The life, times and personal challenges of one of the horror cinema's 's most favorite stars.
Bela Lugosi: Count Dracula Forever
Although the role of Count Dracula has been played by numerous actors over the years both on Broadway and on screen, the vampire star of all time is and can only be Hungarian-born Bela Lugosi who first brought the role to the celluloid screen. In an ironic twist of fate, if Lon Chaney hadn't died, Lugosi would never have landed the part, which soared him to fame and immortality.
When he first began his American acting career in 1920 after fleeing Hungary because of his left-wing activity, the former World War One infantry lieutenant who was wounded three times in battle could not speak English and had to learn his parts phonetically.
His was a star that rose quickly and dramatically fell due to a morphine addiction he tried his best to conceal. Lugosi lived for the role of Dracula and so identified with the part that his final request, to be buried in full Count Dracula garb was fulfilled by his family. Horror co-stars Vincent Price and Peter Lorre attended the great star's funeral back in August of 1956 after a heart attack claimed his life. It was reported that Peter Lorre upon viewing his friend's casket turned to Price and said: "Should we drive a stake through his heart, just in case?"
It is likely such a comment would have made the sad Hungarian smile.
Read about the life of this fascinating star of stage and screen.
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