Victor Miller

Victor Miller (May 14, 1940 – August 31, 2026) was an American screenwriter born in New Orleans, Louisiana, who left a lasting mark on both film and television. Also credited at times as Arch McCoy, he built a career that moved fluidly between studio features and long-running serialized drama.

Miller is most widely recognized for writing the original Friday the 13th, a breakout hit that helped define the modern slasher era. While later sequels proceeded without his direct involvement, his foundational work is closely tied to the franchise’s mythology, including the creation of key figures such as Jason Voorhees and his mother, Pamela.

Beyond horror, Miller earned major respect in daytime television, writing for series including Guiding Light, One Life to Live, Another World, and All My Children. His soap work brought him three Daytime Emmy Awards and included extended periods collaborating under head writer Megan McTavish.

In later years, Miller also appeared on camera and in genre retrospectives, showing up as himself in documentaries like Crystal Lake Memories and Return to Crystal Lake, and in projects such as The Once and Future Smash. His legacy endures through the stories—and screen icons—he helped set in motion.