---
name: "Linda Blair"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/linda-blair"
fi1m_id: "linda-blair"
imdb_id: "nm0000304"
tmdb_id: 37366
wikidata_id: "Q232280"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "22 January 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 62
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-23T12:12:51.719269+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Linda Blair

## Identity

Linda Blair

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/linda-blair
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** linda-blair
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000304
- **TMDB ID:** 37366
- **Wikidata ID:** Q232280
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Blair, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232280, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000304/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/37366

Actor. Born 22 January 1959 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 22 January 1959, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- **Active:** 1973–present
- **Also known as:** Linda Denise Blair, لیندا بلر
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Max von Sydow](https://film.one/person/max-von-sydow.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 62, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 64 (2), 1990s 86 (1), 2000s 77 (1), 2020s 42 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 56 to 54 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Horror 3, Drama 1, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $599m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Blair, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232280, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000304/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/37366

## Streaming the US now

- **Peacock:** [*The Exorcist: Believer*](https://film.one/film/the-exorcist-believer.md) (42)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Exorcist II: The Heretic*](https://film.one/film/exorcist-ii-the-heretic.md) (38)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Linda Blair

> Linda Blair keeps a child visible beneath *The Exorcist*’s effects, giving the horror someone worth fearing for. We rate that performance highly; the victim roles and horror work that followed too often narrowed what she was asked to do.

In *The Exorcist* (1973), Linda Blair keeps Regan MacNeil recognisably a child even when the effects threaten to take over. Blair gives us someone to worry about through the shocks, which is a considerable part of why the film works. We were frightened by the mother’s helplessness because Ellen Burstyn made the need to help urgent and Blair made the child matter. We recommend her performance strongly, without pretending that every shock around it is equally well judged.

The work that followed repeatedly put her back in trouble: *Born Innocent* (1974) cast her as troubled teenager Chris Parker, before she returned to Regan in *Exorcist II: The Heretic* (1977). By the 1980s, she was taking leading roles in horror and exploitation films, including *Hell Night* (1981), *Chained Heat* (1983) and *Savage Streets* (1984). That progression makes the typecasting plain. It also makes a broad judgement of her ability difficult: being repeatedly asked to play a young woman in danger is a limited test of what an actor can do.

William Friedkin gets the crucial relationship right in *The Exorcist*: Burstyn’s distress has a person at its centre, and Blair never lets us forget her. The question of what we believe becomes secondary to the need to find help. That collaboration is a better guide to her strengths than the succession of horror titles on her credits. The self-aware parody *Repossessed* (1990) later made use of a public image still tied to *The Exorcist*.

Her later credits include *The Exorcist: Believer* (2023), but that is not a film we recommend. David Gordon Green opens quietly and well with two missing girls and a father unable to say what he fears, then lets the exorcism descend into shouting. Its failure does not change what Blair achieved in the original, nor does her name give us a reason to forgive it. Start with her work for Friedkin; returning to Regan need not become a habit.

## Biography

Linda Blair is an American actress. She was born on 22 January 1959 in St Louis, Missouri.

Blair began her career as a child model and made her acting debut in the daytime soap opera *Hidden Faces* (1968–69). She is best known for playing Regan MacNeil in *The Exorcist* (1973), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress and won a Golden Globe. She reprised the role in *Exorcist II: The Heretic* (1977) and again in *The Exorcist: Believer* (2023). Other credits include appearances in *Airport 1975* (1974), *Repossessed* (1990) and episodes of *Supernatural* (2005) and *Murder, She Wrote* (1984).

Blair is also an animal rights activist and founded the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation.

*Sources: imdb.com, dexerto.com, wikiwand.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these

- *The Exorcist: Believer* (2023), Fi1m 42, as Regan MacNeil — [page](https://film.one/film/the-exorcist-believer.md)
- *Supernatural* (2005), Fi1m 77, as Diana Ballard — [page](https://film.one/tv/supernatural.md)
- *Exorcist II: The Heretic* (1977), Fi1m 38, as Regan MacNeil — [page](https://film.one/film/exorcist-ii-the-heretic.md)
- *The Exorcist* (1973), Fi1m 89, as Regan MacNeil — [page](https://film.one/film/the-exorcist.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Scream* (1996), Fi1m 86, as Obnoxious Reporter (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/scream.md)

## Complete filmography (76)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Airports* (2025), Actor
- *Landfill* (2023), as Detective Karen Atwood
- *The Exorcist: Believer* (2023), as Regan MacNeil — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/the-exorcist-believer.md)
- *The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault* (2020), as (archive footage)
- *Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel* (2018), as Helen Harris
- *The Green Fairy* (2015), as Mrs. Lanfrey
- *Cousin Sarah* (2011), Actor
- *Teddy Scares* (2006), as Rita Mortis (voice)
- *The Powder Puff Principle* (2006), as School Board President
- *Supernatural* (2005), series, as Diana Ballard — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/supernatural.md)
- *100 Greatest Kid Stars* (2005), series, Actor
- *Rollerboogie III* (2005), Actor
- *Monster Makers* (2003), as Shelly Stoker
- *Scariest Places on Earth* (2000), series, Actor
- *S Club 7: Artistic Differences* (2000), as Joni
- *The Blair Bitch Project* (1999), as Heather
- *S Club 7* (1999), series, as Joni Witherspoon
- *Godzilla: The Series* (1998), series, as Alexandra Springer (voice)
- *Extreme Ghostbusters* (1997), series, as Selene (voice)
- *Scream* (1996), as Obnoxious Reporter (uncredited) — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/scream.md)
- *Prey of the Jaguar* (1996), as Cody Johnson
- *Didn't You Used to Be Satan?* (1996), Actor
- *Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal* (1996), series, as Rebecca Royce
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Sorceress* (1995), as Amelia Reynolds
- *Double Blast* (1994), as Claudia
- *Gang Boys* (1994), as Maggie Joiner · Associate Producer
- *Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride* (1992), as Hannah Hawkes
- *Renegade* (1992), series, as Teddy Ray Thompson
- *Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer? The Bambi Bembenek Story* (1992), as Jane Mader
- *Phone* (1992), as Eve
- *Fatal Bond* (1991), as Leonie Stevens
- *Repossessed* (1990), as Nancy Aglet
- *Nickelodeon Studios Opening Day Celebration!* (1990), Actor
- *Zapped Again!* (1990), as Miss Mitchell
- *Dead Sleep* (1990), as Maggie Healey
- *Bedroom Eyes II* (1989), as Sophie Stevens
- *Bail Out* (1989), as Annette 'Nettie' Ridgeway
- *Up Your Alley* (1989), as Vickie Adderly
- *The Chilling* (1989), as Mary Hampton
- *Witchcraft (Evil Encounters)* (1988), as Jane Brooks
- *Bad Blood* (1988), as Evie Barnes
- *Monsters* (1988), series, as Lia
- *Grotesque* (1988), as Lisa · Associate Producer
- *Silent Assassins* (1988), as Sara
- *SFX Retaliator* (1988), as Doris
- *Moving Target* (1988), as Sally Tyler
- *The Heckling* (1987), Actor
- *Nightforce* (1987), as Carla
- *Married... with Children* (1987), series, as Ida Mae
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Jenny Larson
- *Savage Island* (1985), as Daly
- *Red Heat* (1985), as Christine Carlson
- *Night Patrol* (1984), as Officer Sue Perman
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Jane Pascal
- *Savage Streets* (1984), as Brenda
- *Imps** (1983), as Jamie
- *Chained Heat* (1983), as Carol Henderson
- *Hell Night* (1981), as Marti Gaines
- *Ruckus* (1980), as Jenny Bellows
- *Roller Boogie* (1979), as Terry Barkley
- *Stranger in Our House* (1979), as Rachel Bryant
- *Wild Horse Hank* (1979), as Hank Bradford
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Muffy
- *Exorcist II: The Heretic* (1977), as Regan MacNeil — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/exorcist-ii-the-heretic.md)
- *Victory at Entebbe* (1976), as Chana Vilnofsky
- *Born Innocent* (1976), as Chris Parker
- *Sweet Hostage* (1975), as Doris Mae Withers
- *Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic* (1975), as Sarah Travis
- *Airport 1975* (1974), as Janice Abbott
- *The Exorcist* (1973), as Regan MacNeil — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/the-exorcist.md)
- *The Sporting Club* (1971), as Barby
- *The Way We Live Now* (1970), as Sara Aldridge
- *Hidden Faces* (1968), series, as Allyn Jaffe
- *Hitter's anonymous*, as Brenda Swan
- *Undershorts*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Linda Blair auf der 9. Weekend of Horrors in Bottrop (NRW) (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-ea095ee8b238.jpg) Linda Blair auf der 9. Weekend of Horrors in Bottrop (NRW) (2011) — Michael Koschinski, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/LindaBlairWoH2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Press photo text: Linda Blair and her older sister, Deborah Blair, hassle Linda's boyfriend Teddy Hartlett while he plays pinball during a visit to Linda's moth (1977)](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-84fb55bfe491.jpg) Press photo text: Linda Blair and her older sister, Deborah Blair, hassle Linda's boyfriend Teddy Hartlett while he plays pinball during a visit to Linda's moth (1977) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Linda_Blair%2C_Teddy_Hartlett%2C_and_Deborah_Blair_%281977%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Linda Blair (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-9e7a9efc1ba3.jpg) Linda Blair (2013) — Peyman Zehtab Fard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Linda_Blair_%2811139812956%29.jpg/1280px-Linda_Blair_%2811139812956%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Linda Blair at the Florida Supercon in 2017](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-b955bc887257.jpg) Linda Blair at the Florida Supercon in 2017 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Linda_Blair_%2836093719981%29.jpg/1280px-Linda_Blair_%2836093719981%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Linda Blair](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-01f5e73d124d.jpg) Linda Blair — Image via TMDB
- ![Linda Blair](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-81bdf9f170f9.jpg) Linda Blair — Image via TMDB
- ![Linda Blair](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-726c71454ff0.jpg) Linda Blair — Image via TMDB
- ![Linda Blair](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-30dfec7d53c1.jpg) Linda Blair — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Linda_Blair_%2836093719981%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Linda Blair](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-a486d312b6a3.jpg) Linda Blair — Image via TMDB
- ![Linda Blair](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-5c9a3aaf9e69.jpg) Linda Blair — Image via TMDB
- ![Linda Blair](https://film.one/media/person/15747/gallery-c3d15c40fa45.jpg) Linda Blair — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1974: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Exorcist*

### Other awards — 1 won, 2 nominated

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 1986: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (won), for *Savage Island*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 1984: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (nominated), for *Chained Heat*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 1982: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (nominated), for *Hell Night*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/linda-blair