Brown-eyed, brunette former child model Linda Blair debuted in the feature "The Way We Live Now" (1969) and followed with "The Sporting Club" (1970) before her breakthrough role as the sweet but possessed teenager in "The Exorcist" (1973) brought her national recognition and ended her dream of veterinary school. Nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her head-turning performance, she segued into strong TV vehicles, starring first in the sensationally-promoted movie about juvenile delinquency, "Born Innocent" (NBC, 1974), which included a graphic broom-handle rape of Blair that the network subsequently deleted. She then acted the title role in "Sarah T.--Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic" (NBC, 1975), played Kirk Douglas' daughter in "Victory at Entebbe" (ABC, 1976) and revisited familiar terrain as the victim of witchcraft in Wes Craven's "Stranger in Our House" (NBC, 1978). Blair returned to the big screen, working steadily and almost exclusively in exploitation films, low-budget fare and straight-to-video items, although "Savage Streets" (1984), in which she headlined as an L.A. girl-turned vigilante after the brutal gratuitous rape of her mute younger sister, and the ambitious comedy "Up Your Alley" (1989) were a definite cut above the worst of the lot (e.g., "Roller Boogie" 1979, "Hell Night" 1981, "Chained Heat" 1983, "Savage Island" 1985). She even got to spoof her best-known role in "Repossessed" (1990), but most movies either wanted an obligatory demon possession (i.e., "Witchery", "A Woman Obsessed" both 1989) or a little 'T & A', showing her in sexy shower or tub scenes (i.e., "Bedroom Eyes II" 1989, "Bail Out" 1990). She surfaced as an obnoxious reporter in Craven's hit "Scream" (1996) and made her Broadway debut, replacing Lucy Lawless in the role of Rizzo, in the never-ending revival of "Grease" (1997).
Profession(s):
Actor, model
Sometimes Credited As:
Linda Denise Blair
Family
father:James Frederick Blair
mother:Elinore Blair (died 1994)
Companion(s)
Rick Springfield
, Companion
, ```..together from c. 1973 to 1975
Wings Hauser
, Companion
, ```..met when they worked together on "Bedroom Eyes II" (1990); got together about six months after the shoot was over; no longer together (c. 1994)
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress "The Exorcist" 1973
1997 Appeared as Rizzo in the Broadway revival of "Grease"
1996 Reunited with director Craven for a cameo appearance as an obnoxious reporter in "Scream"
1989 First collaboration with director Chuck Vincent on "Bad Blood" (later worked with him on "Bedroom Eyes II" 1990)
1983 Delivered her most persuasive adult performance to date as a tawdry, delightfully trashy sweater girl reminiscent of 1950s B heroines like Beverly Michaels and Mamie Van Doren in "Savage Streets"
1978 Starred as put-upon victim of witchcraft in Wes Craven's NBC movie "Stranger in Our House"
1976 Cast as Kirk Douglas' daughter in "Victory at Entebbe" (ABC)
1975 Portrayed title character in NBC movie "Sarah T.--Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic"
1974 TV-movie debut, "Born Innocent" (NBC), a sensationally promoted film about juvenile delinquency
1973 At age 13, played breakthrough role of Regan in "The Exorcist"; earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination
1970 Film acting debut in "The Way We Live Now"
Grew up in Westport, Connecticut
Worked as child model (e.g., Sears Roebuck catalogue) and on TV commercials
Arrested for conspiracy to possess cocaine in 1977; Blair claimed that she was framed; eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in 1978
