Linda Blair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linda Blair
Blair in 2018
Born	Linda Denise Blair (1959-01-22) January 22, 1959 (age 66) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Actress activist
Years active	1968–present
Organization	Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation

Linda Denise Blair (born January 22, 1959) is an American actress and activist. She is best known for playing Regan MacNeil in the horror film The Exorcist (1973). This role made her very famous. She won a Golden Globe Award for it. She was also nominated for an Academy Award.

Linda Blair played Regan again in two sequels: Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and The Exorcist: Believer (2023). She also starred in many TV movies. These include Born Innocent (1974) and Stranger in Our House (1978). Her part in the musical film Roller Boogie (1979) was also very successful.

Blair hosted the TV show Scariest Places on Earth (2000–2006). She also appeared on the show Pit Boss (2010–2012). Linda Blair is a strong supporter of animal rights. In 2004, she started the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation. This group helps rescue animals and finds them new homes.

Early Life and Childhood

Linda Denise Blair was born on January 22, 1959. Her birthplace was St. Louis, Missouri, in the U.S. Her parents were James Frederick and Elinore Blair. She has an older sister named Debbie and an older brother named Jim.

When Linda was two, her family moved to Westport, Connecticut. Her father got a job in New York City. Her mother worked as a real estate agent. Linda started working as a child model at age five. She appeared in catalogs like Sears and Macy's. She was also in over 70 commercials. Linda began riding horses at the same age. She later became a trained horse rider.

Acting Career

Linda Blair started acting on a TV show called Hidden Faces (1968–69). Her first movie was The Way We Live Now (1970). She then had a small part in The Sporting Club (1971).

In 1972, Linda was chosen for her most famous role. She played Regan in The Exorcist (1973). She was picked from 600 other young actors. For this role, she won a Golden Globe Award. She also received an Academy Award nomination. The film was very popular. However, the role brought a lot of attention to Linda. She later said the movie greatly impacted her life.

After The Exorcist, Linda starred in the TV film Born Innocent (1974). She also had a supporting role in Airport 1975 (1974). This movie was a big hit at the box office. In 1975, Linda moved to Los Angeles. She continued to get many acting offers. Between 1975 and 1978, she played lead roles in several TV films. These included Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage ... (1975) and Sweet Hostage (1975). She also appeared in Victory at Entebbe (1976).

In 1977, Linda played Regan again in Exorcist II: The Heretic. After this film, she took a year off from acting. She competed in horse riding events. In 1978, she returned to acting. She starred in the TV horror film Stranger in Our House. She also used her horse riding skills in the movie Wild Horse Hank.

Linda's career changed in 1979 with Roller Boogie. The next year, she co-starred in Ruckus. Throughout the 1980s, she appeared in many low-budget horror films. These included Hell Night (1981) and Chained Heat (1983). She also starred in Savage Streets (1984).

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she continued to work in films. She was in Grotesque (1988) and Witchery (1988). She also appeared in Repossessed (1990), which was a comedy spoof of The Exorcist.

In 1996, Linda had a small role in the horror film Scream. In 1997, she performed in a Broadway show called Grease. From 2001 to 2006, she hosted Scariest Places on Earth. This show explored places believed to be haunted.

In 2006, she guest-starred on the TV series Supernatural. In 2008, she received a lifetime achievement award. This was for her work in horror films. She also appeared on the show Pit Boss from 2010 to 2012.

In 2022, Linda Blair was a contestant on The Masked Singer. She performed as "Scarecrow." She used her appearance on the show to talk about her animal charity. In October 2023, she made a special appearance as Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist: Believer.

Personal Life and Activism

Linda Blair has always cared deeply about animal welfare. She was a vegetarian for 13 years. In 2001, she became a vegan. That same year, she helped write a book called Going Vegan!.

In 2004, she started the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation. This group helps rescue animals that have been hurt or neglected. They also find new homes for these animals. Linda works with other groups too, like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She also supports Feed the Children and Variety, the Children's Charity.

In August 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, Linda traveled to Mississippi. She helped save 51 abandoned dogs there. She is also on the board of advisors for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. This group works to protect ocean wildlife. Linda believes in the paranormal, which means things that are beyond normal scientific understanding.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Blair in 1999

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  Blair in 2012

See also

• List of animal rights advocates