from The Sun

William Peter Blatty dead aged 89 as tributes pour in for The Exorcist author

BY JOHN SHAMMAS
Linda Blair in 1973 playing the possessed child

THE legendary horror writer who penned The Exorcist has passed away at the age of 89.

William Peter Blatty’s death was confirmed on social media by the film’s director William Friedkin this afternoon.

The writer won the Oscar in 1973 for his screenplay, based on his own book that was published in 1971 which told the story of a child possessed by a demon.

And thanks to the film’s success, the possessed child’s image has become iconic among horror fans.

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