Profile of the Day: Bela Lugosi

Do you remember the first scary movie you ever saw? Today we remember horror movie icon Bela Lugosi, who was born on October 20, 1882 in Lugos, Hungary.

Image: Bela Lugosi / Wikimedia Commons

Dubbed the King of Horror, Lugosi was a dominant figure of 1930’s horror. He most notably portrayed Count Dracula, which to this day is still considered by many to be the definitive portrayal of the vampire legend.

Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Deszõ Blaskó on October 20, 1882 and was the youngest of four children. Around the age of 11, Lugosi left home and found work acting in traveling theater companies. He later joined the Hungarian National Theater and performed in plays throughout the country. During World War I, Lugosi joined the Austro-Hungarian Army. He received the Wound Medal for wounds he suffered while at the Russian front.

Forced to flee his home after the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1919, Lugosi made his way to the United States. He got his big break in 1927 when he landed the lead in the Broadway production of Dracula. He later reprised the role of Count Dracula in the highly successful film adaptation. To this day, Lugosi remains synonymous with the character.

Lugosi died on August 16, 1956 at the age of 73 and was buried wearing one of Dracula’s cape costumes.

View Bela Lugosi’s Geni Profile