Damien Karras

Background

Karras counsels the priests at Georgetown University and is going through a crisis of faith, made worse by guilt over his mother's death: he was not with her when she died. Chris MacNeil asks him to see her daughter Regan, and at first he looks for a medical explanation; he even sprinkles tap water on her, telling her it is holy water, and her reaction makes him doubt she is possessed. When the words 'help me' appear on Regan's stomach he decides an exorcism is needed, and the Church sends the experienced Father Merrin to lead it with Karras assisting.

During the rite the demon taunts him with his mother. After Merrin dies, Karras goads the demon into leaving Regan and taking him instead, then throws himself out of the window and down the stone steps outside, and Father Dyer gives him the last rites. In Legion and The Exorcist III another evil spirit, that of the Gemini Killer, takes over his body; he is found wandering with no memory and is kept in a mental hospital. Jack Nicholson was considered for the part and Stacy Keach was first hired before Friedkin chose Miller after seeing his play That Championship Season.