33 years since Vincent Price’s death: the actor whose voice the world heard on “Thriller”

On 25 October 2026 it was 33 years since the death of Vincent Price. The American actor died of lung cancer on 25 October 1993, aged 82. He remains one of the icons of horror cinema, although his career was far broader than that.

From theatre to film noir

Price graduated in art history, but he was drawn to performing from the start. In the mid-1930s he made his stage debut and worked with, among others, Orson Welles’s independent Mercury Theatre group. In the 1940s he built his screen reputation, often appearing opposite Gene Tierney in “Laura” (1944), “Leave Her to Heaven” (1945) and “Dragonwyck” (1946). Otto Preminger’s “Laura” later inspired the atmosphere of the series “Twin Peaks”.

The Roger Corman era

In the 1950s and 1960s he appeared in many horror films, including “House on Haunted Hill” (1959). His greatest fame came from working with director Roger Corman, a partnership that began in 1960 with “House of Usher”. The low-budget films, based on dark works by Edgar Allan Poe, became cult classics. In “The Raven” (1963) Price starred alongside Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre. He also guest-starred in the series “Batman” (1966–1968) and appeared on Broadway in the musical “Darling of the Day”.

The voice on “Thriller”

Musicians also sought out his voice. Alice Cooper used it on his debut solo album “Welcome to My Nightmare”. In the early 1980s Price was invited to deliver the dark narration on “Thriller”. According to the source, the actor could choose between a one-off fee of $20,000 and a percentage of the profits. He took the cash, and the album became one of the best-selling in music history. The article says Price did not blame Jackson or producer Quincy Jones for the decision.

The final years

Late in life Price suffered from Parkinson’s disease and emphysema. Even so, in 1990 he appeared in Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands”, playing the inventor. Because of his health, his screen time was cut, as the actor needed frequent breaks. His withdrawal as host of the programme “Mystery!” was also due to his health.

Burton had already paid tribute to him in 1982 in the animated short “Vincent”, in which Price was the narrator. The film’s hero is a boy absorbed in Poe’s works who dreams of being like Price.

What this means for you

Films featuring Vincent Price, including Corman’s classics, and “Thriller” are widely known and easy to find. The anniversary is a good occasion to revisit them, especially in the Halloween season.