After attempting to act on a dare, Vincent Price found "immortality" through Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'.

Vincent Price's acting career began with a dare and ended with one of the most memorable laughs in horror history.

The horror legend, who was studying for his master's in art history at the University of London, was dared by a friend to audition for "Chicago," a banned play that later became a musical, according to his daughter.

"Victoria Price revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that her father, a well-known figure in pop culture during Halloween, had always dreamed of becoming an actor. Despite never being cast, he pursued his passion for art history at the University of London. Eventually, someone encouraged him to try out for a play, which led to his successful acting career."

Victoria said her father always wanted to be a character actor.

"He was 6 foot 4, incredibly handsome, and they cast him in roles he didn't like. So, he wanted to become a character actor," she said.

He was a young man who admired actors like Spencer Tracy, Edward G. Robinson, and Jimmy Cagney. Standing at 6 foot 4 and being beautifully spoken, he was ridiculously handsome. He found his entrance into the acting world as a Gothic villain in "Angel Street" on Broadway and in movies like "Song of Bernadette" and "Laura." He also starred in film noirs, but it was his role in "Dragonwyck" in the '40s that truly showcased his talent.

"Being seen as 'the heavy' due to his eloquence led to him being cast in 'House of Wax,' despite his lack of gangster qualities."

Victoria explains that her father enjoyed character acting because "the good guys don't have any fun, and it didn't interest him. There's more depth in a villain, such as their conflicts and interactions with others. Her father gave a lecture for years titled 'The Villains Still Pursue Me,' and he frequently discussed the allure of the bad guy and how we are drawn to them."

She stated that her father's portrayal of villains was a defining characteristic of his acting.

My dad was loved by people, and they supported him even when he was beheading or drowning people in wax. He had a quality that made people love Vincent Price and be scared at the same time. Although not unique, he was one of the best.

"He was a funny, clever, and witty man who loved doing comedy. He did 'The Carol Burnett Show,' 'Here's Lucy,' and some wonderful comedies. He was drawn to funny people, and his friends, wives, and even his pets were all comedians. He was a master of comedy and had a great sense of humor."

He played with the fine line between horror and humor, often leaving us unsure whether to laugh or flee.

In the early 1980s, a new generation of fans was introduced to Vincent's narration in Michael Jackson's thriller, which featured the actor in his 70s.

"So, in that sense, it was fantastic."

Vincent Price's role in Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' guaranteed his immortality, his daughter claims.

"Victoria shared that the only challenging aspect was that he struggled to obtain non-horror parts. She pointed out that horror is often perceived as a popular, profitable genre, but it was once considered B movies for children and low-budget, cheesy content. Her father was ridiculed by his peers and subjected to criticism for his acting in horror films."

She claims that the album, a classic hit, ensures his enduring fame. As long as there is Halloween, 'Thriller' will continue to inspire awe in children, who will ask, "Who did that laugh?" and learn about him.

Victoria disclosed that the actor who starred in "House on Haunted Hill" was also known for being a "funny" prankster at home, recounting a tale about how he once played a joke on her when she lost her first tooth.

As I was about to lose my first tooth, we were traveling to New York, and I was anxious about losing it and how the Tooth Fairy would locate me to give me the nickel I had placed my tooth under the pillow.

I was expressing my concern about the Tooth Fairy knowing my location, and my dad reassured me that she would. The next morning, I woke up excited after my tooth fell out while staying in a hotel room in New York.

She laughed, recalling how she wouldn't have remembered losing her first tooth if she'd just gotten a nickel instead of carrying a disgusting, corroded denture on the plane to New York.

Vincent Price became a "Gothic villain" because he wanted to be a character actor, daughter says.

Despite her father's busy career, she claims they had a strong bond.

"While writing my dad's biography, I recall Hedda Hopper's statement about him. She simply listed all the things he was doing, and she said, "It's a wonder baby Mary Victoria ever sees her father." Given that he was always working and gone, this remark likely made our bond stronger. When he returned home, it was like a sudden burst of bonding time."

Her father enjoyed making pancakes on Saturdays and visiting museums, but her favorite memory with him was driving around the country in their RV because he worked for the Department of the Interior's Indian Arts and Crafts Board.

They would journey to various Indian reservations across the country from Los Angeles.

Victoria shared that her favorite memories were with her dad, stepmom, and dogs while staying in motels and visiting A&W Root Beer. They would stop at places where she could ride horses or explore rural America.

Although she's now gluten and dairy-free, if she had the chance, she would eat his cheese souffle "in a heartbeat." It was so good.

"I didn't visit the person on movie sets much, so I didn't know much about them," she said. "I knew the art lover, the cook, the roller coaster rider, the museumgoer, the enthusiast, and the man who loved deep sea fishing - different things than other people saw."

Her father, who was a busy horror actor during Halloween, would often take her trick-or-treating and she remembers his playful nature.

She remembered with laughter how she and her girlfriends would run up eagerly to get the candy, and her dad would jump out and scare the owners, so he had fun with that.

Her father imparted the most valuable lesson to Victoria, which was to live life with happiness.

At age 49, feeling "miserable" about life, she embarked on a journey to commemorate her father's 100th birthday by sharing his story.

My dad's real lesson to me was joy, which I define as the pure and simple delight in being alive. It changed my life.

"Every day, he did that. I strive to do the same. Growing up as Vincent Price's daughter was the best part."

In addition to being a writer and inspirational speaker residing in North Carolina, Price revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that she is currently fundraising to aid in the recovery of her home county, Henderson, which was affected by Hurricane Helene.

In a press release, Price stated that her efforts were a small way of aiding her community in recovering and becoming more resilient.