William S. Bowdern

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Father William S. Bowdern (February 13, 1897 - April 1983) was a Jesuit Roman Catholic priest, also the lead exorcist in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, in the exorcism of a thirteen-year-old Lutheran boy who became possessed after using a ouija board. This was the case on which William Peter Blatty based his novel The Exorcist. He was assisted by fellow Jesuit priest Father Walter Halloran.

In 2000, a TV-movie titled Possessed (which was taken from Thomas B. Allen's book with the same name) was made about that case. Father Bowdern's character was played by Timothy Dalton.

[edit] External links

• The Haunted Boy of Cottage City. The Cold Facts Behind the Story That Inspired "The Exorcist
• Movie 'Exorcist' Got It Right, Say Priests Who Cast Out Demons
• The St.Louis Exorcism Case!The Story that Became the Exorcist!
• Interview in which Father Bowdern is mentioned.

[edit] Further reading

• Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism, Thomas B. Allen, 1993, ISBN 0-553-47177-5

[edit] Related Film

• Possessed (Showtime/Regent Entertainment 2000) - Based on Thomas B. Allen book, above. Director: Steven E. de Souza. Father William S. Bowdern played by Timothy Dalton.