Remember Linda Blair From The Exorcist? Here's What She Looks Like Now
After playing Regan MacNeil in the 1973 psychological horror "The Exorcist," Linda Blair rose as a prominent figure in '70s pop culture. She earned a Golden Globe for her performance and was just 15 when she walked the red carpet at the 1974 Academy Awards, receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Actress (below).
Not nearly as outrageous as throwback pics from the Oscars red carpet that highlight peak '70s style, the teen star wore an age-appropriate powder blue prairie dress with white lace trim and puffed sleeves. With her chestnut-brown hair falling beyond her shoulders, a touch of blush on her cheeks, and red lipstick completing her look, Blair looked angelic and far less intimidating than her terrifying on-screen counterpart.
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After "The Exorcist" premiered, Blair came under intense public scrutiny for portraying a possessed child, ultimately tainting her reputation. "I think about the fact that I made the film, and it became so controversial, and I had to go through that whole experience and constantly fight for who I was. I had to live life to prove who I was," Blair told Fortean Times. She endured years of typecasting and underwhelming movie roles before eventually pursuing animal advocacy. These days, you'll find the actor at her California-based dog rescue and rehabilitation shelter, looking just as recognizable as she did as a teen star, only older. She's still rocking her medium-length, brunette tresses — now with subtle blond highlights — and has the same familiar spark in her eyes.
What's Linda Blair up to these days?
Linda Blair has largely put her acting career on hold, appearing in only small and sporadic roles, including a cameo as Regan MacNeil in "The Exorcist: Believer" in 2023. Since 2003, her priority has been leading the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation, a nonprofit animal welfare organization whose mission is to alleviate animal suffering. On social media, the "Repossessed" star stays active promoting her shelter's cause and raising funds, while offering a look into a day in the life of an animal rescuer. You'll find her rocking the occasional baseball cap, graphic tee, and cargo pants with her rescue dogs.
In July 2026, the 67-year-old made headlines when police discovered overcrowded kennels, housing up to 251 dogs at her California facility, which, without the proper licenses, permits, etc., is prohibited in the state. "Turns out we just have some paperwork to do and some diagrams," Blair said in an update on Instagram. "But as everybody knows, I'm looking to move so I can be more educational and help more animals."
The actor also mentioned that relocating was imperative to her health. She opened up about her health struggles in 2025 on "The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan" podcast, revealing a difficult diagnosis. "I have Graves' disease," Blair shared. "It attacks your immune system. I have lost my hair. I am growing it back. I went down to 91 pounds. The challenge to recover, and I'm still in it, is extreme."