued modeling and also worked as awaitress. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine, whichcaught the attention of television producers who were casting for thecomedy My Sister Sam starring Pam Dawber. Schaeffer won the role ofPatricia "Patti" Russell, a teenager who moves fromOregon to San Francisco to live with her 29-year-old sister Samantha("Sam") after the death of their parents. Theseries was initially a hit, ranking in the top 25, but it wascanceled halfway through its second season in April 1988 due tofalling ratings. After My Sister Sam, Schaeffer had supporting rolesin Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, The End ofInnocence, and the television film Out of Time. She also served as aspokesperson for the children's charity Thursday's Child.

Murder

On July 18, 1989, 19-year-old fanRobert John Bardo shot and killed Schaeffer at her home in WestHollywood. At the time of her death, Bardo had been stalking her forthree years. He had previously been obsessed with child peaceactivist Samantha Smith, who had been killed in a plane crash in1985. He then wrote numerous letters to Schaeffer, one of which sheanswered. In 1987, he traveled to Los Angeles hoping to meet withSchaeffer on the set of My Sister Sam, but Warner Bros. securityturned him away. He returned a month later armed with a knife, butsecurity guards again prevented him from gaining access. He returnedto his native Tucson, Arizona, and lost focus on Schaeffer for awhile as his obsession shifted toward pop singers Debbie Gibson,Madonna, and Tiffany Darwish.

Bardo watched Schaeffer in the blackcomedy Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills in 1989, inwhich she appeared in bed with another actor. He became enraged bythe scene, apparently out of jealousy, and decided that Schaeffershould be punished for becoming "another Hollywood whore". Arthur Richard Jackson had stalked and stabbed actress TheresaSaldana in 1982, and Bardo learned that Jackson had used a privateinvestigator to obtain Saldana's address. Bardo then paid a detectiveagency in Tucson $250 to find Schaeffer's home address inCalifornia's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records. His brotherhelped him get a Ruger GP100 .357 handgun.

Bardo traveled to Los Angeles a thirdtime and roamed the neighborhood where Schaeffer lived, asking peopleif she actually lived there. Once he was certain that the address wascorrect, he rang the doorbell. Schaeffer was preparing for anaudition for The Godfather Part III and was expecting a script to bedelivered, so she answered the door. Bardo showed her a letter andautograph that she had previously sent him; after a shortconversation, she asked him not to come to her home again. He went toa diner nearby and had breakfast, then returned to her apartment anhour later. She answered the door with "a cold look on herface", Bardo later said. He pulled out the handgun and shother in the chest at point-blank range in the doorway of her apartmentbuilding; according to Bardo, she fell and said only, "Why?" Schaeffer was rushed to the emergency room of Cedars-Sinai MedicalCenter, where she was pronounced dead 30 minutes after her arrival. She was buried at Ahavai Sholom Cemetery in Portland.

Aftermath

Tucson Police Chief Peter Ronstadtarrested Bardo the next day after motorists reported a man runningthrough traffic on Interstate 10. He immediately confessed to themurder. Marcia Clark, later known for her role as lead prosecutor inthe O. J. Simpson murder case, prosecuted the case against him. Bardowas convicted of capital murder in a bench trial and was sentenced tolife in prison without the possibility of parole. As a result ofthis incident, federal law regarding the release of personalinformation through the DMV was changed. The Driver's PrivacyProtection Act, which prevents the DMV from releasing privateaddresses, was enacted in 1994. Schaeffer's death also helped promptthe 1990 passing of America's first anti-stalking laws, includingCalifornia Penal Code 646.9.

At the time of her death, Schaeffer wasdating director Brad Silberling. Her death influenced his filmMoonlight Mile (2002) about a man's grief after his fiancée ismurdered. Shortly after Schaeffer's death, Pam Dawber and her MySister Sam co-stars Joel Brooks, David Naughton, and Jenny O'Harafilmed a public service announcement for the Center to PreventHandgun Violence in her honor.

Filmography

1985 One Life to Live Annie Barnes Unknown episodes

1986 Amazing Stories MissCrowningshield Episode: "Miscalculation"

1986–1988 My Sister Sam PattiRussell 44 episodes

1987 Radio Days Communist's Daughter

1988 Out of Time Pam Wallace Television movie

1989 Scenes from the Class Struggle inBeverly Hills Zandra

1990 Voyage of Terror: The AchilleLauro Affair Cheryl Television movie; released posthumously

1990 The End of Innocence Stephanie(18–25 years old) Released posthumously