William Peter Blatty
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
- Attended preparatory school with future college football coach Joe Paterno
- Before becoming a writer, he worked as a door-to-door salesman for the Electrolux Vacuum cleaner company
- Ghost-wrote the "Dear Abby" book "Dear Teenager" in 1959
Awards
- 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 FilmNominated
- 1981Saturn Award - Best Writing:Winner
- 1981Golden Globe - Best Screenplay - Motion Picture:Winner
- 1991Saturn Award - Best Writing:Winner
- 2016Rondo Statuette - Best Commentary:Winner