Bela Lugosi

Birthday: 20 October 1882, Lugos, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary [now Lugoj, Timis County, Romania]

Birth Name: Béla Ferenc Dezsõ Blaskó

Height: 185 cm

It's ironic that Martin Landau won an Oscar for impersonating Bela Lugosi (in Ed Wood (1994)) when Lugosi himself never came within a mile of one, but that's just the latest of many sad ironies surrounding Lugosi's career.Bela Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Dezsö Blaskó on October 20, 1882, Lugos, Hungary, Austria-Hungary (now Lugoj, Romania), to Paula de Vojnich and István Blaskó, a banker. He was the youngest of four children. During WWI, he volunteered and was commissioned as an infantry lieutenant, and was wounded three times.A distinguished stage actor in his native Hungary, Austria-Hungary, he ended up a drug-addicted pauper in Hollywood, thanks largely to typecasting brought about by his most famous role. He began his stage career in 1901 and started appearing in films during World War I, fleeing to Germany in 1919 as a result of his left-wing political activity (he organized an actors' union). In 1920 he emigrated to the US and made a living as a character actor, shooting to fame when he played Count Dracula in the legendary 1927 Broadway stage adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel. It ran for three years, and was subsequently, and memorably, filmed by Tod Browning in 1931, establishing Lugosi as one of the screen's greatest personifications of pure evil. Also in 1931, he became a U.S. citizen. Sadly, his reputation rapidly declined, mainly because he was only too happy to accept any part (and script) handed to him, and ended up playing pathetic parodies of his greatest role, in low-grade poverty row shockers. He ended his career working for the legendary Worst Director of All Time, Edward D. Wood Jr..Lugosi was married Ilona Szmik (1917 - 1920), Ilona von Montagh (? - ?), and Lillian Arch (1933 - 1951). He is the father of Bela Lugosi Jr. (1938). Lugosi helped organize the Screen Actors Guild in the mid-'30s, joining as member number 28.Bela Lugosi died of a heart attack August 16, 1956. He was buried in his full Dracula costume, including a cape. Hide

Every actor's greatest ambition is to create his own, definite and original role, a character with w Show more Every actor's greatest ambition is to create his own, definite and original role, a character with which he will always be identified. In my case, that role was Dracula. Hide

[to director Edward D. Wood Jr., on the set of one of his legendary turkeys] This is the most uncomf Show more [to director Edward D. Wood Jr., on the set of one of his legendary turkeys] This is the most uncomfortable coffin I've ever been in. Hide

I'll be truthful. The weekly paycheck is the most important thing to me. I'll be truthful. The weekly paycheck is the most important thing to me.

Never has a role so influenced and dominated an actor's role as has the role of Dracula. He [Dracula Show more Never has a role so influenced and dominated an actor's role as has the role of Dracula. He [Dracula] has, at times, infused me with prosperity and, at other times, he has drained me of everything. Hide

[on being typecast in villain roles] I find that, because of my language and gestures, that I am cat Show more [on being typecast in villain roles] I find that, because of my language and gestures, that I am cataloged as what you call a heavy. My accent stamped me, in the imagination of the producers, as an enemy. Therefore, I must be a heavy. Hide

I guess I'm pretty much of a lone wolf. I don't say I don't like people at all but, to tell you the Show more I guess I'm pretty much of a lone wolf. I don't say I don't like people at all but, to tell you the truth, I only like it then if I have a chance to look deep into their hearts and their minds. Hide

Circumstances made me the theatrical personality I am, which many people believe is also a part of m Show more Circumstances made me the theatrical personality I am, which many people believe is also a part of my personal life. Hide

In Hungary, acting is a career for which one fits himself as earnestly and studiously as one studies Show more In Hungary, acting is a career for which one fits himself as earnestly and studiously as one studies for a degree in medicine, law or philosophy. In Hungary, acting is a profession. Hide

If I had one per cent of the millions Dracula (1931) has made, I wouldn't be sitting here now. If I had one per cent of the millions Dracula (1931) has made, I wouldn't be sitting here now.

I'd like to quit the supernatural roles and play just an interesting, down-to-earth person. I'd like to quit the supernatural roles and play just an interesting, down-to-earth person.

[on playing Dracula] It's a living, but it's also a curse. It's Dracula's curse. [on playing Dracula] It's a living, but it's also a curse. It's Dracula's curse.

Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed. Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.

[in response to an interviewer question "Doesn't Dracula ever end for you?"] No. No. Dracula never e Show more [in response to an interviewer question "Doesn't Dracula ever end for you?"] No. No. Dracula never ends. I don't know if I should call it a fortune or a curse, but Dracula ever ends. Hide

Bela Lugosi's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (42)

King of Jazz

Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

The Phantom Creeps - Season 1

The Body Snatcher

Invisible Ghost

Capitalism: A Love Story

Terror in the Aisles

Ninotchka

One Body Too Many

The Wolf Man