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

Michael Villella, the actor known for playing the serial killer Russ Thorn in the cult classic “The Slumber Party Massacre,” has died. He was 84.

Villella’s death was announced Saturday through a statement on his Facebook page: “Michael Pasquale Villella has left this world, may he rest in peace. May God welcome Michael with open arms and bring him into heaven.”

His daughter, Chloe Villella, also confirmed the news on social media. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Villella made his onscreen debut as the drill-wielding killer in 1982’s “The Slumber Party Massacre,” also starring Michelle Michaels and Robin Stille. The film, directed by Amy Holden Jones and written by Rita Mae Brown, was originally meant to be a parody of the slasher genre but ultimately became a straight horror movie.

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Although “The Slumber Party Massacre” received mixed reviews from critics, the 1982 original garnered a cult following and inspired two direct sequels that were released in 1987 and 1990; a reboot film was released in 2021. “The Slumber Party Massacre” also inspired two spinoff film series, the “Sorority House Massacre” trilogy and the “Cheerleader Massacre” films. Villella had an uncredited role in the 1990 spinoff film, “Sorority House Massacre II,” and he appeared in the 2010 documentary, “Sleepless Nights: Revisiting the Slumber Party Massacres.”

Along with “The Slumber Party Massacre,” Villella’s film credits include “Love Letters” (1983), “Gotham” (1988), “Wild Orchid” (1989) and “Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue” (1991). On the television side, he made guest appearances on “Amazing Stories” and “Getting Away With Murder.”