Mercedes McCambridge Interview (May 15, 1981)

[@williamking8033]

Her performance in "The Exorcist" remains THE gold standard in its ability to unsettle and terrify.

[@LeenaBusan1980]

This is so true ❤

[@jubalcalif9100]

I heartily concur !!

[@electriceyeslide5959]

Mercedes was a genius. I mean that literally. She was very humble but had a genius IQ. She was immensely sensitive, gentle, and artistic. But despite her high intelligence, she didn't see herself that way at all. Her performance in The Exorcist couldn't have been pulled off by anyone else, I mean that. RIP to this brilliant women.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

At some point, I became envious of her having that gig. For fun, we used to imitate the movie and I'd get the demon and someone else would be Karras, etc., we had a wild time of it. In fact, a friend of mine at the time used to love imitating Burstyn, "oh, what the hell are you talking about for Christ's sake! DID YOU SEE HER OR NOT!!!!"

[@dannyleo4791]

What an excellent day for an interview.

[@brandonbowers5592]

hahaha this killed me😆

[@Limavadian]

😂

[@myles_bennett77]

Nice !

[@mkofftiger]

Ms. McCambridge visited a Houston, Texas bookstore signing copies of her memoir. I had sense enough to buy my copy of the book that evening, ask her to autograph it, and share a precious few moments. She was a bright, gracious, lovely, articulate artist, and I am lucky to have met her. Thank you for posting this interview.

[@lifeinpodunkville543]

Does she say anything about her son in the book?

[@jubalcalif9100]

Thank you for sharing with us !!

[@rachelodom7519]

RIP, Mercedes Mccambridge. You will never be forgotten. 😈 A very living radio actress that created Pazuzu's raspy evil role.

[@RachelSullivan73]

10:25....Well, hello there, Pazuzu. Fascinating interview, thank you for posting.❤

[@bhikkhu]

Thanks! This is what we're all here for!

[@mikerivera7509]

Without this lady, the exorcist would not have had the impact it has

[@jubalcalif9100]

As I do when I take off my hat, you make a good point!

[@WOMENOFTROY]

Wow what a fantastic interviewer. So poised and such intelligent questions. This was fun to watch. Thanks for posting.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I certainly have a notion to second THAT emotion!

[@Koldeman]

10:23 gave me chills & stopped me dead in my tracks. Something primordial going on there. This lady was incredible.

[@user-dt3rj8qm3k]

Her vocal performance for the Exorcist film will go down in history. What a true artist and professional. Absolute legend

[@jim5746]

Absolutely, that voice drives the movie.

[@alessandrodidomenico6281]

The most unbelievable actor genius of history. Never heard such a deep interview from any other actor

[@Leftofway]

Miss McCambridge was fascinating! She was a brilliant actress and a marvellous interview.

[@longnlean34]

Mercedes a tremendous talent. I still listen to some of her work on the CBS radio Mystery Theater and past films and smile!

[@serekithegreat]

I’m an aspiring voice actor and she is at the top of the mountain when it comes to monolithic voice performances. Bravo! 🎥🙌🏾😎

[@jim5746]

It gives me chills when she talks and her voice drops and gets low !!!

[@izzysantiago978]

This womans voice in the exorcist is responsible for scaring the brakes out my soul!!

[@chrismulwee4911]

It's mostly her as Pazuzu's voice EXCEPT for The Crucifix Scene. Ron Faber, who also played Burke, does the voice in that scene including the "Let Jesus **** You" and Do You Know What She DID, Again that's Faber. But McCambridge does the voice for all the other demo

[@michellebastiani6470]

I have started listening to old radio shows alot in the last year. This woman has fascinated me by her versatility and with her talent. I love that I found her!

[@fluffybunni1276]

Me too! Love the old radio comedy ( our md brooks, father knows best) , mystery shows and old movies on radio, I’m obsessed!

[@michellebastiani6470]

@@fluffybunni1276 It's an extra layer of neat for my geeky self when they leave in the commercials lol.

[@marcosvalenca]

@michellebastiani6470 Do you know about McCambridge's tragedy by her son?

[@michellebastiani6470]

@@marcosvalenca Possibly I know she had a son. I listened to her life story when I was younger.

[@Razormiller]

@@michellebastiani6470 Her son murdered his family(wife and 2 kids). He was a futures trader and lost a lot of money. He hid the loses via the use of his mothers account(she was using the company he worked for). The company was prepared to keep it all private and work on a repayment plan but Mercedes wouldnt go along with it as she said it wasnt her fault. The son, who was unhappy with her for this, then murdered his family and committed suicide leaving a note for his mother saying: "Initially you said, 'well, we can work it out' but NO, you refused… You called me a liar, a cheat, a criminal, a bum. You said I have ruined your life… You were never around much when I needed you, so now I and my whole family are dead-so you can have the money… 'Night, Mother."

[@richardkilroy3248]

She's extraordinary. Great interview.

[@jubalcalif9100]

My sentiments exactly !!

[@lauratheexplorer87]

Thank you for posting. Such an incredible woman, personally and professionally. She deserves more love and it's great to see her interviews popping up, especially as she has a smaller filmography and some of her radio and television work is lost or cannot be found online. Really appreciate this gem!

[@CFL0]

Wow, fascinating interview. 28 minutes of eloquence training (the interviewer was so decent and professional too). And the moment when she described her experience with the role in the exorcist, I was eating my dinner at an airport, and suddenly I was paralyzed with the spoon in my mouth watching her transport herself to a different place while explaining her experience. Wow, it was fantastic.

[@nofirstorlast8405]

You actually do see her in “The Exorcist”; her photo is among the other photos in Mrs. Karras’ apartment. It only appears for a moment.

[@akhnatenra6603]

Interesting detail.

[@memorymedia6188]

That's someone else. Mercedes wasn't even considered for the part until after the shooting had wrapped.

[@dommirra5429]

Just an amazing voice & woman what an intelligent interesting woman!! RIP Mercedes ❤

[@jubalcalif9100]

Indeed !!

[@farrellmcnulty909]

I've been wanting to see Giant for years. I had no idea she was in it. I love Mercedes. She's much more than just a demon voice to me, although it was one hell of an introduction. She's beautiful, ethereal.

[@wardka]

She would have been the best audiobook reader on the planet. They are today's under-appreciated rock stars.

[@hmfrias]

the marriage between Linda Blair’s demon makeup and the voice murmured by Mercedes McCambridge deserves its own Academy Award of excellence

[@MGR1900]

She wasn't exactly a looker however what she lacked in beauty she made up in talent and for some weird reason was intriguing to listen to. I remember listening to her for hours on end on the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. She had things to say and it's easy to see her humility. One of the greats!

[@jubalcalif9100]

I could not agree more !!

[@radoodledoo]

She was a beauty back in the day but does looks matter when you have that much talent ??

[@suzanneprock7286]

Without Mercedes there would be no Exorcist. Hollywood should stop playing politics, it's appalling that they didn't give her credit after what she put herself thru to make the movie so good and authenic. Everyone knows now!!!

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

I don’t know what “playing politics” has to do with anything. And why you would say something that occurred a half a century ago is something Hollywood currently “needs to stop.” William Friedkin said she didn’t want credit initially. It wasn’t until the film became a media event that she started badmouthing her lack of screen credit (and badmouthing others who worked hard on the film) and then pushed SAG to negotiate a change in the credits. We’ll never know the full story.

[@user-dt3rj8qm3k]

Well said. Mercedes' vocal role was pivotal in the creation of this classic. It was a shame she didn't get the credit earned after her legendary performance. As I remember, actress, Eileen Dietz who also had an amazing performance and shot some of the most memorable scenes in this movie also didn't get credited because William Friedkin didn't want anyone to think that Linda Blair was replaced in any of the scenes. Must have been tough to have played such great roles in this classic movie and not get credited for it? Such an oversight

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

@@user-dt3rj8qm3k Eileen Dietz did not turn in “an amazing performance.” I don’t even know what that means in her case. She was basically a stunt double. Her screen time clocks in at mere seconds or maybe a minute total, I think, and she was mostly used for certain quick shots where her being older meant her physicality was stronger and more believably aggressive (like a quick shot from behind where the character assaults another character) or for very quick shots that would have been inappropriate to have Linda act out because she was a minor. And she wore the vomiting special effect rigging in a few frames because not being a minor she was permitted to work on a longer shoot day and that effect was time consuming to capture properly on film. She certainly did her job and earned her paycheck and that’s all fine and good but she wasn’t really acting and she wasn’t on screen for long at all. It is rather silly of Eileen to talk about her participation as though she played the character as much as Linda Blair did, and quite disrespectful of Linda and her dedicated performance. No serious person who really understands the history of the production considers Eileen to have as significant a role as she (and you) make it out to have been. She was a body double and a face they put makeup on for tests, a few seconds of which wound up on screen as the Captain Howdy face. Mercedes McCambridge’s vocal contribution was an entirely different story.

[@TheGreekPianist]

Her real voice was lovely 😊❤

[@jubalcalif9100]

As Snagglepuss would say, "Indubitably!"

[@corfan99]

"Starsky & Clutch" 😊 To hear her chuckle [ 25:46 ] reminded me of some of the sinister sound of the demon in the film THE EXORCIST.

[@adamturner1563]

😂😂. I pin point the exact part you mean I bet

[@jameymonroe954]

When she laughs in Charlie's Angels (I'M THAT OLD! 🥳🥳🥳), she sounds just like The Devil! 🤭🤭🤭

[@babiedelrey222]

What an amazing woman! so inspiring

[@adamturner1563]

The voice of voices.

[@jubalcalif9100]

True !!

[@Andy_ZP]

So intelligent, so talented, but so humble and...so, simple. I hope Mercedes is at peace, life was very hard for her if you know what i mean. Rip Mercedes and his family, and son.

[@timekeeperg2112]

sheeeesh this woman seems to revere the devil doesnt she?? the way she gazed off into the distance like it was a place she knew very well...kinda creeped me out when spoke of how she crafted the voice of the demon as though she was channeling someone she knew!!! this is one of the creepiest interview ive ever seen and yet had never heard of her before today!!! just really weird... same with the actress who played the face of the demon for a mere split second...like a subliminal single frame yet it registered clearly in peoples minds!!! its still the scariest movie ever made in my opinion!!! i can only imagine what it will take to top it if anything ever!!! I dont think humans need such imagery on their in their dreams..or nightmares to be more accurate!!! i often wondered how they ever came up with such a scary film!! what was their mind trained in to conjure up all of the terrifying scenes all through that movie!!! i still will never watch it alone at night...and im in my mid fifties so... the effects dont fade lol!!!

[@mikerivera7509]

She always seems like she is about to go off, at any second in most of her interviews

[@spactick]

What's the saying? "They don't make em like that anymore" boy oh boy does that fit Mercedes McCambridge

[@angel1010gomez]

Her laugh was so beautiful, but when listened to another time transported you to younger times 😂

[@helenlangley1274]

Cold hearted to her own Son!

[@kev8346]

Wow very well spoken talented woman

[@franktorres2718]

VAMPIRE... Her Radio Episode is Amazing!!!!

[@mjd4502]

I think the interviewer, Jim Whaley, is mixing up Peter Ustinov with David Niven. Niven is the one who based the title of one of his memoirs, 'Bring On The Empty Horses' on one of director, Michael Curtiz' malpropisms.

[@KatBats333]

I really wish we had actors like this today. The crap they shovel out to us...........with a few exceptions I wish our celebrities were actually smart and interesting.

[@leescott8412]

When her voice changed it almost went to ghostface like, then Pazuzu and sometimes shes giving me Mrs Doubtfire vibes.

[@cgabe7707]

This is kind of morbid, but I just learnt that her son john killed himself and his family, in 1987, and that is what brought me here...but I'm glad I came, because the interview was very interesting.

[@brandonbowers5592]

Yes, the first responder that came into the house still has nightmares because of the atmosphere in that home after the murder took place. John never returned the video of Nightmare on Elm Street he had rented the previous day.

[@yvonneplant9434]

She was also in Orson Welles' now noir classic Touch of Evil.

[@oc2538]

I always wondered how could she do that to herself for the Exorcist role. Then hearing she had given birth to two stillborns I realise she suffered the worst any woman can suffer and she survived it twice. What else can she endure? She seems like a very level headed person who knows herself and I imagine she survived in this career because she did know herself.

[@shaunrene1]

She lived a very long time

[@eggads]

"In time...In time."

[@nickcolby1391]

I even loved her as a Charlie’s angels baddie , always watchable our Mercedes ❤

[@manalive7618]

Great insight. Far and beyond the sniveling shit we call reaction on the Internet

[@devinramos6317]

Wow!!❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼❤️❤️❤️

[@timfahey7127]

I have been wondering what autobiography to read this month....now I have it....thanks for this!

[@kayronemanuel79]

10:25 It's amazing how she can go from a sweet good lady voice to a scary husky voice lol.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

She definitely deserved the credit. It was a dick-move on Friedkin's part to initially exclude her- whether it was to maintain the illusion of Linda Blair suddenly becoming demonic or whatever else the reason is, there was no call to burn Mercedes that way.

[@jameymonroe954]

WATCH HER AS SADIE IN ALL THE KING'S MEN AND BELIEVE! Until Shelley Winters in A Patch of Blue, THE GREATEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN FILM! The oneand only Mercedes! No wonder both Crawford and Liz Taylor wereafraid of her! Little dynamo... 😇😇😇🥳🥳😃😃😍😍

[@Ashleigh123]

I’m scared of her voice

[@charleswinokoor6023]

What TV show was this, and who was the interviewer? He was very good.

[@brettedgar6733]

SHE WASN'T IN THE EXORCIST, BUT DUBBED THE VOICE OF PAZUZU, MASTER OF DEMONS.

[@katesage3221]

What's the name of the interviewer ?

[@Madcat-bc8qt]

Jim Whaley

[@farrellmcnulty909]

10:24 - That's my little demon

[@marcosvalenca]

What a strange woman.

[@adamturner1563]

Happily much rather spend an Exorcism with Mercedes than you bud. 😂

[@oc2538]

14:27 Shame on them for lying to her and treating her that way. Linda Blair's role would have been silly and not at all terrifying without the voice work of Mercedes. Shame on them for making her fight to get her credit.

[@lynntownsend4457]

She and Joan Crawford hated each other... Johnny Guitar...wow!

[@mistychenoweth9716]

I always thought she was terrifying.

[@josephedric4081]

She seemed like she would refuse to do the voice of the demon or at least use the language that she did in that role.

[@franktorres2718]

Charlie's Angels Episode 👍

[@jaengen]

He should have had Joan Crawford on the stage with Mercedes. Oh would the fireworks (and fisticuffs) have flown!

[@garytaylor-ty6xt]

Is she Irish American decent there's a Gaelic twang in her vocal.

[@MichaelLapore-lk9jz]

Is that John Oliver's father?

[@cagada]

What an excellent day for an exorcism…

[@wk1810]

13:44-13:55 creepy.

[@shelianelson9213]

Too bad she terribly abused her son to which he shot both his little girls and then killed his wife and himself. Look it up. It's awful. Yeah she was a.great actress...but horrible mother. Oh and then she got the life insurance from it all.

[@Coasterdude02149]

That’s not why he did it…he was caught embezzling from his mother which got him fired

[@Trizzle_8194]

It's a man baby yeah!

[@tonyajohnson7948]

Evil looking

[@davidmitchell6873]

So is your mom.

[@tonyajohnson7948]

@@davidmitchell6873 My mom is beautiful. Looks very much like Elizabeth Taylor❤️

[@JACOBSJohn818]

Another famous person from my hometown of Joliet,Illinois...

[@voidritual777]

That's a Man...