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Vincent Price Born: May 27, 1911 Died: October 25, 1993 (at the age of 82)

Vincent was born on May 27, 1911 as Vincent Leonard Price in St Louis, Missouri. As a youth the family business was the 'National Candy Company' (which his father owned) and the family was very well off. Vincent attended the best private schools in St. Louis. Graduating from Yale to studying Art History. He also attended the Courtauld Institute and studied in Vienna.

While he continued his studying in London, he auditioned for the play 'Chicago' in which he played a Judge (this play starred a young John Gielgud). The play needed some authentic-sounding American accents. He modulated his refined voice to the pitch of a tough-talking American gangster, won rave reviews, and was hooked on acting. At 6' 4" tall and his very aristocratic voice made him a natural for stage work. His next play was as Prince Albert in 'Victoria Regina' which also had actress Helen Hayes. This play became a huge success and went on to Broadway.

While staying in New York, he met Orson Welles and became a part of The Mercury Theatre Company (One of the Greatest Radio Show). He appeared in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday' and 'Heartbreak House'. In 1938 Vincent decided to go to Hollywood. During his early years as he worked on his craft he was in some very memorable films such as, 'Service De Luxe' (1938), 'The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex' (1939), 'The House of The Seven Gables' (1940), 'Tower of London' (1944), 'The Eve of St. Mark' (1944), after which he appeared in one of great film classic's 'Laura' (1944), (in which he played as Gene Tierney's fiance). Through the next few years Vincent landed some good supporting roles, but still not really starring in anything, and this was about to change. In 1953 Vincent starred in 'House of Wax' (1953) as Professor Henry Jarrod. It was the first time a major motion picture company filmed in a new process called 3-D (There had been one other attempt made by a small company). The 3-D effect made the images actually appear to be coming at the audience from the screen.

Vincent never took himself too seriously, despite his success. Art, cooking, and traveling occupied his time away from acting, and by the 1950's he lacked the ambition and landed in not so A-List type Films. The great Roger Corman (newcomer at the time and low-budget filmmaker), used Vincent to add class to his modest productions. 'The House of Usher' (1960), 'The Pit and the Pendulum' (1961), 'Tales of Terror' (1961), and 'The Raven' (1962) where some of the best of the Horror genre in the 60's.

Vincent also loved to work in comedy as some of his films show, but he could be seen regularly in many TV shows of the 60's like 'The Brady Bunch', 'The Carol Burnet Show', 'F-Troop', 'Red Skelton Show' and many others.

Later in Vincent's Life he gave an Interview in which he told the story about how when in a small town one time (probably shooting a film) he went to a small theater were 'The Tingler' was being showed. He set in the back row of the theater behind two young girls who were visible terrified of the film. At the end of the film he leaned up between the two girls and said in his haunting voice 'Did you like that?' at which time the two girls screamed and ran from the theater.

While Vincent continued to work in the horror genre throughout the 1970's and 1980's, he did appear in gentler films like 'The Whales of August' (1987). Tim Burton (director of 'Batman' and a Big Fan of Vincent's) asked him to appear in 'Edward Scissorhands' (1990).

Gourmet cook. Quiz show champ. Yale graduate, art historian, and movie (and TV) star. Vincent Price played all these roles to elegant perfection. Vincent has given so many wonderful films to the Horror/Gothic type genre (and also the other categories). He led a full, rich life of high culture and refinement life.

Sadly Vincent Price passed away of Lung Cancer just days before Halloween, October 25, 1993 at the age of 82. This is one of the saddest events for Horror fans from all over the world. He should never be forgotten, for the talents that he had were many.