Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer was born November 6, 1967 in Eugene, Oregon, the only child of parents Benson
and Danna Schaeffer. Growing up Rebecca was a curious and spirited child who loved horseback riding and
being outdoors. In high school she was an honor student and served on student council. Rebecca loved
writing poetry and was deeply immersed in her jewish faith.
This website (In Memoriam - Rebecca Schaeffer) went online February 14, 2015 - contact: markwbrenner@yahoo.com
In 1982 Rebecca began to pursue modeling and signed
with local talent agent Nannette Troutman. She soon
appeared in department store catalogs and on television
commercials. In August 1984 her parents gave Rebecca
permission to move to New York City by herself to continue
pursuing a career in modeling. It was soon after arriving
that she signed with Elite Model Management. Rebecca
eventually landed an acting role on the ABC daytime soap
‘One Life to Live’. During the same time she continued
looking for modeling jobs. She struggled to find work and
soon realized that at 5’7 she just wasn’t tall enough to be
a fashion model. In 1985 she moved to Japan hoping her
height would not be an issue - but she still struggled.
During the second season ratings for the show began
to tumble due in large part to the show being moved
to a Saturday night time slot. After airing only ten
episodes CBS pulled the plug (eventually the remaining
12 episodes were broadcast on the USA Network).
While the cancellation was disappointing Rebecca was
determined to continue to make her mark on Hollywood.
She also decided it was time to find her own place to
live. She found a tudor-style apartment in the Fairfax
District of West Hollywood
On July 18, 1989 Rebecca was preparing to audition for a role in ‘The Godfather Part III’. She was awaiting
the delivery of a script prior to her meeting with director Francis Ford Coppola. At approximately 10:00AM
the buzzer to her apartment rang and Rebecca went to the door (the intercom was not working that day).
When she opened the door a man, who had been at her residence earlier that morning, appeared
suddenly from hiding and shot her once in the chest. She collapsed in the doorway while the assailant fled
the scene. Thirty minutes later Rebecca was declared dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Her assailant* (later determined to be an obsessed fan) was arrested by police in Tucson, Arizona after
motorists reported a man, possibly suicidal, running through traffic. Upon his arrest he confessed to the
murder of Rebecca Schaeffer.
Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer was laid to rest on July 23, 1989 at
the Ahavai Sholom Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
Rebecca’s death prompted changes to the law including the
prevention of someone’s personal address from being disclosed
through the Department of Motor Vehicles (which is how the
killer, using the services of a private investigator, was able to find
Rebecca). It also helped to create the LAPD’s Threat Management
Unit in 1989, the first police team in the United States to focus on
stalking cases. Positive changes that undoubtedly have prevented
similar tragedies, but unfortunately it all came at such a terrible
price.
* Although the name of Rebecca’s killer (assailant) has been published in the media his name/identity will
not be mentioned anywhere on this website. This site (and the Facebook page) are both meant to honor the
memory of Rebecca Schaeffer. Criminals sometimes crave having their name forever connected to a person
or event, a satisfaction that will not be given here. There are numerous published newspaper and magazine
articles about this terrible crime and the individual who commited it. Links to those news stories can be
found in the 'Resources' section of this website.
Rebecca’s Poetry
Upon returning to NYC her agent advised her to
pursue acting instead of modeling and in 1986
she landed small roles in the film ‘Radio Days’
(directed by Woody Allen) and on the Steven
Spielberg series ‘Amazing Stories’. She then
received a phone call from her agent that television
producers in Hollywood were interested in casting
her in a new sitcom ‘My Sister Sam’. Rebecca
flew out to Los Angeles where she tested and won
the part of Patricia “Patti” Russell, a free-spirited
teenager who moves in with her older sister,
played by Pam Dawber (of ‘Mork & Mindy’)
While working on the show Rebecca lived with Dawber and her then boyfriend (and future husband) Mark
Harmon. In the beginning ‘My Sister Sam’ was a hit show. It tied for 21st highest rated show in it’s first season.
Due to her new found success and fame she landed the March 1987 cover of Seventeen Magazine.
She also began receiving a large amount of fan mail which she would respond to herself. Throughout this
all Rebecca remained humble and down to earth.
Rebecca’s killer* was brought to trial in 1991. He was
successfully prosecuted by former deputy district
attorney Marcia Clark (who would eventually become
well known three years later during the O.J. Simpson
murder trial). Two months after being convicted of
capital murder he was sentenced to life in prison
without the possibility of parole. Rebecca’s parents
were present throughout the trial and during
sentencing. Rebecca’s killer is currently serving his
life sentence in a California state prision.
IN MEMORIAM REBECCA SCHAEFFER (BIOGRAPHY)
After ‘My Sister Sam’ was cancelled in 1988 Rebecca was cast in the
TV movie ‘Out of Time’ followed by the satirical film ‘Scenes from the
Class Struggle in Beverly Hills’ and ‘The End of Innocence’ (directed
by Dyan Cannon). In the spring of 1989 Rebecca had returned from
Egypt having just completed filming the television movie ‘Voyage of
Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair’. It was soon after her return to Los
Angeles that a tragic and senseless act would end Rebecca’s
career… and her life.
REBECCA SCHAEFFER - REBECCA SCHAEFFER - REBECCA SCHAEFFER - REBECCA SCHAEFFER - REBECCA SCHAEFFER - REBECCA SCHAEFFER