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William Peter Blatty Biography

Birth Name:William Peter Blatty

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Writer, Actor, Director, Producer

Fast Facts

Received the Commonwealth Club Silver Medal for Literature for his work "The Exorcist․"
Earned a Master's degree in English Literature from George Washington University in 1954
Was a contestant on the quiz show "You Bet Your Life," where he won $10,000 that he used to take a year off of work to complete his first novel
Before becoming a writer, he worked as a door-to-door salesman for the Electrolux Vacuum cleaner company
Attended preparatory school with future college football coach Joe Paterno
Ghost-wrote the "Dear Abby" book "Dear Teenager" in 1959

1974Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1974Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: winner
1974Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
1974WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium: nominated
1975Golden Scroll-Best Writer: winner
1980Best Film-: nominated
1981Saturn Award-Best Writing: winner
1981Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
1991Saturn Award-Best Writing: winner
2016Rondo Statuette-Best Commentary: winner