Perhaps most recognized for his camp addition to Michael Jackson’s beloved “Thriller,” Vincent Price was a unique actor not just for his voice, but for his aesthetic and contribution to horror movie kitsch. Born to an affluent family in Saint Louis, Price’s unusual persona was clinched by the fact that his family fortune stemmed from his grandfather’s invention of Dr. Price’s Baking Powder, renowned for being the first baking powder to feature cream of tartar. Price’s family fortune was further augmented by his father’s successful ownership of a candy company. A distinguished man
Price’s combined love of humor and theater served as the logical jumping off point for segueing into the horror genre. While studying at Yale (there’s that family money coming into play), Price wrote for the comical publication, The Yale Record. Ultimately, Price gravitated toward theater while pursuing a Master’s at the University of London. While studying there, Price fell in with Orson Welles’ theater group, Mercury Theater. Ghoulish.
Although Price initially began his film career as a character actor, he transitioned easily into the over the top roles he would become illustrious for in pop culture. In the early 50s, Price began his horror resume with House of Wax, The Fly, Return of the Fly and House on Haunted Hill–all of which would be remade in later years by Hollywood. In the 60s, Price would go on to create many successful collaborations with famed director Roger Corman, most notably their Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. Dashing
Even in his later years, Price would continue to surprise and impress with his projects. In 1982, the same year as his “Thriller” voiceover, Price also provided Tim Burton with his voice for narrating the short film, Vincent. Price worked again with Burton in the 1990 classic Edward Scissorhands. Ironically, Price played a dying man (Scissorhands’ creator) in one of his last film roles, and would soon after die of lung cancer in 1993.
