Linda Blair

Linda Denise Blair

(born January 22, 1959)   most famous for her role as the possessed child in the 1973 film The Exorcist. Blair was born in St. Louis, Missouri. As a young child, Blair began her career by modeling, then acting in commercials, including a long-running one for Gulden’s Mustard. Blair had originally planned to become a veterinarian, but instead accepted a role in The Exorcist because the money would allow her to pursue horsemanship.

Based on William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel, The Exorcist was directed by William Friedkin, who had recently won an Oscar for directing The French Connection. The cast included Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller, Max Von Sydow and Kitty Winn.

Blair gave a strong, credible performance as a young girl possessed by the devil, and was an integral part of the film’s phenomenal success soon after opening in December 1973. Lines at theaters extended around blocks, with people standing in line for hours. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Blair received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, as well as Golden Globe and People’s Choice Award wins.

Following the success of The Exorcist, Blair appeared in several controversial television films, including Born Innocent and Sarah T…Portrait Of a Teenage Alcoholic, which were the highest rated in their respective years. She was also featured in Airport 1975.  Soon afterward, her role in the failed Exorcist sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic,  she received a Saturn Award Best Actress nomination for her performance in the film.

Meanwhile, Blair returned to her love of horsemanship, where she competed under various pseudonyms in a number of showjumping events, winning several equestrian awards. Blair did star in the 1981 slasher film Hell Night. In 1983 Blair starred in the women in prison film, Chained Heat.

During the early 1980s, Blair had a relationship with singer Rick James, but left him because of his drug addiction.

In 1990, she spoofed her Exorcist character in the comedy film Repossessed.

In 1996, Blair had a brief uncredited cameo appearance in the box office smash Scream, in addition to performing in the 1997 stage revival of Grease.

In 2000, she appeared in the British teen show L.A. 7 featuring the pop group S Club 7, while starring in several independent movies. She also hosted Fox Family’s series Scariest Places On Earth which is currently running in syndication on the Sci-Fi channel.

One of Blair’s latest appearances occurred in the Supernatural episode “The Usual Suspects”.

Blair has long been active in charities involving prevention of cruelty to animals with her own Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, and is a committed vegan. She received the City of Los Angeles Proclamation for her work with abandoned and abused animals.

Filmography

Features:

• The Way We Live Now (1970)
• The Sporting Club (1971)
• The Exorcist (1973)
• Airport 1975 (1974)
• Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
• Wild Horse Hank (1979)
• Roller Boogie (1979)
• Ruckus (1981)
• Hell Night (1981)
• Chained Heat (1983)
• Savage Streets (1984)
• Red Heat (1985)
• Savage Island (1985)
• SFX Retaliator (1987)
• Nightforce (1987)
• Up Your Alley (1988)
• Moving Target (1988)
• Grotesque (1988)
• Silent Assassins (1988)
• Witchcraft (1988)
• The Chilling (1989)
• Aunt Millie’s Will (1989)
• W.B., Blue and the Bean (1989)
• Dead Sleep (1990)
• Zapped Again! (1990)
• Repossessed (1990)
• Bedroom Eyes II (1991)
• Fatal Bond (1992)
• Bad Blood (1993)
• Skins (1994)
• Double Blast (1994)
• Sorceress (1995)
• Prey of the Jaguar (1996)
• Scream (1996)
• The Blair Bitch Project (1999)[5]
• UnConventional (Documentary, 2004)
• Hitters Anonymous (2005)
• All Is Normal (2006)

Short Subjects:

• Phone (1993)
• Marina (1997)
• Diva Dog: Pit Bull on Wheels (2005)
• The Powder Puff Principle (2006)

 

Television work

• Hidden Faces (1968-1969)
• Born Innocent (1974)
• Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic (1975)
• Sweet Hostage (1975)
• Victory at Entebbe (1976)
• Summer of Fear (1978)
• MacGyver (1990)
• Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer?: The Bambi Bembenek Story (1992)
• Married With Children (The Magnificent Seven) (1992)
• Perry Mason : The Case of the Heartbroken Bride (1992)
• Walking After Midnight (1999-2000)
• L.A. 7 (2000)
• Scariest Places On Earth (2001-present)
• Monster Makers (2003)
• Supernatural (2006)