http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2011/04/03/poltergeist-star-i-grew-up-in-real-haunted-house-66331-28447272

Poltergeist star: I grew up in REAL haunted house

Apr 3 2011 by Anuji Varma, Sunday Mercury

THE child star of the terrifying Poltergeist films has revealed he grew up in a REAL haunted house.

Oliver Robins played Robbie Freeling in the classic horror movie in 1982 and in the sequel four years later.

But he told the Sunday Mercury that he had experienced ghouls for real when he was a boy – and channelled that fear during the filming of the blockbusters

“I grew up in a townhouse in New York up until the age of seven and it was haunted,” Oliver explained during an appearance at the NEC’s Spring Memorabilia show last weekend.

“It was built in the 1870s and there was definitely a presence. I could hear footsteps going up and down the stairs, although I never actually saw anything.

“As a child I think you are more open to that sort of thing.”

And when it came to filming the scary scenes in Poltergeist, it was those chilling memories he thought of.