LINDA BLAIR
Name: Linda Denise Blair
Born: 22 January 1959 St. Louis, Missouri USA
Linda Denise Blair (born January 22, 1959) is an Academy Award-nominated
American actress most famous for her role as the possessed child in the 1973
film The Exorcist, and its sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic.
Blair was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Elinore (née Leitch), a
real estate agent, and James Frederick Blair, an executive recruiter. She
moved with her parents to Westport, Connecticut when she was two years old. 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. She was chosen over the very
similar-looking Pamelyn Ferdin since the director wanted an unknown, and Ferdin
had already gained notoriety after appearing in Star Trek, The Odd Couple and
Night Gallery.
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. Blatty produced the film and wrote the screenplay.
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. Blair received a Golden
Globe nomination for the now defunct "most promising female star" category.
Despite the film's several nominations, the Best Picture Oscar went to George
Roy Hill's film The Sting. The Exorcist was virtually shut out, although it won
for Blatty's screenplay and for Best Sound. Blair's chances for an Oscar were
undeniably hurt when Mercedes McCambridge revealed to the press that she had
provided the (initially) uncredited demonic voice, though Linda's voice was
underlaid in the track, and another woman claimed to have body-doubled for Blair
in several scenes, though the director dismissed the contributions of the double
as insignificant. The Best Supporting Actress Oscar instead went to 10-year old
Tatum O'Neal for her performance in Peter Bogdanovich's Paper Moon.
At age 15, Blair dated and co-habitated with pop singer Rick Springfield,
despite a ten year difference in their ages and the fact that she was legally
a minor.
Name: Linda Denise Blair
Born: 22 January 1959 St. Louis, Missouri USA
Linda Denise Blair (born January 22, 1959) is an Academy Award-nominated
American actress most famous for her role as the possessed child in the 1973
film The Exorcist, and its sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic.
Blair was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Elinore (née Leitch), a
real estate agent, and James Frederick Blair, an executive recruiter. She
moved with her parents to Westport, Connecticut when she was two years old. 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. She was chosen over the very
similar-looking Pamelyn Ferdin since the director wanted an unknown, and Ferdin
had already gained notoriety after appearing in Star Trek, The Odd Couple and
Night Gallery.
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. Blatty produced the film and wrote the screenplay.
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. Blair received a Golden
Globe nomination for the now defunct "most promising female star" category.
Despite the film's several nominations, the Best Picture Oscar went to George
Roy Hill's film The Sting. The Exorcist was virtually shut out, although it won
for Blatty's screenplay and for Best Sound. Blair's chances for an Oscar were
undeniably hurt when Mercedes McCambridge revealed to the press that she had
provided the (initially) uncredited demonic voice, though Linda's voice was
underlaid in the track, and another woman claimed to have body-doubled for Blair
in several scenes, though the director dismissed the contributions of the double
as insignificant. The Best Supporting Actress Oscar instead went to 10-year old
Tatum O'Neal for her performance in Peter Bogdanovich's Paper Moon.
At age 15, Blair dated and co-habitated with pop singer Rick Springfield,
despite a ten year difference in their ages and the fact that she was legally
a minor.