Bela Lugosi

Bela Lugosi created the image of a vampire for most people through his portrayal of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Bela was born Bela Blasko in Lugos, Hungary, some 50 miles from Transylvania. Lugosi, meaning "one of Lugos, is one of many stage names he used. He adopted the name Arisztid Olt for his appearance in The Lepoard He came to America when he was banned from Hungary for his political views. He played his first American role in 1922 before he learned to speak English. This role took him to his first movie role in 1923's The Silent Command. Lugosi first appeared as the famous vampire in a stage version of Dracula. Horace Liveright purchased the the American rights to the play. His producer John L. Balderston found Bela. The play ran for 40 weeks on Broadway. Lugosi continued with the play in a West Coast production. While working on it, he took on movie parts. When Universal Pictures negotiated the purchase, they used Lugosi as a selling point. Lugosi was somewhat insulted when he was not given the part automatically. Universal wanted Lon Chaney to play the part but he died soon after the negosiations with Florence Stoker, Bram Stoker's widow. Lugosi did earn the part makin $500 a week. Along with movie productions, he took on smaller roles as vampires. He played Dracula again in a vaudville production. He also portrayed a vampire in Mark of the vampire and London After Midnight. He returned to Dracula in Return of the Vampire, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Old Mother Riley Meets the Vampire, and Plan 9 from Outer Space.

Bela Lugosi as Dracula

Vampires In Movies
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