Name the person who starred in the title role in each of these films from the 1970's: a. 1972 - Lady Sings the Blues b. 1973 - The Exorcist c. 1978 - The Buddy Holly Story

These three films from the 1970s feature unforgettable performances in their title roles. In the 1972 biopic *Lady Sings the Blues*, music superstar Diana Ross made her dramatic acting debut portraying the legendary and troubled jazz singer Billie Holiday. The role was a massive critical success, earning Ross an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress and proving she was a powerful force on screen as well as on stage.

A year later, the landmark horror film *The Exorcist* terrified audiences worldwide. While the story centers on a possessed girl, the title character is the elderly priest called in to perform the rite, Father Lankester Merrin. This iconic role was played by the celebrated Swedish actor Max von Sydow, who was only 44 years old at the time and wore extensive makeup to appear decades older. Finally, the 1978 biographical film *The Buddy Holly Story* was a breakout success for Gary Busey. He delivered a high-energy, Oscar-nominated performance as the pioneering rock and roll star, a role for which he lost a significant amount of weight and performed all of Holly's songs live during filming.