A serious back injury was sustained by Ellen Burstyn.
The Exorcist was so horrific that it really made people sick to their stomachs while watching it, so you can only imagine how challenging it was to film. Ellen Burstyn, who plays the demon’s mother, is pulled across the room by an unseen crew member using a wire tied around the actress’ waist. The crew member tugged on Burstyn’s waist too roughly, sending her tumbling to the ground with such force that she suffered lasting damage to her lower back. We have to wonder if whoever was responsible for her permanent suffering was disciplined.