She Was Too Kind
Rebecca Schaeffer had it all going for her. She’d starred in her own successful sitcom and was about on a film career. But Schaeffer had a problem: she was too kind and too trusting. She cared enough to answer her own fan mail personally—and one disturbed fan took this the wrong way.
It just took one scene in a movie that set off a chain of events that would end with Schaeffer’s tragic demise.
1. She Was Special
Rebecca Lucile Schaeffer was born in Eugene, Oregon, on November 6, 1967, and was the only child in the family. Her mother was an educator and a writer, and her father was a child psychologist. While most parents think their children are special, there was reason to believe that Schaeffer was a gifted child.
CBS Network, Wikimedia Commons
2. She Was An Unusual Child
Dad, Dr Benson Schaeffer, later remembered how it was that they toilet-trained little Rebecca. Apparently, Mom simply asked her if she could keep her diaper dry, and that was it. From that point on, she was toilet-trained. But this wasn't the only thing that came easily for Schaeffer.
3. She Learned Things Easily
When she was just six years old, Dad decided it was time for her to learn to ride a horse. She easily picked that up. Next, her parents asked her to get good grades and without needing more of a reason, she accomplished that as well. But there was something else that Schaeffer wanted to do.
And it was something as far from the bright lights of Hollywood as you could get.
4. She Had A Religious Dream
Schaeffer’s parents had raised her in the Jewish faith, and, at one point in her life, she had a goal to be a rabbi. It’s not clear how serious she was, or how long this lasted. She may have become a rabbi, but in 1980, the family made a big move.
It changed Schaeffer's perspective on her future.
5. She Listened To Some Advice
In 1980, Mom and Dad moved the family from Eugene to Portland, Oregon, where Rebecca Schaeffer attended Lincoln High School. In high school, Schaeffer became interested in acting and got the lead in a school play. But at the age of 14, someone had a different suggestion for Schaeffer.
They told her that she should be a model.
6. She Had Early Success
Rebecca Schaeffer walked into a modeling agency in Portland, Oregon and stunned the woman working there. She immediately knew that Schaeffer had what it took to be a model. It started out slowly with jobs for department store catalogs, and soon she was appearing in television commercials and as an extra.
Being in front of the camera seemed to be what Schaeffer wanted, and she was ready to start a career.
7. She Went To The Big Apple
The first step for Schaeffer was to get an agent. At 16, she went to New York City and signed on with Elite Model Management. Her parents had given her permission to try modeling for the summer, but she soon extended her time. Following her dream in New York City was great, but she still had her education to think about.
Screenshot from Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, Cannon Film Distribution
8. She Hit The Books
In order to finish high school, Schaeffer enrolled herself at the Professional Children’s School, which sits close to Central Park. This is a school set up for young people preparing for a career in show business. She was in good hands, as the academy educated graduates like Uma Thurman, Scarlett Johansson, and all three Culkin brothers: Kieran, Macaulay, and Rory.
It looked like she would have a long career ahead of her. Sadly, this wasn’t true.
9. She Played An Angry Bride
While still attending the Professional Children’s School, Rebecca Schaeffer got that first elusive acting job. It was on the soap opera Guiding Light. Here she played a bride in a fight over who gets the double-booked church. But Guiding Light was not going to be her ticket to fame.
That would come from her next job.
Screenshot from Guiding Light, CBS
10. She Found A Full-Time Gig
If Guiding Light didn’t want to keep her on, there was another soap opera that would. One Life to Live saw what Rebecca Schaeffer had and decided to give her a recurring role as Annie Barnes. This job was a dream come true for Schaeffer, but there was one scene on One Life to Live that contained an eerie foreshadowing.
Screenshot from One Life to Live, ABC
11. There Was An Omen
On One Life to Live, Schaeffer had a scene where she’s alone in her house. Her character has no idea that an intruder is hiding and watching her. It’s a pretty typical scene from a soap opera, but no one knew at the time how this scene would resemble her life tragedy.
As it turned out, soap opera work was not going to be her bread and butter.
Screenshot from One Life to Live, ABC
12. She Met An Obstacle
Unfortunately, Schaeffer’s role on One Life to Live had a shelf life. After six months, it was over. She continued to look for modeling work, but she faced an obstacle she could not get past. She was simply too short to be a high-fashion model. But Schaeffer was creative, and she came up with a plan to overcome this obstacle.
Screenshot from One Life to Live, ABC
13. She Had To Quit
Rebecca Schaeffer had the idea to move to a different country where maybe her height wouldn't be an obstacle. She chose Japan and moved there in 1985. As it turned out, she was still too short to get well-paid jobs as a model. She returned to New York with a realization. Maybe modeling would not be her claim to fame.
She had to try something else.
Screenshot from One Life to Live, ABC
14. She Worked With An Auteur
Schaeffer put modeling aside and decided to go back to acting. A surprising audition got her a coveted role with the director that everyone wanted to work with. The film was Woody Allen’s Radio Days. Of course, it wasn’t a lead role, but it would be great for her resume to have a Woody Allen movie under her belt.
Things didn't go her way.
Screenshot from Radio Days, Orion Pictures
15. She Got Edited Out
Sadly, most of Schaeffer’s scenes in Radio Days ended up on the cutting room floor. She was more or less back to square one. She even had to get a job as a server to make ends meet. It must have felt like a low point in her career. She’d been on TV and movies, and now she was waiting tables.
This couldn’t end this way.
Screenshot from Radio Days, Orion Pictures
16. She Got An Audition
While still working as a server, Rebecca Schaeffer got an audition for a sitcom. Likely, they were seeing countless hopefuls in search of the one that would make the show a success. The show was My Sister Sam, and the part she was after was the sister of Pam Dawber.
There was reason to believe that this sitcom would be a hit.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
17. She Wanted To Play The Sister
Pam Dawber had attained sitcom gold while appearing opposite Robin Williams in the huge hit Mork & Mindy. Now she was looking for a sitcom that focused on the entire cast. Dawber was going to play Sam, a photographer whose sister suddenly shows up on her doorstep. If Schaeffer played her cards right, she would get that coveted role.
Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons
18. She Started A New Life
Rebecca Schaeffer did it. She nailed the part and set off to California for her big break. She was still just 18, and co-star Dawber saw that Schaeffer had no one to look after her, so she kindly took Schaeffer into her own home. Schaeffer was starring in a brand new sitcom and living with a bona fide TV star. Life didn't get much better than that.
But Dawber had an ulterior motive.
19. She Moved In With A Star
Dawber thought that having Schaeffer live with her would be good for the show. Since they were playing sisters on My Sister Sam, Dawber said that rooming with Schaeffer would make their on-screen relationship seem more real. It seemed that everything was in place for a hit sitcom.
Now they just had to see how audiences reacted.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
20. It Had Help
My Sister Sam had something going for it besides the chemistry between Schaeffer and Dawber. The network cleverly placed it between two of its hit shows: Kate and Allie and The Bob Newhart Show. This helped enormously, and the show got good ratings.
Schaeffer was slowly becoming a star.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
21. She Hit the Cover
After getting the part on My Sister Sam, Rebecca Schaeffer hit the newsstands. They put her on the cover of Seventeen magazine. This was a big step for Schaeffer. In the same issue, there was another rising star who they claimed was the next “hot new actor”. This was River Phoenix. Sadly, neither Schaeffer nor Phoenix would live to see their 25th birthdays.
22. She Became Well-Known
From the beginning, My Sister Sam was a hit show. In fact, it was in the top 25 shows of that year. Schaeffer was becoming a recognizable star, as she was on TV on a weekly basis. Another boost to her fame was the day Schaeffer and Dawber appeared on the cover of TV Guide.
But she didn’t stop there.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
23. She Got Herself Out There
Rebecca Schaeffer did whatever she could to promote herself and My Sister Sam. She did countless interviews and even hosted shows covering parades across North America. CBS was happy to have someone so willing to put herself out there in order to make My Sister Sam a success.
But Schaeffer still made time for a personal life.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
24. She Found Another Rising Star
Schaeffer’s star was rising quickly, but she also had time to date. She started seeing Brad Silberling, who was a film student at UCLA. The two had met on a blind date, but the relationship got serious very quickly. Silberling, who later became the successful director of films like Casper, said that Schaeffer was not living a celebrity lifestyle. It really hadn’t sunk in yet.
Schaeffer seemed a little naive about show business. So her co-star took her aside for a serious chat.
25. She Got Some Good Advice
Schaeffer’s co-star Dawber later said that she had some advice for Schaeffer—or anyone who was becoming famous. Dawber knew what it was like to have a name and face that was recognizable. She told Schaeffer that one thing she could do to keep her privacy was to never put her real name on her mailbox.
Dawber had a very good reason for giving this advice to Schaeffer.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
26. She Knew What It Was Like
As one of the stars on the phenomenally successful sitcom Mork & Mindy, Dawber had tasted a kind of fame that most actors never got a chance to experience. Because of her fame, Dawber had a fan who became obsessed with her. In fact, Dawber had to involve officers to get protection from this fanatic fan.
But Schaeffer wasn’t ready to take this advice too seriously.
27. She Wrote Them Back
Some believe that Rebecca Schaeffer was too trusting. In fact, one of her close friends said that Schaeffer was so excited about getting fan mail that she started to answer the mail personally. Most celebrities like to keep a distance from fans, but Schaeffer thought that answering fan mail personally was the right thing to do.
Her friend seriously disagreed with her.
28. She Wouldn’t Promise
Schaeffer’s friend Sue Cameron was very serious when she said that Schaeffer shouldn’t answer fan mail. She said that it was possible that a fan could think that Schaeffer was really into having a friendship with the letter writer. Cameron asked Schaeffer to send a signed photo and nothing else.
Schaeffer refused to listen.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
29. He Had An Infatuation
Robert Bardo was a troubled youth from Tucson, Arizona, who had a history of threatening behavior. He’d seen Schaeffer on My Sister Sam and while she covered a Thanksgiving parade on TV. While watching Schaeffer onscreen, Bardo's infatuation with her began.
Soon, he was writing her letters.
Anacleto Rapping, Getty Images
30. She Sent Him A Message
Rebecca Schaeffer received a few letters from Bardo, and eventually she decided to answer one of them. She told Bardo that his letters were some of the nicest that she had received. To Bardo, this must have seemed like a message. Maybe Schaeffer could feel the same way about him. With this message, Bardo made a decision.
It would be a fatal one.
31. He Traveled To LA
Bardo decided that he would travel to California in order to meet Schaeffer. He got a flight to Los Angeles and booked a motel. He then purchased flowers and a stuffed animal, and he made his way to Warner Bros studio, where Schaeffer was filming My Sister Sam.
Bardo thought it would be easy to meet his obsession.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
32. She Sent Him Away
When Bardo arrived at the gate of Warner Bros, Rebecca Schaeffer was in her trailer with her friend Cameron. Her phone rang, and security said that there was someone at the gate, and he had gifts for her. Bardo had told security that he was one of Schaeffer’s friends and that she was expecting him.
Schaeffer and Cameron told security to send Bardo away and forgot all about it. But Bardo was not through yet.
33. He Was Angry
Bardo’s next visit was not as easy to forget. He once again showed up at the gate of Warner Bros, but this time he had a different attitude. Security said he was very agitated and angry. They again refused to let him enter. For some reason, no one thought this incident was severe enough to contact authorities.
Life for Schaeffer went on as normal.
34. She Had To Focus On Her Career
Rebecca Schaeffer didn’t think much more about these two events and continued on with her life. Besides, she had her career to think about. It was time for the second season of My Sister Sam, and CBS had big plans for their new hit show.
But these plans would not help Schaeffer at all.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
35. She Lost Her Show
One of the reasons for My Sister Sam’s success was its placement between two hit shows on CBS. For the second season, CBS decided to see if it could take down the competition. They moved the show so it aired opposite NBC’s ratings hog The Facts of Life. This was the beginning of the end for Schaeffer’s success on My Sister Sam. CBS canceled it in May 1988.
Schaeffer was going to have to look elsewhere for her next job.
Screenshot from My Sister Sam, Warner Bros. Television
36. She Confided A Fear
Heaven Can Wait actor Dyan Cannon was making a semi-autobiographical film called The End of Innocence. She was looking for an actor to play her from the ages of 18-25. Cannon met Schaeffer, and the two had an immediate connection. Cannon hired her and before long, they were close.
In fact, Schaeffer confided in the award-winning actor. It was an ominous secret.
Harold L. Gefsky Agency, Wikimedia Commons
37. She Had A Bad Feeling
Cannon later said that Schaeffer confided in her. She said that Schaeffer had a fear of living on her own. Schaeffer’s boyfriend had a similar story. She also told him that she sometimes heard noises around her apartment. Schaeffer said that she would sometimes get so scared that she would walk around with a kitchen knife.
Schaeffer had to put her fears aside and concentrate on finding her next job.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
38. She Worked With Big Names
For her next role, Rebecca Schaeffer would return to the small screen. This was a TV miniseries called Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair, which had big names like Burt Lancaster and Eva Marie Saint attached to it. The film tells a true story about terrorists who take over a cruise ship. Little did Schaeffer know, but her own story would become as riveting as this one.
But Schaeffer had no idea. She was just trying to find her way in Hollywood.
Screenshot from Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair, Tribune Entertainment Co.
39. She Wanted Something Different
Rebecca Schaeffer had so far played only wholesome young women, but she wanted to break out of that mold and take on riskier parts. Director Paul Bartel was certainly an out-there kind of filmmaker. His Eating Raoul was about as black as a comedy could get. His new film, Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, was going to be just as dark as his previous effort.
Schaeffer got her role and was ready to try something completely different.
Screenshot from Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, Vestron Pictures
40. She Did A Love Scene
In the film with Bartel, Schaeffer’s role was very different from her previous roles, especially compared to My Sister Sam. In this movie, there is a love scene between Schaeffer and another actor. Her obsessed fan Bardo was back in Tucson, and had more or less given up on Schaeffer.
When he saw her in this film, it rattled him.
Screenshot from Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills, Vestron Pictures
41. He Was Angry
Since security at Warner Bros had sent him away, Bardo had returned to Tucson and had even moved on from his adoration of Schaeffer. For a short time, his obsession was for women in the music industry. He focused his intense feelings on stars like Tiffany, Madonna, and Debbie Gibson.
But this scene in Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hill showed Schaeffer in a different light, and Bardo didn’t like it.
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
42. He Learned From Another One
Bardo still had no idea how to get anywhere near Rebecca Schaeffer. What he did was learn something from a man as messed up as he was. He read about Arthur Richard Jackson, whose obsession was with Theresa Saldana, who lived in the same neighborhood as Schaeffer. Jackson had used a private detective to get Saldana’s mother’s unlisted phone number.
Bardo hired a detective and got Schaeffer’s address. It was as easy as that.
43. He Wanted To Punish Her
With her address in his pocket, Bardo returned to Los Angeles. This time, he didn’t want to just meet Schaeffer. He wanted to punish her for the bedroom scene with the other actor. He also brought with him a revolver that his brother had helped him buy. When he was sure he had the right address, he approached the front door.
44. She Had A Big Audition
Rebecca Schaeffer happened to be at home that day and had no idea about Bardo or any danger. In fact, she was getting ready for a big audition. This was for the incredibly successful film franchise The Godfather. Her audition was for the third installment, and she was anxiously waiting for a delivery person to bring her the script. When the doorbell rang, Schaeffer was sure it was the guy with the script.
She could not have been more wrong.
Paramount Pictures, The Godfather Part III (1990)
45. She Told Him To Leave
When Schaeffer opened her front door, there was Bardo. He showed her the letter and photo that she had sent him. They spoke for a few moments, and then Schaeffer told him that he shouldn't come to her door ever again. A dejected Bardo left without incident. Sadly, this wasn’t over yet.
46. They Raced Her To The Hospital
Bardo went to a diner and had breakfast, but he was not about to go home. He returned to Schaeffer’s home and was met with an icy look from the young star. That was all it took. Bardo pulled out the revolver and shot her in the chest. Schaeffer sank to the floor and could only ask: “Why? Why?”
Just thirty minutes after her arrival at the hospital, Schaeffer had passed.
Screenshot from Voyage of Terror: The Achille Lauro Affair, Tribune Entertainment Co.
47. They Threw The Book At Him
The very next day, Tucson authorities took Bardo in. Drivers on Interstate 10 had called them after seeing him running in the middle of traffic. Bardo confessed and faced the judge without a jury. His sentence was tough: life in prison with no chance of parole. Sadly, this far-too-late justice would do nothing to bring Schaeffer back.
But Schaeffer’s tragic passing did bring about some positive changes.
48. They Changed The Law
In 1994, the federal government made it impossible for citizens to get access to people’s home addresses through the DMV. Another change was the passing of anti-stalking laws in California. These were the first for any American state. Likely, these changes have helped save lives.
But there was still Schaeffer’s tragic passing to deal with.
49. He Told Her Story
Rebecca Schaeffer left behind her devastated parents and a grieving boyfriend, Brad Silberling. In 2002, Silberling made a film that was loosely based on his experience of losing Schaeffer. Moonlight Mile starred Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman, and, just like in real life, Silberling’s character moved in with his girlfriend’s parents after the tragic passing.
Obviously, Silberling had gotten close to them.
Screenshot from Moonlight Mile, Touchstone Pictures (2002)
50. They Watched It Together
Before audiences could see Moonlight Mile, Silberling packed up a copy and went to Oregon. Once there, he took Schaeffer’s parents to a theater that he had rented just for them. Together, they watched the film that told the story of the woman they all missed so dearly.
Screenshot from Moonlight Mile, Touchstone Pictures (2002)
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