Vincent Price’s Daughter Says Appearing in Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Gave Him ‘Immortality’

Michael Jackson Thriller and Vincent Price Collage

Vincent Price is known as a horror icon, with his 6’4″ stature and villainous laughter. This Halloween, his daughter Victoria Price is opening up about her father, including how he began his impressive career and what it was like to appear in Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller” song and music video.

She admitted that his career began with a dare. He was studying for his master’s in art history at the University of London, and a friend dared him to audition for the play Chicago. While he was always interested in becoming an actor, he turned to art history after being turned down again and again. So when he was cast in the play, his true career began.

THE TINGLER, Vincent Price, 1959

Everett Collection

At first, he still had a hard time getting roles with his specific look until House of Wax came along and made him very famous. He found that he enjoyed playing a villain. Victoria explained that he liked character acting because “the nice guys have no fun, and it just didn’t appeal to him. You know, there’s so much more meat in a villain. You know, the villain’s conflicts, his interactions with others. He did a lecture for years called ‘The Villains Still Pursue Me,’ and he wrote a lot of and spoke a lot of the appeal of the bad guy and how much we’re drawn to the bad guy.”

Actor Vincent Price and daughter Victoria Price attend The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Present A Tribute to Joseph L. Mankiewicz on May 6, 1991 at the Academy Theatre in Beverly Hills, California

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Although he is known for his darker roles, he also loved doing comedy and made appearances on series such as The Carol Burnett Show and The Muppet Show. So, he jumped at the chance to be the narrator in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Victoria said that the album shows his “immortality. As long as there’s Halloween, there’ll be ‘Thriller,’ and some kid is going to go, ‘Ah, that’s so cool. Who did that laugh?’ and find out about him.”

 

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October 2024

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