William S. Bowdern facts for kids

William S. Bowdern (born February 13, 1897 – died April 25, 1983) was a Catholic priest and a member of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He lived and worked in St. Louis, Missouri. Father Bowdern was an author and also taught at St. Louis University High School and St. Louis University.

Father Bowdern is well-known for his involvement in a special event in 1949. This event later inspired the famous 1971 novel The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty.

What Was the Exorcism Event?

In 1949, Father Bowdern helped with an exorcism involving a boy whose real name was kept private, often referred to as "Roland Doe." Another Jesuit priest, Walter Halloran, also assisted him.

This event became very famous and caught the attention of author William Peter Blatty. Blatty spoke with Father Bowdern as part of his research for his book The Exorcist. The story of the exorcism was also made into a TV movie in 2000 called Possessed, where the role of Father Bowdern was played by actor Timothy Dalton.