Béla Lugosi facts for kids

Béla Lugosi (born October 20, 1882 – died August 16, 1956) was a famous Hungarian-American actor. He was born in a place called Lugoj, which is now part of Romania. Lugosi became very well known for playing scary characters. His most famous role was Count Dracula in the Broadway play and later in the movie version from 1931.

He was a special kind of actor called a character actor. This means he often played unique and memorable roles, especially in horror movies. Besides Dracula, he also appeared in other spooky films like White Zombie.

Towards the end of his acting career, he worked in several low-budget films, some of which were directed by Ed Wood. Béla Lugosi passed away in Los Angeles, California, from a heart attack when he was 73 years old. His son is Bela G. Lugosi.

Who Was Béla Lugosi?

Béla Lugosi started his acting journey in Hungary. He performed in many plays before moving to the United States. He was a talented actor who could play many different kinds of people. However, he became most famous for his roles in scary movies.

He had a deep voice and a strong accent. These features made him perfect for playing mysterious and sometimes frightening characters. People often remember him for his intense eyes and serious expressions.

His Famous Role: Dracula

Béla Lugosi's most iconic role was Count Dracula. He first played this vampire character on stage in New York City. The play was a huge success. Because of his amazing performance, he was chosen to play Dracula in the 1931 movie.

The movie Dracula made him a worldwide star. His portrayal of the elegant but terrifying vampire became legendary. Even today, when people think of Dracula, they often picture Béla Lugosi. He set the standard for how the character should be played.

Other Spooky Roles

After Dracula, Lugosi continued to star in many other horror films. He often played villains, mad scientists, or strange creatures. Some of his other notable horror movies include White Zombie, The Black Cat, and The Raven.

He sometimes acted alongside other famous horror stars. One of his frequent co-stars was Boris Karloff. They appeared together in several classic monster movies. These films helped define the horror genre in the early days of cinema.

Later Career and Legacy

In the later part of his career, Béla Lugosi worked on many films. Some of these were smaller, independent movies. He even worked with a director named Ed Wood on films like Plan 9 from Outer Space. These movies were made with very small budgets.

What is a B-Movie?

A "B-movie" is a film that is made quickly and cheaply. They usually have a lower budget than big Hollywood movies. These films often explore different genres, including horror and science fiction. Even though they were low-budget, some B-movies became very popular.

Béla Lugosi's acting left a lasting mark on movies. He is remembered as one of the greatest horror actors of all time. His performances continue to scare and entertain audiences today. He showed how powerful an actor's presence can be on screen.

Images for kids

• 

  Lugosi at age 18

• 

  Bela Lugosi in 1920

• 

  Lugosi in Shadowland Magazine, 1923

• 

  Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula in 1931

• 

  Warner Oland and Lugosi in The Black Camel (1931)

• 

  Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in The Raven (1935)

• 

  Lugosi in Mark of the Vampire (1935) with Elizabeth Allen and Henry Wadsworth

• 

  Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster, Basil Rathbone as Dr. Frankenstein's son, and Lugosi as Ygor in Son of Frankenstein (1939)

• 

  Lon Chaney Jr. as Frankenstein's monster, Evelyn Ankers, and Lugosi as Ygor in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)

• 

  Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster and Lon Chaney Jr. as the Wolf Man in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)

• 

  Lobby card for The Ape Man (1943) with Lugosi and Minerva Urecal

• 

  Lugosi in The Devil Bat (1940)

• 

  Lugosi (center) with Polly Ann Young and Clarence Muse in The Invisible Ghost (1941)

• 

  Tor Johnson and Lugosi in Bride of the Monster (1956)

• 

  Lugosi in Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)

• 

  With first wife Ilona Szmik, 1917

• 

  Lugosi's grave at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California

• 

  Bust of Lugosi on Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest, Hungary.

• 

  Lugosi's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Béla Lugosi para niños