Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez’s “The Blair Witch Project” was a milestone in found-footage movie history.
The psychological folk horror film received near-universal praise for its handheld, shaky, amateur filming technique. Although it wasn’t the first to use it, it was the first to bring it into the global mainstream. It was also the first of its kind to receive significant critical and commercial success.
Its marketing campaign was also seminal. “The Blair Witch Project” is believed to be the first widely released movie marketed primarily on the Internet. There was a major emphasis on presenting it as real footage — the marketing included faux police reports and “newsreel-style” interviews — to the point that many people genuinely believed it was.
The movie starred a small, intimate cast of three then-unknown actors — presented as real film students — playing fictionalized versions of themselves. They were sent out into the Appalachian Mountains near Burkittsville, Maryland, to film their faux documentary about the eponymous supernatural being. There, the filmmakers surprised them with strange noises and occurrences to make their reactions genuine.
Released in the United States on July 14, 1999, “The Blair Witch Project” will turn 27 this year. So how do the core cast look today, compared to back then? Let’s find out…
Heather Donahue
Above is a social media post with a picture of Heather Donahue in “The Blair Witch Project.”
Businesswoman and retired actress Heather Donahue (now also known as Rei Hance) played a fictionalized version of herself in “The Blair Witch Project.” Heather is the leader of the project with ambitions of directing a serious documentary about the Blair Witch. She often holds the camera and narrates, explaining the legend of the witch to potential viewers. Her iconic tearful apology is the movie’s most memorable scene.
Age when “The Blair Witch Project” released: 24.
Selected movie credits before “The Blair Witch Project”: N/A.
Above is a 2024 social media post with a recent picture of Heather Donahue.
Age now: 51.
Selected movie credits after “The Blair Witch Project”: Boys and Girls (2000), Seven and a Match (2001), The Morgue (2008).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Joshua Leonard
GettyActor, producer, writer, and director Joshua Leonard played a fictionalized version of himself in “The Blair Witch Project.” Josh is the cameraman on the project. While he starts the movie incredibly laid-back, he becomes increasingly frustrated and terrified as things start to escalate. His early disappearance is a key source of tension and terror.
Age when “The Blair Witch Project” released: 23.
Selected movie credits before “The Blair Witch Project”: N/A.
Above is a 2025 social media post by Joshua Leonard featuring a couple of recent pictures of him.
Age now: 50.
Selected movie credits after “The Blair Witch Project”: Madhouse (2004), Hatchet (2006), The Town That Dreaded Sundown (2014).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Michael C. Williams
GettyActor Michael C. Williams (credited simply as Michael Williams) played a fictionalized version of himself in “The Blair Witch Project.” Mike is the project’s sound recordist. While he provides much of the early comic relief with his sarcasm and complaints, his demeanour shifts to desperation and anger as the group gets lost and things get creepy. His depiction in the movie’s final scene is terrifying.
Age when “The Blair Witch Project” released: 25.
Selected movie credits before “The Blair Witch Project”: N/A.
Above is a 2026 social media post by Michael C. Williams with a couple of recent pictures of him.
Age now: 52.
Selected movie credits after “The Blair Witch Project”: Altered (2006), The Objective (2008), Satanic Hispanics (2022).
Filmography info per IMDb.
It’s fantastic to see all three primary stars of “The Blair Witch Project” doing so well.
The movie launched a media franchise, which includes two sequels (2000’s “Book of Shadows” and 2016’s “Blair Witch”), plus several novels, comic books, video games, and other merchandise.
Per The Numbers, “The Blair Witch Project” grossed over $248 million worldwide, after costing just $600,000 to make, making it one of the most profitable films ever made. Its Rotten Tomatoes rating of 86% is testament to how highly it’s still thought of.
