As the entertainment community comes off a year where seemingly countless legends passed away, 2017 isn’t getting off to a great start on this front either.The ExorcistauthorWilliam Peter Blattyhaspassed awayat the age of 89. The news broke on Twitter this morning byThe ExorcistdirectorWilliam Friedkin, although no cause of death has been given at this time. The director only shared that Blatty died yesterday, calling the writer a “dear friend and brother.”
After news of his death broke, a number of entertainment and horror luminaries took toTwitterto pay tribute to thelate author. Earlier this morning, tributes started pouring in fromStephen King, directorsEdgar WrightandJoe Lynch, andJeremy Slater, who created theThe ExorcistTV series that debuted last fall on Fox. The late author celebrated his 89th birthday less than a week ago.
William Peter Blattywas born July 28, 2025 in New York City, to Lebanese immigrants who were also devout Catholics. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in 1950 and would earn his Masters in English Literature at George Washington University in 1954. He would go on to work as a door-to-door salesman in the 1950s before breaking into writing in 1960 with his first book,Which Way to Mecca, Jack?Thelate writeralso started writing screenplays in the 1960s such as 1963’sThe Man From the Diners ClubstarringDanny KayeandTelly Savales,A Shot In the DarkstarringPeter SellersandElke SommerandDarling LilistarringRock HudsonandJulie Andrews, just to name a few. His career would be turned upside down with the publishing of his 1970 novelThe Exorcist, and the 1973 film adaptation.
William Peter Blattyalso wrote the screenplay adaptation forThe Exorcist, which won him his first Oscar, although the film was largely snubbed by the Academy otherwise, only winning for Best Sound while losing out in the other eight categories it was nominated for, including Best Picture, Best Director forWilliam Friedkin, Best Actress forEllen Burstynand Best Actress in a Supporting Role forLinda Blair. Despite only winning two of 10 Oscars, the film was a massive hit at the box office, taking in an incredible $232.9 million in 1973. When adjusted for inflation, that figure would equate to a domestic take of $941.1 million, which would just barely breakStar Wars: The Force Awakens' domestic record of $936.6 million.
Thelate horror legendwould go on to writeThe Ninth Configuration, which he adapted from his own novelTwinkle Twinkle Killer Kaneand made his directorial debut with, andThe Exorcist III, which he also directed adapted from hisExorcistsequel novelLegion. He wasn’t involved at all in the 1977 sequelExorcist II: The Heretic. Last year, the filmmaker’s original director’s cut ofThe Exorcist III, which was long thought to be lost, was re-discovered, and released under the original title of the novel,Legion. The writer issurvived byhis wifeJulie Alicia Blattyand eight children. Take a look at some of the tributes that have poured in on social media to the late greatWilliam Peter Blatty.
