Paul Bateson
Biography
Paul Bateson (born August 24, 1940) is an American convicted murderer and former radiographer. He appeared as a radiologic technologist in a scene from the 1973 horror film The Exorcist, which was inspired when the film's director, William Friedkin, watched him perform a cerebral angiography the previous year. The scene, with a considerable amount of blood onscreen, was, for many viewers, the film's most disturbing scene; medical professionals have praised it for its realism.
Known For & Full Filmography3 Titles
Movie - 1973, 2h 15m • as Radiologist's Assistant (uncredited)
When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
Movie - 2026, 2h 15m • as Self (archive footage)
“Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders" peels back the layers of controversy surrounding the making of the 1980 thriller, "Cruising." Directed by William Friedkin, the film triggered fierce protests from the LGBTQ+ community for its portrayal of a serial killer targeting gay men in New York's leather bars. Friedkin drew inspiration from the brutal murder of Variety reporter Addison Verrill, blurring the boundaries between cinematic fiction and real-life tragedy.
Movie - 2007, 2h 15m • as Self (archive footage)
Part one of the making of William Friedkin’s 1980 thriller "Cruising" and the controversies it created.