Victor Miller, Screenwriter of Original 'Friday the 13th,' Dies at 86

Victor Miller, the screenwriter who launched one of cinema's most enduring horror properties with the original 1980 slasher "Friday the 13th," died Monday in Alameda, California. He was 86.

His son, Ian Miller, confirmed his father's passing on Instagram on Tuesday, noting that a celebration of life is scheduled for this November on Friday the 13th. A specific cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

In his tribute, the younger Miller praised his father's intellect, humor and creative guidance, remarking that the veteran scribe inspired a passion for storytelling, music and photography throughout his long career.

Frequent collaborator Kerry Fleming, who co-wrote the 2017 feature "Rock, Paper, Scissors" with Miller, reflected on his partnership with the writer in remarks to TheWrap. Fleming noted that Miller was a generous mentor whose influence reached beyond Camp Crystal Lake, while acknowledging the personal weight of Miller's multi-year legal fight over the ownership of the franchise.

Miller's later career became a focal point for Hollywood labor and IP attorneys during his successful legal campaign to reclaim domestic copyright ownership of his 1980 screenplay. That dispute concluded with a decisive federal appeals ruling under the Copyright Act's termination provisions, setting a notable precedent for screenwriters seeking to recover control of legacy properties from production companies.