Michael Villella obit

Michael Villella, ‘The Slumber Party Massacre’ Actor, Dies at 84

'Slumber Party,' which went on to inspire a cult following, was Villella's film debut.

 He was not on the list.

Michael Villella, an actor known for his role in cult classic The Slumber Party Massacre, has died. He was 84.

Villella’s daughter Chloe confirmed her father’s death on social media on Saturday. Villella’s own Facebook page also announced his death the same day, writing, “Michael Pasquale Villella has left this world, may he rest in peace. May God welcome Michael with open arms and bring him into heaven.”

TMZ reported he died of organ failure after around month in the hospital.

Villella played Russ Thorn, the power-drill murderer in 1982’s The Slumber Party Massacre which also starred Michelle Michaels and Robin Stille. Directed by Amy Holden Jones and co-written by Jones and Rita Mae Brown, the film was Villella’s acting debut.

Though originally intended as a slasher parody, the movie ultimately became a straight horror movie, garnered a cult following and inspired several sequels and spin-offs. Villella held a minor role in a 1990 spin-off, Sorority House Massacre II, and appeared in the 2010 documentary, Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres.

Villella also roles in 1983’s Love Letters, 1988’s Gotham, 1989’s Wild Orchid and 1991’s Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue. On television, he appeared in episodes of Amazing Stories and Getting Away with Murder.

 

Actor

Audition

Short

Casting Director

2011

 

The White Room (2008)

The White Room

2.5

Short

Priest

2008

 

Getting Away with Murder (2007)

Getting Away with Murder

8.2

TV Series

Bathtub Fatcat

2007

1 episode

 

Brent David Fraser and Nina Siemaszko in Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue (1991)

Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue

4.0

Man with Mona

1991

 

Wild Orchid (1989)

Wild Orchid

4.5

Elliot Costa

1989

 

Gotham (1988)

Gotham

6.2

TV Movie

Cop (as Michael Villela)

1988

 

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

Dr. Levin

1987

1 episode

 

Jamie Lee Curtis in Love Letters (1983)

Love Letters

5.8

Oliver's client

1983

 

The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

The Slumber Party Massacre

5.6

Russ Thorn (as Michael Villela)

1982