Anne Rice wrote 'dope stories': How authors and 'Vampire' actors are honoring her legacy

Christi Carras
·5 min read
A woman surrounded by candles
Portrait of author Anne Rice at her Palm Desert home in 2014. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

"Interview With the Vampire" actors Antonio Banderas and Thandiwe Newton were among those saluting Anne Rice on Sunday, as Twitter filled with heartfelt tributes to the late author's spooky prose, celebration of feminine eroticism and LGBTQ+ representation.

The revered gothic novelist, whose bestselling debut, "Interview With the Vampire," was adapted into a 1994 film starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, died Saturday night at age 80 after suffering a stroke, her son and fellow author Christopher Rice said.

"Your Mom wrote some dope stories — and her work will always be part of my personal journey," Newton, who played Yvette in "Interview With the Vampire," tweeted in response to Christopher Rice's eulogy.

"Respect to your family and my heart goes out to you in your time of grief."

Banderas, who portrayed Armand in director Neil Jordan's film adaptation, also shared Christopher Rice's announcement with his own tweet. Anne Rice wrote the screenplay for the movie.

"Another day, another legend," tweeted Broadway and Disney star Josh Gad: "RIP #AnneRice and thank you for introducing us to a world in which vampires weren’t simply Dracula, but literary springboards for everything that makes us hungry for immortality, desperate for love, longing for legacy, and searching for humanity."

Theater legend Harvey Fierstein echoed those sentiments. "Heartbreaking loss of one of the most colorful imaginations ever," he wrote. "She made us believe, as common knowledge, that vampires walk among us. What an achievement! Brava!"

"Star Trek" actor George Takei declared that Anne Rice's "stories will continue to haunt, thrill and inspire for generations to follow." Cassandra Peterson's Elvira hailed "Interview With the Vampire" as her "favorite book of all time."

Literary figures also honored Anne Rice, who pioneered the sub-genre through the "Vampire Chronicles" and other works, selling more than 150 million copies worldwide.

"What a life and what a legacy. My god," tweeted "Cinderella Is Dead" author Kalynn Bayron. "I’m heartbroken. I loved her work so much. My heart goes out to her family. Rest easy, Anne."

"Anne Rice was an author who had a really complicated (and fascinating) relationship with fans and fandom … but she leaves behind quite the literary legacy, that helped pull a genre and monster into the modern-era," tweeted "The Monster of Her Age" author Danielle Binks. "Condolences to those who loved her, and her words."

See more reactions to Anne Rice's death below.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.