Vincent Price, named Vincent Leonard Price Jr., was an American actor, historian, art collector, historian, and cook. He was born on May 27, 1911, to Vincent Price Sr. and Margarett Wilcox. Price was of English and Welsh descent, and his grandfather secured their family’s wealth with the invention of Dr. Price’s Baking Powder. Price is an esteemed and well-respected actor in the industry, appearing in over 100 films and being awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Price went to Yale University, graduating in 1933 with a degree in English and a minor in art history. He planned to get a master’s degree in fine arts but was drawn instead to theatre and the performance arts. Price first appeared on stage in 1935 at the Gate Theatre in London, and he moved to New York to join Broadway. In 1938, Price made his film debut which led to a lifelong career in film and TV.
Price appeared in a multitude of films both on TV and in film. His most notable recent roles include voicing the villainous Professor Ratigan in Disney’s “The Great Mose Detective,” providing narration for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands.” He also received a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. Price also had a degree in art history and was an avid art collector and consultant. A museum in Los Angeles College, the Vincent Price Art Museum, is named in his honor.
With a long and decorated career, Price amassed hundreds of thousands of fans and a sizeable list of accolades. Thanks to the many roles he has played, people were curious to learn more about his personal life. Did he get married? Did he have any kids? Was Vincent Price gay? Or was he a straight man? Let’s take a closer look at the horror legend’s relationships to find the answers.
VOTE: What was Vincent Price’s Sexuality?
Vincent Price’s Relationships
Many consider Price a master of the macabre, a horror acting legend. But despite his on-screen success and praise, he never escaped criticism and speculation. Price was married three times, but his constant divorces added to the rumors. Here are some of Vincent Price’s notable relationships.
Vincent Price and Edith Barrett (1938-1948)
Former actress Edith Barett and Price met in 1937 while producing “The Shoemaker’s Holiday.” They were married a year later and moved to Southern California before giving birth to their only child. Their son, Vincent Barett Price, became a renowned author, poet, and environmental activist. There is not much known about Price’s marriage with Barrett as they kept their personal lives private. The couple ended their marriage after ten years. Barett died at 70 in New Mexico.
Vincent Price and Mary Grant (1949-1973)
Mary Grant was a Welsh-American costume designer for theatre and film. She met Price while working on “Up in Central Park,” and they got married soon after. In 1962, The couple gave birth to Victoria who would grow up to be an inspirational speaker. Victoria has confirmed that she got her name from Price’s first major theatre success, “Victoria Regina.” Grant died at age 85, in Boston, Massachusetts.
There is also very little publicly known details about Price and Grant’s relationship. However, Victoria revealed that men would constantly visit their home in her youth. She never questioned the men spending time with her father as the words “gay” and “homosexual” were never mentioned. The men were only known to her as “uncles.”
Vincent Price and Coral Browne (1974-1991)
Price’s third and final marriage was with Australian actor Coral Browne. Browne was married to Philip Pearman and became a widow in 1964. She was also a Broadway actress and met Price while working on “Theatre of Blood.” They were married on October 24, 1974. Browne died from breast cancer at the age of 77, in 1991.
Many believed Browne was bisexual and that her marriage to Price was a fraud. People who knew the couple claimed their marriage was genuine, and they were quite sexual. The couple reportedly spent time with other couples as swingers, but these reports are unsubstantiated.
Rumors About Vincent Price’s Sexuality
Price’s marriage history, his interests in cooking and the arts, and his over-the-top acting, unique manner of speaking, and mannerisms all contributed to rumors about him being gay or bisexual. At the time, his interests were viewed as “unmanly” and “womanly.” It was Price’s daughter, Victoria, who finally revealed that her father was bisexual.
Price confided in Victoria about his many relationships with men, saying his ex-wives often became jealous.
Since I didn’t hear it from his mouth, I think that everything I hear comes with a measure of hearsay. But I would like to say… I am as close to certain as I can be that my dad had physically intimate relationships with men.”
Victoria Price, Boom Magazine, 2015
The Horror Legend’s Legacy
Price died at the age of 82 from lung cancer. The acting legend left an unrivaled legacy worthy of two Hollywood Walk of Fame stars as he received both, one for film and one for television. His unique acting style earned him the nickname “Master of the Macabre” and cemented himself as one of the greatest horror actors in Hollywood’s history.
Price was also an art collector and worked as an art consultant for Sears, Roebuck and Co. Some of the artwork Price chose or commissioned for the selection included works from Rembrandt, Picasso, and Dali.
He also loved fine dining and exquisite food, leading to several publications of cookbooks with his then-wife, Mary Grant. Price promoted his cookbooks in talk shows and radio shows, even cooking live for the audience. In 1971, Price hosted a cooking program on British television titled “Cooking Price-Wise.”
Was Vincent Price Gay?
Yes, Vince Price was gay. In a 2015 interview, Victoria revealed that when she came out as lesbian, Price confided in her about his relationships with men. Price was an avid supporter of Gay Rights movements and the LGBTQ+ Community. He was also highly critical of Anita Bryant’s anti-gay rights campaign in the 70s.
Featured Image: “Vincent Price”, by Allied Artists, licensed under CC0 1.0 DEED