Author Anne Rice, known for writing gothic vampire novels, has shifted gears for her new book “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt.” (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
LENNY IGNELZI
Anne Rice, the gothic novelist widely known for her bestselling novel ‘Interview with the Vampire’, died Saturday night at the age of 80.
Rice died of a stroke, her son Christopher Rice announced on her Facebook page and Twitter page.
“In his final hours, I sat next to his hospital bed impressed with his accomplishments and courage,” Christopher Rice wrote in the statement.
Anne Rice was the author of the 1976 novel “Interview with the Vampire”, which was later adapted into a film starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in 1994. It was also to be portrayed in a television series on AMC and AMC+ in 2022.
Rice was to be buried in a private ceremony at a family mausoleum in New Orleans on an undisclosed date, the statement said. A public celebration of life was due to take place next year.
Photos: Remembering the author Anne Rice, 1941-2021
Author Anne Rice talks about her new book during an interview at her home in La Jolla, Calif., Wednesday October 26, 2005. Rice, who has become rich and famous through her vampire books, moved the subject in his new book Towards the Life of Christ. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
LENNY IGNELZI
** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND JAN. 1-4 **Writer Anne Rice poses in the dining room of her New Orleans home December 16, 2003. Rice says her new book, ‘Blood Canticle,’ will be the last in her vampire series and witches. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Bill Haber
Author Anne Rice shows off one of her favorite dolls from her collection during an interview at her home in La Jolla, Calif., Wednesday October 26, 2005. Rice, who became rich and famous through her vampire books, changed the subject to his new book Life of Christ. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
LENNY IGNELZI
** ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, DEC. 22-25 ** Author Anne Rice poses for a photo at her home October 26, 2005 in San Diego. The literary queen of New Orleans has left the Big Easy behind in favor of the sunny shores of Southern California. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
LENNY IGNELZI
Author Anne Rice gestures during an interview at her home October 26, 2005 in San Diego. The literary queen of New Orleans has left the Big Easy behind in favor of the sunny shores of Southern California. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
LENNY IGNELZI
Anne Rice’s mansion in the Garden District is on the market for $4.5 million on First Street in New Orleans, Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon
Author Anne Rice poses for autographs for her latest book, ‘The Wolf Gift,’ Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at a Barnes and Noble bookstore in New York. (AP Photo/StarPix, Amanda Schwab)
Amanda Schwab
Anne Rice attends the LA Times Festival of Books on Sunday April. 22, 2012, at the USC campus in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996, attracting more than 140,000 book lovers each year. (AP Photo/Katy Winn)
Katy Win
Anne Rice attends the LA Times Festival of Books on Sunday April. 22, 2012, at the USC campus in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996, attracting more than 140,000 book lovers each year. (AP Photo/Katy Winn)
Katy Win
FILE – In this Oct. 26, 2005 file photo, author Anne Rice talks about her new book during an interview at her home in La Jolla, California. Tulane University has acquired the full archive of famed author Anne Rice, who was born and raised in New Orleans and whose books, including “Interview with a Vampire,” were often inspired by her hometown . The collection was a gift from Stuart Rose and the Stuart Rose Family Foundation to the university’s Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, the university said in a statement (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
LENNY IGNELZI
This is an October 1980 photo of author Anne Rice at an unknown location. (AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anne Rice attends the LA Times Festival of Books on Sunday April. 22, 2012, at the USC campus in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books began in 1996, attracting more than 140,000 book lovers each year. (AP Photo/Katy Winn)
Katy Win
FILE – Author Anne Rice poses for a photo at her home October 26, 2005 in San Diego. Rice’s “Interview with the Vampire” returns to the screen, this time for television. The bestselling novel, which was adapted for the 1994 Brad Pitt-Tom Cruise film, will serve as the basis for a new AMC and AMC+ series slated for 2022. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)
Lenny Ignelzi
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