Linda Blair — Biography
Linda Denise Blair entered the world on January 22, 1959, and has built a career as an accomplished actress alongside her substantial work as an animal rights advocate. Her breakout role came when she portrayed Regan MacNeil in the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist, a performance that garnered her a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination. This iconic role cemented her status as a leading figure in horror cinema and established her reputation as a scream queen. She returned to the character for The Heretic, the sequel released in 1977, which brought her a Saturn Award nomination.
Throughout her career, Blair expanded her range with appearances in various television movies during the mid-to-late 1970s, including Born Innocent from 1974, Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic in 1975, and Stranger in Our House in 1978. The musical film Roller Boogie arrived in 1979, positioning her as a new sex symbol in popular culture. The following decade showcased her work across multiple horror and exploitation genres, featuring roles in the 1981 slasher Hell Night, the 1983 prison drama Chained Heat, and the 1984 grindhouse thriller Savage Streets.
Beyond her acting endeavors, Blair hosted the Fox Family reality program Scariest Places on Earth from 2000 through 2006 and made recurring appearances on the Animal Planet series Pit Boss between 2010 and 2012. As a dedicated animal rights activist and committed vegan, Blair established the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation in 2004, an organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding homes for animals in need. She also coauthored the book Going Vegan! in 2001.
Throughout her career, Blair expanded her range with appearances in various television movies during the mid-to-late 1970s, including Born Innocent from 1974, Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic in 1975, and Stranger in Our House in 1978. The musical film Roller Boogie arrived in 1979, positioning her as a new sex symbol in popular culture. The following decade showcased her work across multiple horror and exploitation genres, featuring roles in the 1981 slasher Hell Night, the 1983 prison drama Chained Heat, and the 1984 grindhouse thriller Savage Streets.
Beyond her acting endeavors, Blair hosted the Fox Family reality program Scariest Places on Earth from 2000 through 2006 and made recurring appearances on the Animal Planet series Pit Boss between 2010 and 2012. As a dedicated animal rights activist and committed vegan, Blair established the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation in 2004, an organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding homes for animals in need. She also coauthored the book Going Vegan! in 2001.
