American screenwriter Victor Miller, author of the screenplay for the cult horror film Friday the 13th, has died at the age of 86. His son Ian announced his death. Miller passed away on August 30, although the cause of death has not been disclosed.
The original Friday the 13th was released in 1980 and became one of the best-known slashers of its time. Miller’s screenplay laid the foundation for a story that would later grow into a major horror franchise and make Jason Voorhees one of the genre’s most recognizable characters.
Victor Miller’s legacy also reached video games. In 2017, Friday the 13th: The Game was released — an official game based on the iconic horror franchise, in which players could take on the role of Jason Voorhees or try to survive as one of his victims.
The screenwriter’s son, Ian Miller, announced his father’s death on Instagram.
“Yesterday my father, Victor Miller, went to his final reward. He was almost always the smartest and funniest person in any company. He inspired me and many others to love photography, music, and storytelling.”
Ian also added:
“He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a grandson. He lived an incredible life, and we will miss him very much.”
In addition to his work on Friday the 13th, Miller worked in television for many years and wrote for a number of popular daytime soap operas. He received the Daytime Emmy Award three times for his work.
