Victor Miller, the acclaimed screenwriter behind the iconic Friday the 13th film, has died.
The news of Miller’s passing was announced by his son, Ian, through an Instagram post. Victor passed away on Monday, August 31, in Alameda, California, at the age of 86. In a touching post that included several photographs and a heartfelt message, Ian mentioned that a life celebration event would be organized in November, fittingly on Friday the 13th.
Victor Miller was both the writer and the mind behind the original story of Friday the 13th. He recently revealed to a fan site dedicated to the movie that the initial idea was to create something similar to Halloween. Miller explained, “The title wasn’t decided until after the screenplay was already revised once.”
He elaborated on the inspiration behind choosing a summer camp as the setting: “It seemed perfect as it isolated the young adults from any adult intervention, much like in Halloween. The backstory of Jason’s prior death was also inspired by Halloween’s element of a preceding evil act—Michael Myers’s murder of the babysitter. The rest flowed from there, with the camp setting naturally leading to the sequential demise of the campers, orchestrated by the world’s most overprotective mother.”
Although Miller did not participate in the subsequent Friday the 13th sequels, he created the essential characters of Jason and Pamela Voorhees, thus laying the groundwork for the entire series. He has expressed dissatisfaction with the direction the franchise took, particularly the shift to Jason as the main antagonist rather than Pamela.
The original film remains a seminal work in the horror genre, setting the standard for slasher films with its innovative use of setting and themes.
Apart from his work on Friday the 13th, Miller had an extensive career in television, writing for soap operas like General Hospital, All My Children, Another World, Guiding Light, and One Life to Live. His tenure on All My Children contributed to the show winning three Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team. His work on Another World and One Life to Live also earned Emmy nominations.
Miller’s influence in the horror genre will continue with the upcoming Peacock series Crystal Lake, a prequel to Friday the 13th, set to premiere on October 15. The series stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees and Callum Vinson as a young Jason Voorhees, with Brad Caleb Kane, former co-showrunner of HBO Max’s IT: Welcome to Derry, at the helm.
Victor Miller leaves behind his wife, Tina Thurston Miller, and two sons, Ian and Josh.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
