1973’s The Exorcist has terrorized audiences for decades, but few know that real events inspired it. While the film depicts a 12-year-old girl possessed by a demon, the actual story involves a 14-year-old boy named Roland Doe, who lived at 8435 Roanoke Dr. in Bel Nor, Missouri.
Roadtrippers provided the backstory for this landmark film and its real and fictional setting.
Evil Beginnings on the East Coast
Roland Doe, born in 1935, was raised by his German Lutheran parents in Maryland. His close bond with his Aunt Harriet, a spiritualist, introduced him to the Ouija board, a tool that would later be linked to the chilling events that unfolded. Strange occurrences began in the late 1940s when Roland was just 14. The oddities included unexplained noises, moving furniture, and mysterious scratches on his body.
After medical professionals were unable to explain these events, the family turned to their Lutheran priest, Rev. Luther Miles Schulze. He witnessed the bizarre phenomena firsthand, leading to the belief that evil forces were at work. This prompted a series of exorcisms, first by Lutheran clergy and later by Catholic priests.
The Ominous Move to St. Louis
As the family moved to St. Louis, they continued seeking help, bringing them to 8435 Roanoke Dr. There, two priests witnessed terrifying events in the home, including Roland speaking in a deep, guttural voice and objects flying around the room. The exorcisms escalated in intensity, with one priest being physically attacked by Roland during a particularly violent session.
Is The Exorcist House Haunted?
After the final exorcism, Roland reportedly went on to live a normal life. But the house at 8435 Roanoke Dr. remains a place of eerie fascination.
Located in the quiet suburb of Bel Nor, the two-story brick house is privately owned and closed to the public. As such, only photographs of its exterior have been publicly available.
The On-Screen Setting for This Devilish Tale
Exorcist director William Friedkin used locations in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. This dwelling at 36th & Prospect Streets served as the Regan home; however, set designers added a mansard roof for visual interest.
Georgetown was also the site of the nearby concrete staircase at 36th & Prospect Streets. That location provided the film with its memorable finale.
More information on the actual and fictitious settings for The Exorcist can be found at Roadtrippers.
