William Peter Blatty is an American writer and filmmaker. The novel The Exorcist, written in 1971, is his most well-known novel; he also penned the subsequent screenplay version of the film, for which he won an Academy Award. He also wrote and directed the sequel, The Exorcist III. His most recent works include the novels Elsewhere, Dimiter, and Crazy. In 2013, Demons Five, Exorcist Nothing: A Fable and Dimiter were re-released as revised editions with new covers and interior artwork. Each were limited to 250 signed copies. Blatty's upcoming publications include The Exorcist For The 21st Century featuring "an original and never before published adaptation for a new miniseries of Blatty's classic novel," and a non-fiction book that is "part funny memoir and part proof of life after death," entitled Not A Horror Novel: A Wild Ride In Search Of The Soul. He is also featured in the 2014 Smoke And Mirrors anthology, featuring the teleplay "Hell Hospital" and the treatment "Faith". 

January 7th, 1928 in New York City  /  Died:   Jan 12th, 2017 - aged 89, from multiple myeloma