Bela Lugosi Biography, Filmography, Pictures

25 September

Bela Lugosi Biography, Filmography, Pictures

Author: Sami / Category: Celebrity Biography, L

Bela Lugosi Biography, Filmography, Pictures No Halloween party is complete without presence of one or two Count Dracula. The role has been played by many actors, but no one can match the original Dracula Mr. Bela Lugosi. Youngest of four children, Bela was born in 1882, in Lugos outside the western border of Transylvania. His father was a banker. But he had a profound interest in the acting. In 1901 he dropped out from school and started acting in small parts in theater. His hard work paid off, and he got recognized and got bigger leading roles in the plays. Later Bela Lugosi moved to Budapest to join the National Theater of Hungary. From there he became the leading actor in the Hungary’s Royal National Theater. Known to play violin in Hollywood, he once played the role of Jesus Christ.

Bela Lugosi served in the army in the World War 1 as Infantry Lieutenant. For his bravery and courage he was awarded the national medal of Hungary. At this time of his life, He had very strong in his views. And his first marriage ended in divorce in 1920 over the political differences. Bela Lugosi was loved and admired by his fellow actors in Hungary. He started to work for their benefits. The adverse change in the political setup forced him to go to Vienna, Austria. After a few acting jobs in Germany he moved to United States. In here he also started a touring theater for Hungarian immigrants.

The immortal fame came when Bela Lugosi started to work in Broadway. His work there includes “The red Puppy” and “The Devil in the Cheese”. In 1927 he was offered the role of Dracula. This was most the successful and popular role played by him in his entire career. The show had more then 260 performances. After this Hollywood was the next destination. His second marriage to the wealthy widow Beatrice Weeks ended due the actress “Clara Bow” as other woman.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Bela Lugosi was given the role of Dracula by Universal Studios after the death of their first choice Lon Chaney. His heavy accent and looks were suitable to the role. With his powerful performance Lugosi has made Dracula immortal and timeless. Bela Lugosi did many roles that were inspired by Dracula. As an actor he tried his best to try different roles like character of Rasputin, Surat Khan and Commissioner Dimitri Gorotchenko. Huge success of Dracula had made it difficult for him to get other roles, the actor in him become restless.

It is commonly understood and popular belief that he rejected the role in Frankenstein. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff were having professional rivalry. Boris was offered higher salary compared to Bela. The type casting and his lasting image as Dracula made it harder for him to get other roles. But he kept on working on Dracula related movies. The run of the mill work made him depressed and he took refuge in drugs. But towards the end of his life he got into rehabilitation. He was survived by one son. Bela Lugosi was indeed a great actor.

Filmography

Dracula Stamp Plan 9 from Outer Space 1959 Ghoul Man
The Black Sleep 1956 Casimir
Bride of the Monster 1955 Dr. Eric Vornoff
Glen or Glenda 1953 Scientist
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla 1952 Dr. Zabor
Mother Riley Meets the Vampire 1952 Von Housen
Suspense- The Cask of Amontillado 1949 TV Episode
Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein 1948 Count Dracula
Scared to Death 1947 Prof. Leonide
Genius at Work 1946 Stone
The Body Snatcher 1945 Joseph
Zombies on Broadway 1945 Dr. Paul Renault
One Body Too Many 1944 Murkil
Return of the Ape Man 1944 Prof. Dexter
Voodoo Man 1944 Dr.Richard Marlowe
The Return of the Vampire 1944 Armand Tesla/Dr. Hugo Bruckner
Ghosts on the Loose 1943 Emil
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man 1943 The Frankenstein Monster
The Ape Man 1943 Dr. James Brewster
Bowery at Midnight 1942 Prof. Frederick Brenner alias Karl Wagner
Night Monster 1942 Rolf
The Corpse Vanishes 1942 Dr. Lorenz
S.O.S. Coast Guard 1942 Boroff
The Ghost of Frankenstein 1942 Ygor
Black Dragons 1942 Dr. Melcher/Monsieur Colomb
The Wolf Man 1941 Bela
Spooks Run Wild 1941 Nardo
The Black Cat 1941 Eduardo
Invisible Ghost 1941 Charles Kessler
You’ll Find Out 1940 Prince Saliano
The Devil Bat 1940 Dr. Paul Carruthers
Black Friday 1940 Eric Marnay
The Saint’s Double Trouble 1940 The Partner
The Dark Eyes of London 1940 Dr. Feodor Orloff/Prof. John Dearborn
Ninotchka 1939 Commissar Razinin
The Gorilla 1939 Peters the Butler
Son of Frankenstein 1939 Ygor
The Phantom Creeps 1939 Dr. Alex Zorka
S.O.S. Coast Guard 1937 Boroff alias M.A. Anderson
Shadow of Chinatown 1936 Victor Poten
Postal Inspector 1936 Gregory Benez
The Invisible Ray 1936 Dr. Felix Benet
Murder by Television 1935 Arthur Perry
The Raven 1935 Dr. Richard Vollin
The Mystery of the Marie Celeste 1935 Anton Lorenzen
Mark of the Vampire 1935 Count Mora
The Best Man Wins 1935 Doc Boehm
Chandu on the Magic Island 1935 Frank Chandler alias Chandu
The Mysterious Mr. Wong 1934 Mr. Fu Wong aka Lysee
The Return of Chandu 1934 Frank Chandler aka Chandu the Magician
Gift of Gab 1934 Cameo Appearance
The Black Cat 1934 Dr. Vitus Werdegast
The Devil’s in Love 1933 Military Prosecutor
International House 1933 Gen. Nicholas Petronovich
Night of Terror 1933 Degar
The Whispering Shadow 1933 Prof. Anton Strang
Island of Lost Souls 1933 Sayer of the Law
The Death Kiss 1932 Joseph Steiner
Chandu the Magician 1932 Roxor
White Zombie 1932 ‘Murder’ Legendre
Murders in the Rue Morgue 1932 Dr. Mirakle
Broadminded 1931 Pancho
The Black Camel 1931 Tarneverro
Women of All Nations 1931 Prince Hassan
50 Million Frenchmen 1931 Stage Magician
Dracula 1931 Count Dracula
Oh, for a Man 1930 Frescatti
Viennese Nights 1930 Count von Ratz the Hungarian Ambassador
Renegades 1930 Marabout
Wild Company 1930 Felix Brown
Such Men Are Dangerous 1930 Dr. Erdmann
The Thirteenth Chair 1929 Inspector Delzante
Prisoners 1929 Brottos the Nightclub Owner
The Veiled Woman 1929 Murdered suitor
How to Handle Women 1928 uncredited
Punchinello 1926 Harlequin
Daughters Who Pay 1925 Serge Oumansky
The Midnight Girl 1925 Nicholas Schuyler
He Who Gets Slapped 1924 Clown Extra
The Rejected Woman 1924 Jean Gagnon
The Silent Command 1923 Hisston
Ihre Hoheit die Tänzerin 1922
Apachenrache 3. Teil – Die verschwundene Million 1921
The Last of the Mohicans 1920 Indian
Todeskarawane Die 1920 Scheik
Lederstrumpf 2. Teil: Der Letzte der Mohikaner 1920 Chingachook
Auf den Trümmern des Paradieses 1920
Fluch der Menschheit – 2. Im Rausche der Milliarden Der 1920
Lederstrumpf 1. Teil: Der Wildtöter und Chingachgook 1920 Chingachgook
Januskopf Der 1920 Dr. Warren’s Butler
Nat Pinkerton im Kampf 1. Teil – Das Ende des Artisten Bartolini 1920 Gang Leader
Tanz auf dem Vulkan – 2. Der Tod des Großfürsten Der 1920
Tanz auf dem Vulkan – 1. Sybil Young Der 1920 Andrew Fleurot
Hypnose 1920
Fluch der Menschheit – 1. Die Tochter der Arbeit Der 1920 Reckless Saboteur
Teufelsanbeter Die 1920
Frau im Delphin oder 30 Tage auf dem Meeresgrund Die 1920
99 1918 as Béla Lugosi
Élet királya Az 1918 as Arisztid Olt Lord Henry Wotton
Lili 1918 as Arisztid Olt Plinchard/General
Küzdelem a létért 1918 as Arisztid Olt Orlay Pál építész
Tavaszi vihar 1918
Álarcosbál 1918
Casanova 1918 as Olt Arisztid
Lulu 1918 as Béla Lugosi
A Régiséggyüjtö 1917 as Arisztid Olt
Leoni Leo 1917 as Arisztid Olt Leoni Leo
Nászdal 1917 Bertram
Ezredes Az 1917