Creator of Interview With the Vampire and The Vampire Chronicles, she transformed how the world viewed vampires and witches

Anne Rice, a leading figure in supernatural fiction, passed away at the age of 80 following a stroke. Over her prolific career, she authored more than 30 novels, including the iconic Interview With the Vampire. Published in 1976, the novel introduced readers to her most enduring character, Lestat de Lioncourt, and was adapted into a 1994 film starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Kirsten Dunst.

Rice revolutionized the genre by shifting the narrative perspective of supernatural creatures. Her works portrayed vampires, witches, and revenant mummies not as monsters to be vanquished but as complex, often romantic protagonists. This perspective laid the groundwork for contemporary writers like Stephenie Meyer, known for the Twilight saga.

Her seminal Interview With the Vampire became the cornerstone of The Vampire Chronicles, a 13-book series that delved deeply into the life of Lestat, an 18th-century French nobleman turned vampire. The series concluded in 2018 with Blood Communion.

Rice’s work, including The Queen of the Damned, reflected her unique ability to give voice to the traditionally villainous figures of horror, exploring their morality and humanity. Her legacy as a storyteller reshaped supernatural fiction and cemented her as one of its most influential voices.