Linda Blair

Linda Denise Blair, born January 22, 1959, is an accomplished American actress and activist. She rose to fame following her spine-chilling portrayal of Regan MacNeil in the well-known horror film The Exorcist (1973). This role cemented her place in popular culture, also earning her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. She returned to the character in two sequels: Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and The Exorcist: Believer (2023). Throughout her prolific career, Blair starred in several television films, including Born Innocent (1974), Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic (1975), and Stranger in Our House (1978). She even proved her acting versatility by taking on roles in exploitation films such as Hell Night (1981), Chained Heat (1983), and Savage Streets (1984). Her part in the musical film Roller Boogie (1979) catapulted her to the status of a sex symbol. Blair has also used her celebrity status for substantial causes, becoming a dedicated activist for the animal rights movement and founding the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation in 2004.

Blair's early life began in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was born to James Frederick and Elinore Blair. She moved to New York City at the age of two when her father, a Navy test pilot-turned-executive recruiter, took up a job there. From a tender age, Blair started working as a child model for major brands such as Sears, J.C. Penney, and Macy's. She entered the acting scene with a regular role on the short-lived Hidden Faces daytime soap opera. Her acting career has been marked by roles in multiple genres, from horror films to musical dramas and exploitation films. Her work in the film industry has been interspersed with her enduring dedication to animal rights activism and charity work.