Linda Blair: Child Star and Activist

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

22 Jun 2006 09:46 AM

Linda Denise Blair was born on January 22, 1959, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father, James, was an executive headhunter, her mother, Elinore, a real-estate agent. Linda has a brother, Jimmy and a sister, Debbie. When she was two years of age, her family moved to Westport, Connecticut, and by the time she was six, she was working both as a model and in motion pictures. . She appeared in seventy-five commercials and hundreds of magazine catalogues by the time she was twelve, and was used to being in the spotlight when out of six hundred applicants, she was chosen for the role of Regan, the possessed child in the controversial film, "The Exorcist" (1973).

Linda received death threats after the movie premiered and Warner Brothers hired police to live with the Blair family for six months. Nothing ever came of the threats, but her role in this picture left an indelible mark on both her life and her career. She lost the Academy Award for the part when it was discovered that the voice used in the film was not her own but that of Mercedes McCambridge, and that a double (Eileen Dietz) was used instead of Blair in some of the more violent scenes. Linda went on to appear in other pictures, mostly as an abused and troubled teenager ("Born Innocent"), but her personal life soon spiraled out of control.

With stardom came a turbulent ride along the fast lane and this included drugs, brushes with police, bad relationships and other events that almost brought her career to a screeching halt. During the 1990s, Linda appeared in many minor films with horror themes, and had a relationship with singer, Rick James. She left him however, because she could not deal with his drug addiction. She made a comeback, wining acclaim for her performance in the stage revival of "Grease."

Linda Blair has long been involved in and has won awards for her work with charities involving animal rights, notably PETA. Her own home is a haven for many animals including horses and chickens. She is a vegan and ha written a book called "Going Vegan." She also owns her own clothing line known as "The Wild West Collection."

What the future holds for Linda Blair in terms of film remains to be seen, but whatever it is, she has overcome a great deal in her life and she has the fortitude and talent to do it well.

What are some of YOUR favorite Linda Blair performances? Please share.

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"The Exoricst": A Film of Controversy"

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Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman

Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

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