Vincent Price was born in St. Louis on May 27, 1911, to Marguerite Cobb Price and Vincent Leonard Price Sr. His grandfather, Vincent Clarence Price, had invented baking powder, which secured the family’s fortune. Price’s father was the president of the National Candy Company, which at one time was the largest candy company in the world, specializing in jawbreakers and jelly beans. The Price family had moved to St. Louis from Chicago to market their candy at the 1904 World’s Fair.
The 6-foot-4-inch actor first appeared onstage in 1934 in a London production of the play “Chicago.” He quickly won a leading role, as Prince Albert, in “Victoria Regina,” and the production proved so successful that it transferred to Broadway in 1935 as a vehicle for actress Helen Hayes. Price stayed with the production there for three years. He became a strong radio presence, and memorably served as the voice of “The Saint.”
In 1938, Price headed to Hollywood, where he made his screen debut in “Service Deluxe” and eventually landed roles in such significant films as “The House of Seven Gables” (1940), “Laura” (1944), “The Keys of the Kingdom” (1944), “Leave Her to Heaven” (1945), “Dragonwyck” (1946), “The Baron of Arizona” (1950), and “Champagne for Caesar” (1950). Price portrayed romantic leads and classical characters during this period, but he was especially memorable when playing villains, for either dramatic or comedic effect, as in the low-budget “Shock” (1946).
By the 1950s, Price had accumulated a diverse résumé but had yet to establish himself as a major star. His major big break came with the 1953 3D hit “House of Wax,” in which he played a murderous sculptor who uses human victims to populate his wax museum. The film established Price as America’s master of the macabre, and he solidified that reputation in horror films such as “The Fly” (1958), “House on Haunted Hill” (1958), and “The Tingler” (1959). Price was scarcely limited in his roles – he continued to demonstrate his range in such films as “Casanova’s Big Night” (1954), “While the City Sleeps” (1956), and “The Ten Commandments” (1956)
In the 1960s, Price reached the arguable height of his fame, starring in Roger Corman’s acclaimed series of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations. Often appearing with fellow horror veterans Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre, Price delivered menacing performances in the films “House of Usher” (1960), “The Pit and the Pendulum” (1961), “Tales of Terror” (1962), “The Raven” (1963), “The Masque of the Red Death” (1964), and “The Tomb of Ligiea” (1964). During this fruitful period, Price attained cult-figure status, especially among the younger generation, and he gleefully parodied his own gothic image in comedies such as “Beach Party” (1963), “Comedy of Terrors” (1963), and “Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine” (1965). Demonstrating his versatility, Price also delivered one his most accomplished performances in the British cult horror classic “Witchfinder General” (1968). He made frequent television appearances as well, including a recurring role as the villain Egghead on “Batman.” Price’s popularity continued into the 1970s, with such movies as “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971) and “Theatre of Blood” (1973).
Price’s menacing screen presence was in direct contrast to his offscreen reputation for compassion and generosity. In the mid-70s, Price cut back on his film roles to devote himself to the other passions in his life: collecting art and gourmet cooking. Art was a longtime passion: In 1951, he established the Vincent Price Gallery and Art Foundation on the campus of East Los Angeles Community College, to which he donated much of his celebrated private collection. He gave generously to schools, museums, and art foundations throughout his life, including MICDS and the St. Louis Art Museum. In 1972, he co-wrote the bestselling “A Treasury of American Art” with his second wife, Mary. They also co-authored several cookbooks and co-hosted television cooking shows throughout the 1960s and early ’70s. Their “A Treasury of Great Recipes” (1965) remains a well-regarded cookbook.
Married three times – to Edith Barrett (1938-48), Mary Grant (1949-73), and Coral Browne (1974-1991) – Price had two children, Vincent Barrett Price and Victoria Price.
Vincent Price passed away Oct. 25, 1993, in Hollywood.
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