Ellen Burstyn
Ellen Burstyn was not among the first choices for the part of the mother of the possessed girl. Audrey Hepburn, Anne Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine, Geraldine Page and even Debbie Reynolds were at one or another considered with the additional feature that Reynolds’ real-life daughter would play Regan (more later.) Burstyn finally won the part as a result of a phone call with director William Friedkin in which she essentially laid down the law that she—and she alone—would be the actress who played Chris MacNeil. For her performance, Burstyn received her Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, having previously received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Linda Blair
Linda Blair won the role of the possessed young girl perhaps because Debbie Reynolds was passed over for the role of Chris. It is almost inconceivable to imagine that had Reynolds been cast as Chris, her daughter—Carrie Fisher—would not have been cast as Regan if only for the sake of marketing and publicity. Interestingly, another young daughter of a Hollywood legend who would go on to become a horror movie icon was prevented from auditioning for the role by her famous mom: Janet Leigh forbade Jamie Lee Curtis from trying out of the role of Regan. The actress who terrorized Janet Leigh in the film Touch of Evil provided the uncredited demonic voice of Regan. Blair received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Jason Miller
The far more famous Jack Nicholson was briefly considered or the part of the younger priest performing the exorcism, but it was determined that audiences would have trouble accepting him as a holy priest. Ultimately, Stacy Keach was cast to play Father Karras, but then one day director William Friedkin attended a play in which Jason Miller was performing and in which Friedkin felt the actor just almost palpably sent off the essence of a conflicted Catholic priest. So impressed was Friedkin that despite the fact Miller had never appeared in a film before, he ordered Keach’s contrast to be bought out and Miller to be cast. A decision which resulted in yet another Oscar nomination for the film.
Max Von Sydow
Legendary star of many films for the even more legendary Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman, Max Von Sydow had always been Friedkin’s number one choice to play the title role of the aging priest who exorcises the demon from the young girl. Although Father Merrin is supposed to be much older than his young American acquaintance, Sydow was actually just 44 when the film was made, a mere decade older than Jason Miller.
Lee J. Cobb
The Exorcist was the last major film in which Lee J. Cobb appeared after a career stretching back to the 1930’s. In 1990, a second sequel was released, The Exorcist III, in which the character originated by Cobb reappeared. Cobb having died in the interim, Kinderman in that film was played George C. Scott.
Vasiliki Maliaros
In a movie filled with some of the most memorable horror special effects and terrifying scenes ever committed to film, some of the creepiest moments are provided by the dying mother of Father Karras. Although Maliaros had some experience in Greek stage drama, she was cast after a chance meeting with William Friedkin in a restaurant. She had never acted in a film before and would never act in another film. Thus, she becomes one of a very select group of actors who made an unforgettable impression on viewers as the result of just one single movie.
