Miller honors father of “Exorcist” actor with “The Exorcism”

Russell Crowe in a scene from “The Exorcism”. (Photo vertical)

One could say that at 49 years old, Joshua John Miller is still trying to exorcise his father’s legacy with The Exorcist in his new film The Exorcism.

Jason Miller was an acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright when he was “discovered” by “Exorcist” director William Friedkin and cast as the doomed Roman Catholic priest Father Karras in the 1973 horror classic. It was a decision that made him famous, earned him an Oscar nomination and, his son says, ruined his life.

“I could say,” Miller said in a Zoom interview, “yes, I wanted to make a film about my father, in the story of ‘The Exorcist.’ I wanted to make a film that was a love letter, not just to the film, but to my father. Because sometimes dealing with a great loss creatively is a way to keep it alive in some way.”

Fame changes people. That was also the case with Jason Miller, who died of a heart attack at the age of 62 after three marriages and a battle with alcohol and drugs.

“He died far too young. He lived a life that was on the brink of ruin because of the choices he wanted to make for himself. A very dissolute life. I wish he had taken better care of himself.

“But certain creative people are touched by a certain genius and often the flip side of that is a lot of torture. He suffered both the good and the bad sides of that coin.”

However, the same could be said about his “Exorcism” star Russell Crowe, who plays an actor who portrays a tortured priest in a film currently being shot.

“My father had many different career paths because we can say he is so brilliant. I don’t know what happens when you become famous, like super famous, but I believe something happens in the chemistry of the brain.

“I’ve never seen anything like this on a large scale. I’ve seen it with microwaves. But I think if you fly that close to the sun, you’re going to get burned. It’s inevitable.”

“But I think that people who are deeply tormented and have open wounds are attracted to creativity. I would also say that a lot of really complicated people who are hurting and maybe even dangerous are also attracted to creativity.

“That’s why Hollywood is a very dangerous and strange place. I think in some ways actors are these aliens who just believe everything in the moment and live with it.

“It’s dangerous and it’s a gift. And part of that gift pushed her over the edge.”