Vincent Price Refused To Talk To This Co-star For 20 YEARS! You Will Never Guess Who | HO!!

Vincent Price was Hollywood’s undisputed King of Horror, a man whose velvet voice and sinister charm turned him into a legend. He worked with the greatest—Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, even a young Jack Nicholson—without a hitch. But in 1972, on the set of a campy cult classic, Price’s famously gentlemanly demeanor shattered. A single snub from Price started a feud so icy, so stubborn, that two actors who once shared the screen refused to speak directly for the next two decades. And the co-star he silenced? It’s not who most fans would expect.

This is the story of the silent war between Vincent Price and Robert Quarry—a Hollywood grudge that lasted longer than some careers.

The Candy Kid: Vincent Price’s Sweet Start

Long before he donned a cape or haunted gothic mansions, Vincent Leonard Price Jr. was born into a world of luxury and sugar. His father led the National Candy Company, one of the biggest confectioners in America, and the Price family’s fortune stretched back to the 19th century. Their legacy began with Vincent’s grandfather, Dr. Vincent Clarence Price, who invented cream of tartar baking powder—a household staple that made them millionaires before Vincent was born.

But even with money and status, the Price family was steeped in culture. Vincent’s mother, a former schoolteacher, filled their St. Louis mansion with books, art, and music. At just 12, Vincent famously bought a Rembrandt etching for $37.50—a sign of the collector he’d become. He grew up in a home that looked like something out of a storybook, surrounded by paintings, rare artifacts, and high expectations.

From Yale to London: The Making of a Star

Price’s education was as rich as his upbringing. He toured Europe at 16, then entered Yale in 1929, earning degrees in English and art history. He joined the Yale Glee Club and spent his free time watching every movie and Broadway show he could. It was at Yale that Price fell in love with the theater, a passion that would define his life.

In 1934, Price crossed the Atlantic to study at London’s Courtauld Institute of Art. But the stage called louder than academia. He landed a role in the play “Chicago” at the Gate Theatre, and within months, was starring as Prince Albert alongside Helen Hayes on Broadway. Price’s acting career had begun—and it was meteoric.

Hollywood’s New Villain

Price’s early years in Hollywood weren’t smooth. He was nearly fired from his first film for improvising lines, and backstage nerves plagued him. But by the mid-1940s, Price’s career took a dark turn. No longer the romantic lead, he became the villain—the sly, dangerous man audiences loved to fear. His breakout role in “Laura” (1944) shocked critics, and soon, Price was typecast as the smooth-talking, morally ambiguous antagonist.

His dedication to his craft was legendary. For “Shock” (1946), Price spent weeks in a psychiatric hospital, studying patients and learning medical procedures to make his performance disturbingly authentic. The film was so unsettling that mental health groups protested its release.

The Rise of a Horror Icon

By the 1950s, Price’s reputation as a horror star was cemented. “House of Wax” (1953) terrified audiences, as did “The Fly” (1958), with its unforgettable “Help me! Help me!” scene. Price’s performances were so convincing that some child actors and extras were genuinely frightened on set.

But Price’s real-life struggles mirrored his on-screen torment. His marriage to actress Edith Barrett collapsed, and he lost custody of his son. Later, his second marriage to costume designer Mary Grant ended after 24 years. Personal heartbreak seemed to fuel his tortured characters.

The Legendary Feud: Price vs. Quarry

Fast forward to 1972. Price was filming “Dr. Phibes Rises Again,” the sequel to his hit “The Abominable Dr. Phibes.” Behind the scenes, studio execs were eyeing a younger, cheaper star to replace Price, whose $75,000-per-film salary was too rich for their blood. Enter Robert Quarry, a rising horror actor known for “Count Yorga, Vampire.”

Quarry, eager to make a good impression, tried charming Price by singing opera on set. Price, unimpressed and feeling threatened by the studio’s plans to push him out, delivered a cutting blow: “Well, I knew you weren’t an actor.” The words stung. From that moment, Price and Quarry refused to speak directly, using assistants to pass messages. The tension was so thick, crew members joked you could cut it with a knife.

Their feud spilled over into their next collaboration, “Madhouse” (1974). Price was furious to learn the studio had planned the film for Quarry all along, relegating Price to what he called “a cameo in my own career.” He told the director, “This is what 14 years of loyalty gets you—a mercy killing.” Price spent much of the shoot alone in his trailer, refusing to promote the film. The partnership between Price and his longtime studio, AIP, ended soon after—a collaboration that had made over $50 million.

The Cost of Stardom

Price’s horror reign came at a price. On “The Three Musketeers,” a prop sword sliced open his hand, severing tendons and requiring 47 stitches. He lost blood but kept filming, earning a $2 million contract. His right hand never fully healed, and he favored his left in sword scenes for the rest of his career.

The FBI also targeted Price, suspecting him of communist sympathies for supporting Spanish Civil War refugees and peace groups. They tapped his phones and read his mail. Price’s five-page letter to J. Edgar Hoover cleared his name, but the ordeal cost him a lucrative TV gig and left a 200-page FBI file in his wake.

Reinvention and Redemption

Despite the drama, Price never stopped reinventing himself. He became a celebrated art collector, curating thousands of pieces for Sears and founding the Vincent Price Art Museum in Los Angeles. He wrote cookbooks, hosted culinary shows, and traveled the world in search of new recipes.

In the 1980s, Price’s career took a new turn. He voiced Disney’s Professor Ratigan in “The Great Mouse Detective,” a performance so dramatic animators modeled the character’s gestures after Price himself. He narrated Tim Burton’s short film “Vincent,” using his real-life tremors from Parkinson’s disease to add haunting realism.

A Life of Contradictions

Price’s personal life was as complex as his roles. His daughter Victoria later revealed that Price had loving relationships with men and was one of Hollywood’s earliest LGBTQ+ allies. He spoke out during the AIDS crisis and recorded public service announcements when few celebrities dared.

But Price also struggled with guilt and depression in his final years, reflecting on his choices and relationships. He died of lung cancer in 1993 at age 82, leaving behind a legacy of art, horror, and advocacy.

The Final Curtain

The feud between Vincent Price and Robert Quarry remains one of Hollywood’s strangest stories—a silent war that lasted 20 years, born from a single insult and fueled by studio politics. Price never spoke publicly about the grudge, and Quarry only acknowledged it years later. But for fans, it’s a reminder that behind the masks and monsters, even legends have their breaking points.

Vincent Price acted in over 110 films, but only about 20 were horror. His voice in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” took just two takes—he was paid $20,000, never asked for royalties, and lost millions. Yet, he insisted the work mattered more than the money.

Today, the Vincent Price Art Museum holds over 9,000 pieces, and his influence echoes in every haunted house and chilling laugh. Price’s story is one of talent, tragedy, and the kind of Hollywood drama you just can’t make up.

So next time you watch a Vincent Price classic, remember: the real terror might have been backstage, where a single snub led to a 20-year silence between two horror icons.