Shirley MacLaine has a couple odd connections to The Exorcist.
Most horror fans already know that MacLaine was originally set to play the role of Regan's mother, Chris MacNeil in the film The Exorcist. In fact, William Peter Blatty envisioned MacLaine as the character as he wrote the novel. However, the part eventually went to Ellen Burstyn and Shirley ended up playing in the sub-par film, The Possession of Joel Delaney instead (a movie Stephen King said would earn an NC-17 rating today).
MacLaine, a friend of William Peter Blatty, claims that the cover of the original hardcover book is actually her daughter Sachi Parker. Blatty, however, denies this claim. The cover has always creeped me out, and sort of blows my mind that this could actually be Warren Beatty's niece.
You decide. A recent photo of Sachi is to the left and as a child in the picture above. The picture of the eerie girl on the original hardback is below. It certainly looks possible to me. Hmmm...
By the way, Pazuzu is the name of the demon in The Exorcist. Of course, you knew that already, right?
Most horror fans already know that MacLaine was originally set to play the role of Regan's mother, Chris MacNeil in the film The Exorcist. In fact, William Peter Blatty envisioned MacLaine as the character as he wrote the novel. However, the part eventually went to Ellen Burstyn and Shirley ended up playing in the sub-par film, The Possession of Joel Delaney instead (a movie Stephen King said would earn an NC-17 rating today).
MacLaine, a friend of William Peter Blatty, claims that the cover of the original hardcover book is actually her daughter Sachi Parker. Blatty, however, denies this claim. The cover has always creeped me out, and sort of blows my mind that this could actually be Warren Beatty's niece.
You decide. A recent photo of Sachi is to the left and as a child in the picture above. The picture of the eerie girl on the original hardback is below. It certainly looks possible to me. Hmmm...
By the way, Pazuzu is the name of the demon in The Exorcist. Of course, you knew that already, right?
