Victor Miller, the screenwriter responsible for the 1980 horror film “Friday the 13th,” has passed away at age 86. Miller died on Monday in Alameda, California, according to confirmation provided to Variety by his son, Ian. The influential filmmaker left behind a legacy that fundamentally shaped the slasher genre for generations to come.
“Friday the 13th” stands as a cornerstone of horror cinema, establishing numerous conventions that remain central to the genre today. The film popularized the summer camp setting as a backdrop for terror and introduced themes of teenage misbehavior that became standard elements of slasher films. Miller drew inspiration from John Carpenter’s “Halloween,” which had premiered two years earlier, adapting its core concept of prior evil while creating an isolated location where young adults would face danger with no adult protection available.
Beyond his work on the iconic horror film, Miller maintained an extensive career in television. He contributed scripts to numerous daytime dramas including “All My Children,” “One Life to Live,” “Another World,” “Guiding Light,” and “General Hospital.” His television writing earned recognition through three Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding drama series writing team, demonstrating his substantial contributions to the medium.
Miller, born in New Orleans in 1940, is survived by his wife, Tina Thurston Miller, and two sons, Ian and Josh. While “Friday the 13th” spawned a prolific franchise, Miller was not involved in any of its sequels.
Originally reported by Variety →
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