Hollywood lost yet another gem. The versatile star who used to own the screen with his presence, who etched his name in millions of hearts with his performance, and who to date is lauded for his role as a serial killer Russ Thorn from ‘The Slumber Party Massacre,’ Michael Villela passed away at the age of 84.
The news of the beloved star’s passing came through a Facebook post on Saturday that read – “Michael Pasquale Villella has left this world, may he rest in peace. May God welcome Michael with open arms and bring him into heaven.”
Michael’s daughter, Chloe Villella, confirmed the news on social media. The cause of his demise hasn’t been disclosed as of now.
Michael Pasquale Villella – Gone but not forgotten
Most of the artists with the dream to make it big in the acting world, look for a role that is easy on the eyes. They try to play it safe when it comes to their debut. However, the late Michael Pasquale Villella was a daredevil from the beginning. He debuted in the industry as the drill-wielding killer in 1982’s ‘The Slumber Party Massacre.’
Directed by Amy Holden Jones and written by Rita Mae Brown, the movie also starred Michelle Michaels and Robin Stille. Originally the idea was to make it a parody of the slasher genre but ultimately it turned up as a straight horror movie.
Though the movie opened to mixed reviews, one thing that everyone agreed on was the impressive performance of Michael Villella.
‘The Slumber Party Massacre’ inspired two spinoff film series, the ‘Sorority House Massacre’ trilogy and the ‘Cheerleader Massacre’ films. The late actor had an uncredited role in the 1990 spinoff film, ‘Sorority House Massacre II.’ And the list doesn’t end here, he also appeared in the 2010 documentary, ‘Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres.’
In addition to the above-mentioned movies, Michael Villella is known for his work in Love Letters’ (1983), ‘Gotham’ (1988), ‘Wild Orchid’ (1989), and ‘Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue’ (1991).
