Anne Rice.

Howard Allen Frances O'Brien

Anne Rice — Screenwriter

Born 4 Oct 1941 New Orleans, United States

Died 11 Dec 2021 New Orleans, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 84 yr If Living

11 min read

Reading time

2,159

Words

May 23, 2026

Published

8

Film credits

45

Books

3

Awards

TL;DR

Anne Rice published Interview with the Vampire in 1976, launching the Vampire Chronicles series that sold millions worldwide. She also wrote the Mayfair Witch trilogy and earned a Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. Rice died in 2021 at age 80 from a stroke in New Orleans.

Identity & family.

KIN · 4

Names, aliases, and relatives of Anne Rice — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Howard Allen Frances O'Brien

Nicknames A. N. Roquelaure

Spouses: Stan Rice
Children: Michele Rice Christopher Rice
Siblings: Alice Borchardt

At a glance.

STATS

Anne Rice by the numbers — life, work, and family.

80 Years lived

8 Film credits

45 Books

3 Awards

1 Marriage

2 Children

Who was Anne Rice?

BIOGRAPHY

Anne Rice — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born Howard Allen Frances O’Brien on October 4, 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Anne Rice was the second of four daughters of Howard and Katherine Allen O’Brien. Her mother, an alcoholic, died when Anne was nearly fifteen, and her father soon remarried and moved the family to Richardson, Texas. She enrolled in first grade under the name Anne, which she later legally adopted. After graduating high school in 1959, she fast-tracked through Texas Woman’s University, completing two years in one, before moving to San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district in 1960.

Career

In 1973, Anne Rice turned her short story Interview With the Vampire into a novel, receiving a $12,000 advance from Knopf and publishing it in 1976. The book introduced the vampire Lestat and became a cultural phenomenon. She followed with The Vampire Lestat in 1985, which earned a $100,000 advance and was later adapted into a stage musical with songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. In 1994, the film adaptation of Interview with the Vampire starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt was a major success, leading to a $17 million contract for three more Vampire Chronicles novels. Rice also wrote the Mayfair Witch trilogy, beginning with The Witching Hour 1990, which commanded a $5 million advance, and explored erotica under pseudonyms Anne Rampling and A. N. Roquelaure.

Personal life

Anne married poet Stan Rice in 1961, having met him in high school. Their first child, Michele, was born in 1966 but died of leukemia at age five in 1972, affecting Rice and inspiring the child vampire Claudia in Interview with the Vampire. Both Anne and Stan struggled with alcoholism after Michele’s death but quit drinking in 1979, soon after the birth of their son Christopher Rice in 1978. The family moved frequently, settling in New Orleans’ Garden District in 1988. Rice nearly died from diabetic ketoacidosis in 1998 and later from a bowel obstruction in 2004. Her husband Stan died in 2002.

Legacy

Anne Rice redefined the vampire genre, blending Gothic horror with philosophical depth and sensuality. Her work influenced countless authors and filmmakers, and the Vampire Chronicles remain bestsellers. She received the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, the Locus Award for Best Horror Novel, and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement. Posthumously, her novels continue to be adapted for television and film, including the AMC series Interview with the Vampire launched in 2022. She is remembered as the queen of vampire fiction whose creation Lestat de Lioncourt became a pop-culture icon.

Filmography.

FILMS · 8

The complete filmography of Anne Rice — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Colbert Report

2005
TV

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005
TV

Ellen

1994
TV

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

1996
TV

Ancient Mysteries

1994
TV

Prisoners of Gravity

1989
Movie

A Place Among the Dead

2020
Movie

Eddie Cochran & Friends: C'mon Everybody

2004

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 3

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Anne Rice — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

World Horror Convention Grand Master Award
Locus Award for Best Horror Novel
Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 45

Anne Rice's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Interview with the Vampire

by Anne Rice
Amazon

The Queen of the Damned

by Anne Rice
Amazon

The Vampire Lestat

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Servant of the Bones

by Anne Rice
Amazon

The Vampire Armand

by Anne Rice
Amazon

The Witching Hour

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Pandora

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Memnoch the Devil

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Taltos

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Lasher

by Anne Rice
Amazon

The Tale of the Body Thief

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Merrick

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Blood and Gold

by Anne Rice
Amazon

Blood Canticle

by Anne Rice

Showing 14 of 45 View all 45 books

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 5

A wall of memorable lines from Anne Rice — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

To Write Something, You Have to Risk Making a Fool of Yourself.
The Vampire Is That Glittering, Dazzling Rule Breaker and Outsider Who Has Gained Ascendancy Over Time and Place.
The Vampire Is Always Presented as Someone Who Is Living a Heightened Existence and That Is Very Seductive. He Is Also Someone Who Is Able to Satisfy All of His Cravings. I Don’t See This as a Time of Weakness at All. the Vampire Image Reflects the Enormous Leap in Visual Perspective. This Is the Time of Federal Express, Long Distance Calls and Faxes. Someone Can Get up in the Morning and Call New York or Paris. All Kinds of Business Transactions and Close Book Deals Can Be Made It’s Like Flying All Over the World. Vampires Are Superhuman Magnifications of Us, of the Way We Feel in These Powerful Times.
Vampires Have Always Been Part of Our Culture. There Have Always Been Superstitions Surrounding Death and Burial in Western Europe and the Idea That the Dead Will Come Back. When You Write a Story About Good and Evil Using a Vampire, You Are Reaching Back to the Renaissance for a Figure as Powerful as God and the Devil. What I Love About My Readers Is That They Really Understand What My Books Are About.
On Connecting: We’re Frightened of What Makes Us Different.

Did you know?

FACTS · 20

Little-known facts about Anne Rice — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Chose the pseudonym Anne Rampling, under which she penned her novels Exit to Eden and Belinda, in honour of actress Charlotte Rampling because Anne admired Charlotte’s grace.
Received a $12,000 advance for Interview with The Vampire.
Has pictures of herself giving birth to son Christopher Rice on the walls of her New Orleans home.
Has written several other novels outside the Vampire Chronicles, including the Mayfair Witch trilogy, erotica and historical fiction. None of these books has achieved the fame or sales of her vampire tales.
Her novel The Vampire Lestat was adapted into a stage musical with songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.
Her daughter Michele, born 1966, died from leukemia in 1972 and has been stated to be the inspiration for Claudia, the child vampire played by Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles 1994.
Battled alcoholism, which had claimed her mother when Anne was fifteen, for several years following her daughter Michele’s death in 1972. She and husband Stan Rice quit drinking in 1979, soon after the birth of son Christopher Rice.
Lives and works in the California desert.
Her birth name, Howard, was also her father’s name. Rice once said that the name was her mother’s decision, while an official biography attributed it to her father. On her first day of Catholic school, Rice gave herself the name Anne, which stuck; it was legally changed in 1947, although she used her birth name when she was confirmed at age 12.
Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 36, a son Christopher Travis Rice on March 11, 1978. Child’s father is her now late husband, Stan Rice.
Nearly died in 1998 when she fell into a coma caused by diabetic ketoacidosis. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and became insulin-dependent. She nearly died again in 2004 from a bowel obstruction, a complication of a gastric bypass surgery she underwent the year before.
She originally intended 2003’s Blood Canticle to be the conclusion of her Vampire Chronicles series. In 2014 she announced the publication of a sequel, Prince Lestat, and wrote a further two books after that.
On August 5, 1972, her first child, daughter Michele Rice, died from leukemia at the age of 5. Rice fell into a depression as a result.
Has a collection of several hundred pairs of black button-up shoes.
Biography/bibliography in Contemporary Authors. New Revision Series, Vol. 133, pp. 369-377. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
She was of Irish and one eighth German descent.
Her sister, Alice Borchardt, is also a novelist.
Her novel The Mummy was almost adapted into a feature film by James Cameron in the 1990s.
Gave birth to her 1st child at age 24, a daughter Michele Rice on September 21, 1966. Child’s father is her now late husband, Stan Rice.
Has written under the pseudonyms Anne Rampling and A.N. Roquelaure.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 34

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Anne Rice.

When was Anne Rice born?

Anne Rice was born on October 4, 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was originally named Howard Allen Frances O’Brien.
Where was Anne Rice born?

Anne Rice was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The city influenced her Gothic writing style and settings.
When did Anne Rice die?

Anne Rice died on December 11, 2021 at the age of 80. Her death occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana.
How old was Anne Rice when she died?

Anne Rice was 80 years old at the time of her death. She died from a stroke on December 11, 2021.
Where did Anne Rice die?

Anne Rice died in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She had returned to the city in 1988 and lived there for much of her later life.
How did Anne Rice die?

Anne Rice died from a stroke. She had previously battled serious health issues including diabetic ketoacidosis in 1998 and a bowel obstruction in 2004.
What was Anne Rice's real name?

Anne Rice was born Howard Allen Frances O’Brien. She renamed herself Anne on her first day of school and legally changed it in 1947.
What did Anne Rice do for a living?

Anne Rice was a writer, producer, and actor. She is best known as the author of the Vampire Chronicles series.
What nationality was Anne Rice?

Anne Rice was American. She held United States citizenship and lived in New Orleans, San Francisco, and the California desert.
Who was Anne Rice married to?

Anne Rice was married to poet Stan Rice from 1961 until his death in 2002. They had met in high school and married after he proposed by telegram.
Did Anne Rice have children?

Yes, Anne Rice had two children: Michele Rice, born in 1966 and died in 1972, and Christopher Rice, born in 1978. Christopher is also a writer.
Did Anne Rice have any siblings?

Anne Rice had one sibling, Alice Borchardt, who also became a novelist. She was the second of four daughters overall.
Where did Anne Rice go to school?

Anne Rice attended Richardson High School in Texas, Texas Woman’s University, University of North Texas, and San Francisco State University, where she earned her M.A. in creative writing in 1972.
What awards did Anne Rice win?

Anne Rice won the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, the Locus Award for Best Horror Novel, and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.
How many awards did Anne Rice win?

Anne Rice won three major awards: the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, the Locus Award for Best Horror Novel, and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.
What is Anne Rice best known for?

Anne Rice is best known for writing the Vampire Chronicles series, beginning with Interview with the Vampire in 1976. She also appeared in TV shows like The Colbert Report and The View.
What is Anne Rice's Instagram?

Anne Rice’s Instagram handle is @annericeauthor. She used it to connect with fans and share updates about her writing.
How tall was Anne Rice?

Anne Rice was 5 feet 2 inches tall, or 1.57 meters. Her height was often noted, but she was known for her commanding presence as an author.
What is the origin of Anne Rice's pseudonym A. N. Roquelaure?

Anne Rice used the pseudonym A. N. Roquelaure for her erotic novels, including the Sleeping Beauty series. The name is a playful reference to a French cloak, reflecting her interest in historical and sensual themes.
What was Anne Rice's birth name?

Anne Rice’s birth name was Howard Allen Frances O’Brien. She was named after her father and changed it to Anne in her childhood.
Who were Anne Rice's parents?

Anne Rice’s parents were Katherine Allen O’Brien and Howard O’Brien. Her mother died when Anne was fifteen, and her father later remarried.
Who were Anne Rice's relatives?

Anne Rice’s cousin was cinematographer Allen Daviau. Her sister Alice Borchardt was also a novelist.
Why did Anne Rice change her name?

Anne Rice changed her name from Howard to Anne on her first day of Catholic school because she disliked being called by a boy’s name. She legally adopted Anne in 1947.
What inspired the character Claudia in Interview with the Vampire?

Claudia, the child vampire in Interview with the Vampire, was inspired by Anne Rice’s daughter Michele, who died of leukemia at age five in 1972.
How did Anne Rice's daughter's death affect her writing?

The death of her daughter Michele in 1972 plunged Anne Rice into a depression and led to alcoholism. It also inspired the creation of the child vampire Claudia in Interview with the Vampire.
What was Anne Rice's relationship with her sister Alice Borchardt?

Anne Rice’s sister Alice Borchardt was also a novelist. They shared a love of writing and both drew on their New Orleans upbringing in their work.
What happened to Anne Rice in 1998?

In 1998, Anne Rice nearly died from a coma caused by diabetic ketoacidosis. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and became insulin-dependent.
What pseudonyms did Anne Rice use?

Anne Rice wrote under the pseudonyms Anne Rampling and A. N. Roquelaure. She also published work as A. N. Roquelaure for erotic fiction.
What was the advance for Interview with the Vampire?

Anne Rice received a $12,000 advance from Knopf for Interview with the Vampire. The novel was published in 1976 and became a bestseller.
Did Anne Rice write a musical?

Anne Rice’s novel The Vampire Lestat was adapted into a stage musical with songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The musical premiered in 2006.
What is the Mayfair Witch trilogy?

The Mayfair Witch trilogy is a series of novels by Anne Rice about a family of witches in New Orleans. It begins with The Witching Hour, published in 1990.
Did Anne Rice have any near-death experiences?

Yes, Anne Rice nearly died in 1998 from a diabetic ketoacidosis coma and again in 2004 from a bowel obstruction following gastric bypass surgery.
What was Anne Rice's writing routine?

Anne Rice often wrote late at night and maintained a disciplined schedule. She lived in a mansion in New Orleans’ Garden District where she did much of her writing.
How many books did Anne Rice write?

Anne Rice wrote over 30 books, including the Vampire Chronicles, the Mayfair Witches series, and several standalone novels. Her works have sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

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Audited & updated by

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Published on May 23, 2026

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