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(Vincent Price) The Prince of Darkness had his Side Hustles

By. "Wise Up" Katie Weiss

 

Vincent Price was an incredible leading man of horror who sent shivers down our spine with every eerily spoken word. Whether he was a mysterious party host (House on Haunted Hill,1959), a revenge-seeking wax museum owner (House of Wax, 1953), a steel-clawed murderer (The Bat, 1959), or an incredibly lonely father and husband (The Last Man on Earth, 1964), one thing is for certain: Vincent Price has deserved his status as an influential horror icon with an intentionally unnerving demeanor and a silky smooth spooky voice that rings through the minds and hearts of horror fans everywhere.

Due to his popularity and talent, Vincent Price frequently guest-starred in pop culture staples of all kinds. So, as we celebrate his birthday (May 27!), we will take a moment to reflect on some of his more influential guest star roles as we admire his ability to perform with the talent and aura we adore. I have dubbed these roles as his “side hustles” – what was Price up to when he wasn’t leading 50s and 60s horror masterpieces?

 

The Brady Bunch: Season 4, Episodes 2-3 (1972)

During the first few episodes of Season 4 of The Brady Bunch, the Bradys go to Hawaii. And who do they meet? Professor Hubert Whitehead, played by none other than Vincent Price! He nearly scares the three Brady boys – Greg, Peter, and Bobby – to death as he seamlessly incorporates all his horror talents into the sitcom genre. He makes Brady Bunch-friendly jokes in one moment and threatens the Brady boys with a spear and a maniacal laugh in the next. Greg, Peter, and Bobby aren’t the only scared ones; the audience is totally spooked from the very first shot we see of Price as he menacingly walks toward his “secret cave” near the end of episode 2 before kidnapping the Brady Boys in episode 3.

Vincent Price was an incredible temporary addition to the Brady franchise! He even got to guest star in the third episode of The Brady Bunch Hour (1977) as he enters Greg’s prospective new apartment to “communicate with the dead” as Greg stares at him in fear and disbelief.

 

Thriller (1982) by Michael Jackson

If the new Michael movie (2026) taught me anything, it’s that Vincent Price was one of Michael Jackson’s inspirations for both the song and the short film, Thriller. It’s no surprise, then, that Vincent Price got to perform a “rap” in this groundbreaking, earth-shattering hit as he doesn’t miss a single beat. Perhaps the only person who could have possibly made this song even more iconic was Vincent Price, and he absolutely crushed his featured verse!

 

The Muppet Show: Season 1, Episode 19 (1977)

Kermit the Frog joyfully welcomes “Mr. Vincent Price” to the 19^th episode of The Muppet Show. Kermit makes sure to warn the audience that this episode will not be what we might typically expect from the show! He is, of course, both right and wrong. We still get to see all the hilarious high jinks that The Muppet Show never fails to offer, but Price brings the same playfully spooky energy he brought to The Brady Bunch, and the same perfectly eerie cadence he brought to his rap in Thriller. He encapsulates the perfect balance of spooky and goofy vibes from the moment he appears on screen in The Muppet Show as he sports crazy hair and holds an unsettling look in his eye.

 

May 27, 1911 is a very special day for us Vincent Price fans. As we reflect upon Price’s career (including, of course, just a few of his many side hustles), we can’t help but posthumously wish a very happy birthday to the man who shaped the horror genre in ways no one ever could have predicted. Happy birthday, Vincent Price! 

Vincent Price could steal a scene whether he was guest starring on The Brady Bunch or slowly unraveling in a grimy meta-horror film like Madhouse (1974). Continue our Vincent Price Week celebration with a look at one of his strangest and most underrated performances.