Linda Blair

Linda Denise Blair (born January 22, 1959) is an American actress and activist. Known for her work in the horror genre, she first came to prominence with her portrayal of Regan MacNeil in the film The Exorcist (1973), for which she won a Golden Globe Award and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film established her as a scream queen and she reprised her role in two sequels: Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and The Exorcist: Believer (2023).

Blair has starred in several television films, such as Born Innocent (1974), Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic (1975) and Stranger in Our House (1978). Her role in the musical film Roller Boogie (1979) brought her a reputation as a sex symbol. She has appeared in various exploitation and grindhouse films, such as Hell Night (1981), Chained Heat (1983) and Savage Streets (1984). Blair was the host of the Fox Family reality series Scariest Places on Earth (2000–2006) and made regular appearances on the Animal Planet reality series Pit Boss (2010–2012).

Blair is a prominent activist for the animal rights movement. In 2004, she founded the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, a nonprofit organization that serves to rehabilitate and adopt rescue animals.