orig. Blasko Béla Ferenc Dezsö
born Oct. 20, 1882, Lugos, Hung.
died Aug. 16, 1956, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.
Hungarian-born U.S. film actor.
He acted with the National Theatre in Budapest (191319) and appeared in German films before leaving for the U.S. in 1921. He directed and starred in the play Dracula in New York in 1927; he reprised the role, which was ideally suited for his aristocratic manner and heavy accent, in the movie Dracula (1931). His other horror movies include The Black Cat (1934), Mark of the Vampire (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943), and The Body Snatcher (1945). Lugosi declined into poverty and obscurity and eventually took roles in low-budget independent films. He was buried wearing the long, black cape that he had worn in Dracula .
Lugosi as Count Dracula
Culver Pictures