Victor Miller, who helped launch one of the most lucrative horror franchises in Hollywood history as the screenwriter behind “Friday the 13th,” died Monday at 86.

His son Ian Miller announced the death in an Instagram post. “He was almost always the smartest, funniest person in whatever room he was in,” Ian wrote, adding that “for those who are interested, we will hold a celebration of life in November — on Friday the 13th, of course.”