Who Is The Exorcist Cast? The Fascinating Life of Linda Blair, the Young Star Who Played Regan
The Exorcist cast turned a bestselling 1971 novel into one of the most feared and admired films ever made, and the stories behind these actors are as gripping as the movie. William Friedkin’s 1973 classic starred Linda Blair as the possessed Regan MacNeil, Ellen Burstyn as her desperate mother, Max von Sydow as Father Merrin and Jason Miller as Father Karras. Each performer came from a different world, from Swedish art cinema to Pulitzer Prize winning drama, and each left a lasting mark on horror history. This guide introduces every major cast member, explains how the film reached the screen and follows the later careers of the people who made it.
Who Is in the Cast of The Exorcist?
The Exorcist cast features Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller and Linda Blair in the leading roles. William Friedkin directed the film, and William Peter Blatty adapted his own 1971 novel for the screen. Warner Bros. released it on December 26, 1973.
The story follows Regan MacNeil, a young girl who develops disturbing symptoms that doctors cannot explain. Her mother, an actress named Chris MacNeil, exhausts every medical option and turns to the Church. Two Catholic priests then attempt an exorcism.
The table below lists the main performers and their characters.
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Ellen Burstyn | Chris MacNeil |
| Linda Blair | Regan MacNeil |
| Max von Sydow | Father Lankester Merrin |
| Jason Miller | Father Damien Karras |
| Lee J. Cobb | Lieutenant William Kinderman |
| Kitty Winn | Sharon Spencer |
| Jack MacGowran | Burke Dennings |
| William O’Malley | Father Joseph Dyer |
| Barton Heyman | Dr. Klein |
| Peter Masterson | Dr. Barringer |
| Mercedes McCambridge | Voice of the demon |
The sections below profile each key performer, starting with the actress at the heart of the story.
Who Is Linda Blair, the Actress Who Played Regan?
Linda Blair is an American actress and activist who played Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist. She was born Linda Denise Blair on January 22, 1959, in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked as a child model and appeared in commercials before she reached her teens.
The filmmakers chose her from a field of 600 applicants in 1972. She was 13 when production began. Friedkin believed she could mix innocence with raw intensity, and he trusted her to carry the film.
Her performance earned an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win. Many critics still rank it among the strongest performances ever given by a child actor.
Mercedes McCambridge supplied the demon’s voice, so her work replaced Blair’s own in the possession scenes. Blair still gave the physical performance that defined the film’s most frightening images.
The role also carried a heavy cost. Blair received death threats after the premiere, and the film dominated her career for decades. She examined that burden in the 1997 Channel 4 documentary Didn’t You Used to Be Satan?
What Are the Key Facts About Linda Blair?
Linda Blair is a 67-year-old American actress, activist and author who was born in St. Louis, Missouri. The table below collects her essential biographical details in one place.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Linda Denise Blair |
| Date of birth | January 22, 1959 |
| Age | 67 (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress, activist, author |
| Early work | Child modelling and television commercials |
| Breakout role | Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973) |
| Casting | Selected from about 600 applicants in 1972 |
| Major awards | Golden Globe win and Academy Award nomination for The Exorcist |
| Other recognition | Saturn Award nomination for Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) |
| Notable TV films | Born Innocent (1974), Sarah T.: Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic (1975) |
| Notable films | Roller Boogie (1979), Hell Night (1981), Chained Heat (1983), Savage Streets (1984), Repossessed (1990) |
| Stage work | Rizzo in the Broadway revival of Grease (1997) |
| Latest Exorcist appearance | Cameo in The Exorcist: Believer (2023) |
| Charity | Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation (founded 2004) |
| Book | Going Vegan! (co-authored, 2001) |
| Interests | Animal rescue, horse riding and showing horses |
The table shows a career that stretches from child stardom to long term advocacy. It also shows how many different projects she has taken on since 1973.
How Did Linda Blair’s Career Continue After The Exorcist?
Linda Blair kept working through the 1970s and 1980s, mostly in television films and low budget genre movies. Her first major follow up was Born Innocent in 1974, which ranked as the most watched TV movie of its year. She then starred in Sarah T.: Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic in 1975.
She returned as Regan in Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977. The role earned her a Saturn Award nomination, yet the film failed with critics and audiences, and it was the most expensive film Warner Bros. had made up to that point.
Roller Boogie arrived in 1979 and gave her a lighter, more commercial image. She then moved into genre work with Hell Night in 1981, Chained Heat in 1983 and Savage Streets in 1984.
A widely reported drug arrest in the late 1970s damaged her standing in Hollywood. After that, she worked mostly in B-movies and television guest roles.
She poked fun at her own legacy in the 1990 spoof Repossessed. In 1996 she reunited with director Wes Craven for a cameo in Scream, and in 1997 she played Rizzo in a Broadway revival of Grease. In 2023 she made a cameo in The Exorcist: Believer.
What Does Linda Blair Do Outside Acting?
Linda Blair now spends much of her time on animal rescue and charity work. In 2004 she founded the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, a nonprofit that rehabilitates and adopts rescue animals.
She follows a vegan lifestyle and co-authored the book Going Vegan! in 2001. The book reflects the same concern for animals that drives her charity.
Horses have also played a large role in her life. She competed in equestrian jumping events with her horse Northern Bound as part of a touring show. She also created a clothing line called Linda Blair’s Wild West Collection and designed stage clothes for rock musicians.
Who Is Ellen Burstyn, the Actress Who Played Chris MacNeil?
Ellen Burstyn is an American actress who played Chris MacNeil, Regan’s mother, and earned an Oscar nomination for the role. She was born Edna Rae Gillooly in Detroit on December 7, 1932. Warner Bros. had doubted her box office value, yet her grounded performance gave the film its emotional anchor.
She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore in 1974. She later won a Tony Award for Same Time, Next Year. She also earned an Oscar nomination for Requiem for a Dream in 2000.
At age 88, she received another Oscar nomination for Pieces of a Woman. That nomination made her one of the oldest acting nominees in Academy history. She also returned as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist: Believer in 2023.
Burstyn suffered a long term injury in an on set accident during filming. She has said in interviews that she kept the pain in the scene because it served the story.
Who Is Max von Sydow, the Actor Who Played Father Merrin?
Max von Sydow was a Swedish actor who played Father Lankester Merrin when he was only in his early forties. He was born in Lund, Sweden, on April 10, 1929, and he died on March 8, 2020. Make-up artists aged him to portray the elderly priest.
Von Sydow built his reputation in the films of Ingmar Bergman, including The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries. He moved easily between European art cinema and Hollywood thrillers. That range made him a natural choice for a priest who carries quiet authority.
He earned Oscar nominations for Pelle the Conqueror in 1987 and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close in 2011. Later audiences knew him as the Three-Eyed Raven in Game of Thrones and as Lor San Tekka in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Who Is Jason Miller, the Playwright Who Played Father Karras?
Jason Miller was an American playwright and actor who made his screen debut as Father Damien Karras. He was the author of a hit play but had no film acting experience when Friedkin cast him. The play was That Championship Season, and it won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Miller earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for The Exorcist. His performance as a priest who struggles with his faith and his guilt over his mother’s death gave the film its human centre.
He returned to the franchise in The Exorcist III in 1990. He died on May 13, 2001, in his home town of Scranton, Pennsylvania. His son, Jason Patric, also became an actor.
Who Is Lee J. Cobb, the Actor Who Played Lieutenant Kinderman?
Lee J. Cobb was a veteran American actor who played Lieutenant William Kinderman, the detective who investigates the death of Burke Dennings. He was born Leo Jacoby in New York City on December 8, 1911, and he died on February 11, 1976.
Cobb originated the role of Willy Loman on Broadway in Death of a Salesman in 1949. He also played Juror 3 in 12 Angry Men. He earned Oscar nominations for On the Waterfront and The Brothers Karamazov.
His Kinderman is a rumpled, film loving investigator who brings dry humour to a very dark story. The performance showed that Cobb could still command a scene late in his career.
Who Were the Supporting Actors and Voices in The Exorcist?
The supporting cast included Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, William O’Malley and the voice actress Mercedes McCambridge. Each of them shaped a key part of the story.
Kitty Winn played Sharon Spencer, Chris MacNeil’s assistant. She won the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1971 for The Panic in Needle Park. She later stepped away from the spotlight.
Jack MacGowran played Burke Dennings, the heavy drinking film director. The Irish actor had worked with Samuel Beckett on stage. The Exorcist was his final film role. He died in January 1973, almost a year before the film opened.
William O’Malley, a real Jesuit priest, played Father Joseph Dyer. His casting added a layer of authenticity to the scenes among the priests.
Mercedes McCambridge, an Oscar winner for All the King’s Men, recorded the demon’s voice. She received no credit at first, and her name was added after a public dispute. Many viewers now consider her work inseparable from the character.
How Did Casting Shape the Making of The Exorcist?
Friedkin and Blatty cast relative unknowns instead of major stars, and Warner Bros. executives opposed the choice. They turned down or were turned down by major stars of the era, then cast Burstyn, Blair and Miller.
The decision gave the film a raw, documentary feel. Audiences saw ordinary people in extraordinary danger instead of famous faces. That approach made the horror more believable.
Production was difficult. A fire destroyed most of the set, and Blair and Burstyn suffered long term injuries in on set accidents. Several cast and crew members were hurt, and unusual accidents delayed shooting.
Warner Bros. opened the film in 24 theatres in the United States and Canada in late December 1973. Word of mouth then carried it into the mainstream.
What Awards Did The Exorcist and Its Cast Win?
The Exorcist won two Academy Awards from ten nominations, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound Mixing. William Peter Blatty took home the screenplay award for adapting his own novel.
Three cast members earned acting nominations. Ellen Burstyn was nominated for Best Actress, Jason Miller for Best Supporting Actor and Linda Blair for Best Supporting Actress. Blair also won a Golden Globe.
The film won four Saturn Awards in 1975, for Best Horror Film, writing, special effects and make-up. It also earned nominations from the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America.
The film grossed about $441 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. It appears on many lists of the greatest films ever made.
Did the Cast Return for the Sequels?
Several cast members returned for later films in the franchise. Linda Blair came back first, and she has stayed connected to the series for more than five decades.
Blair played Regan again in Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977. Max von Sydow also returned as Father Merrin in flashback scenes. The film struggled with critics and audiences.
Jason Miller returned in The Exorcist III in 1990. The film adapted Blatty’s novel Legion and gave Miller a darker, stranger role.
Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair both appeared in The Exorcist: Believer in 2023. Burstyn reprised Chris MacNeil, and Blair made a cameo. Their return linked the new story to the original film.
Conclusion
The Exorcist cast combined Hollywood veterans, stage writers and a young newcomer, and that mix gave the film its unusual power. Linda Blair became the face of the story, yet Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller and Lee J. Cobb each added depth. Their careers show how one film can shape a lifetime of work. More than fifty years later, the performances still frighten and move new viewers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is in the cast of The Exorcist?
The 1973 cast stars Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, Linda Blair as Regan, Max von Sydow as Father Merrin and Jason Miller as Father Karras. Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn and Jack MacGowran play major supporting roles, while William O’Malley appears as Father Dyer.
2. Who played Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist?
Linda Blair played Regan MacNeil, the possessed girl at the centre of the story. She won the part from about 600 applicants in 1972. Mercedes McCambridge supplied the demon’s voice, but Blair performed the physical role. She reprised Regan in Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977 and made a cameo in The Exorcist: Believer in 2023.
3. How old was Linda Blair when she made The Exorcist?
Linda Blair was 13 when production began in 1972. She was born on January 22, 1959, so she turned 14 in January 1973, and the film reached theatres in December that year. Her character, Regan, is a 12 year old girl.
4. Who voiced the demon in The Exorcist?
Mercedes McCambridge voiced the demon. The Oscar winning actress, known for All the King’s Men, recorded the growls and curses that replaced Linda Blair’s own voice in the possession scenes. McCambridge initially received no screen credit, and her name was added after a public dispute with the studio and director.
5. Did Linda Blair win an Oscar for The Exorcist?
No. Linda Blair earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and won a Golden Globe for the role. The film itself won two Oscars, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound. Ellen Burstyn and Jason Miller also received acting nominations, but neither took home an Oscar for this film.
6. How old was Max von Sydow when he played Father Merrin?
Max von Sydow was in his early forties. Born on April 10, 1929, he was about 43 when production began in 1972. Make-up artists aged him to portray the elderly priest. The Swedish actor died on March 8, 2020, after a career that included many films with director Ingmar Bergman.
7. Which Exorcist cast member won a Pulitzer Prize?
Jason Miller won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play That Championship Season. He made his screen debut as Father Damien Karras in The Exorcist the same year and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He died on May 13, 2001.
8. Did a real priest appear in The Exorcist?
Yes. William O’Malley, a Jesuit priest, played Father Joseph Dyer, a friend who supports Father Karras during his crisis of faith. The role remains his best known screen appearance. He later built his career as a teacher and author of books on faith.
9. Which cast members returned for The Exorcist: Believer?
Ellen Burstyn returned as Chris MacNeil, and Linda Blair appeared in a cameo. The 2023 film connected the new story to the 1973 original through these two veterans. Blair also played Regan in Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977, and Jason Miller returned for The Exorcist III in 1990.
10. How much money did The Exorcist make?
The Exorcist grossed about $441 million worldwide on a budget of roughly $12 million, making it one of the most profitable horror films ever released. Warner Bros. opened it in only 24 theatres in the United States and Canada in December 1973.
