05/27/2026
πHappy Birthday to the Master of Horror, Vincent Price!
Born on May 27, 1911, in St. Louis, Missouri, Price worked as a teacher and stage and radio performer before landing his breakout role in House of Wax in 1953. The film established him as a staple of the horror genre, and Price went on to star in House on Haunted Hill, The Fly, and numerous adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. One of his final performances was in Tim Burton's 1990 film, Edward Scissorhands. Known for his debonair charm and iconic voice, Price remains a true Master of Horror.
In 1985, Vincent Price visited the MSU campus for a special Halloween night lecture as part of the Artist Lecture Series. His talk, entitled "The Villains Still Pursue Me," offered insight into his choice to portray famous villains in theatre and film. As a special treat, Price performed his iconic spoken-word intro from Michael Jackson's Thriller and a reading of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven."
You can listen to Price's Artist Lecture in Special Collections now!