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Bela Lugosi

Acting Born Oct 17, 1882 Died Aug 16, 1956 Lugos, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary [now Lugoj, Timis County, Romania] 160 credits

Biography

Bela Lugosi, born on 17 October 1882 in Lugos, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary, was a Hungarian male actor whose career spanned stage, screen, and television. He was professionally known by the stage name Lugosi Béla and is recorded as having appeared in 160 credited performances across various media. Lugosi’s work was principally in acting, and he remained active in the field throughout his life. He died on 16 August 1956 at the age of 73. His contributions to the performing arts are documented in the TMDB database, which lists his personal details, gender, birth and death dates, birthplace, stage name, primary occupation, and the number of known credits.

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Career

Career overview

Bela Lugosi, born Blaskó Béla Ferenc Dezső in Lugos, Kingdom of Hungary, built a prolific career across stage, screen, and television. Adopting the stage name Lugosi Béla, he amassed more than one hundred and fifty credited performances, reflecting a versatile presence in the entertainment industry. His work spanned a wide range of productions, establishing him as a recognizable figure in both live theatre and early cinematic ventures.

Lugosi’s most enduring legacy stems from his portrayal of Count Dracula in the 1931 film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. This performance cemented his reputation as an iconic horror actor and remains a defining moment in film history. Throughout his career, he continued to appear in numerous roles, contributing to a total of 160 known credits that illustrate his sustained activity in the performing arts.

He remained active in his profession until his death on August 16, 1956, at the age of 73. Lugosi’s body of work, marked by his distinctive screen presence and theatrical experience, continues to be referenced for its impact on genre filmmaking and the enduring image of the vampire archetype.

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Frequent co-stars

Career timeline

Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies
Falcatus · In Memory OfA Brief History of Porn Cinema with Bela Lugosi
Moonage Daydream
Lugosi: The Forgotten King of Horror
Extraordinary Tales
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
The Trail of Dracula
Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen VampireSpine Tingler! The William Castle StoryFamous Monster: Forrest J AckermanTerror in the Pharaoh's Tomb
Terror in the TropicsLugosi: The Dark Prince
The Tell Tale Heart
Ed Wood: Making BelaMonster Movie Trivia QuizEd Wood: Let's Shoot This @#!%
Hollywood Ghosts & Gravesites
Heroes of Horror
The American NightmareThe Many Faces of DraculaMummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
Universal Horror
Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
The Our Gang StoryAbbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Homo Promo
Innocent BloodDracula in the MoviesDeath Scenes 2
Dracula: A Cinematic ScrapbookHalloween Monster BashFrankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic DeathsAbbott and Costello in the Movies
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Amazon Women on the Moon
Lugosi: The Forgotten KingClassic Comedy Teams
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare FootageThe Horror of It All

Full filmography

  • Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies (2025) as Self - (archive footage)
  • Falcatus (2023) In Memory Of
  • A Brief History of Porn Cinema with Bela Lugosi (2023) as Host
  • Moonage Daydream (2022) as Self (archive footage)
  • Lugosi: The Forgotten King of Horror (2016) as Self (archive footage)
  • Extraordinary Tales (2015) as Narrator (voice) (segment 'The Tell-Tale Heart')
  • Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film (2014) as Dracula / Dr. Werdegast / Count Mora (archive footage)
  • The Trail of Dracula (2013) as Self (Archival Footage)
  • Dracula: The Vampire and the Voivode (2011) as Dracula (archive footage)
  • Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire (2007) as Himself (archive footage)
  • Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007) as Self (archive)
  • Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007) as Self (archive footage)
  • Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb (2007) as Riley Chandler (archive footage)
  • Terror in the Tropics (2006) as Vitus Tesla (archive footage)
  • Lugosi: The Dark Prince (2006) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Tell Tale Heart (2005) as Narrator
  • Ed Wood: Making Bela (2004) as Self / Count Dracula (archive footage)
  • Monster Movie Trivia Quiz (2004)
  • Ed Wood: Let's Shoot This @#!% (2004) as Self (archive footage)
  • Hollywood Ghosts & Gravesites (2003) as (archive footage)
  • Heroes of Horror (2001) as (archive footage)
  • The American Nightmare (2000) as Self
  • The Many Faces of Dracula (2000) as Dracula (archive footage)
  • Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (2000) as Self (archive footage)
  • Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999) as Self (archive footage)
  • Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl (1999) as Self (archive footage)
  • Universal Horror (1998) as (archive footage)
  • Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (1997) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1996) as Himself (archive footage)
  • Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons (1995) as Self / Dracula (archive footage)
  • The Our Gang Story (1994) as Self (archive footage)
  • Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld (1994) as Self (archive footage)
  • Homo Promo (1993) as (Archival)
  • Innocent Blood (1992) as Count Dracula (archive footage)
  • Dracula in the Movies (1992) as (archive footage)
  • Death Scenes 2 (1992) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991) as Count Dracula / Count Mora / Nardo / Leonide Von Housen / Tesla
  • Halloween Monster Bash (1991) as Dr. Feodor Orloff /Dr. Charles Kessler /Dr. Lorenz /Dr. James Brewster (archive footage)
  • Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991) as The Monster / Ygor (archive footage)
  • Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths (1990) as (archive footage)
  • Abbott and Costello in the Movies (1990) as Outtake
  • Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (1988) as (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) as Pete Jones (segment "Reckless Youth") (archive footage)
  • Lugosi: The Forgotten King (1986) as (archive footage)
  • Classic Comedy Teams (1986) as Emil (segment "Ghosts On The Loose") (archive footage)
  • Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Dracula in 'Screen Snapshots A-8' (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • The Horror of It All (1983) as Dracula / Joseph / Legendre (archive footage)
  • Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! (1982) as Self (archive footage)
  • Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!) (1980)
  • The Horror Show (1979) as (archive footage)
  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute (1974) as Self (archive footage)
  • The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
  • Head (1968) as Dr. Vitus Werdegast (Archival Footage) (uncredited)
  • The World of Abbott and Costello (1965) as Count Dracula (archive footage)
  • Dracula (1963) as Count Dracula (archive footage)
  • Lock Up Your Daughters (1959)
  • Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957) as Ghoul Man
  • The Black Sleep (1956) as Casimir
  • Bride of the Monster (1955) as Dr. Eric Vornoff
  • Glen or Glenda (1953) as Scientist
  • Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952) as Dr. Zabor
  • Mother Riley Meets the Vampire (1952) as Von Housen
  • Suspense (1949) as Gen. Fortunato
  • The Phantom Creeps (1949) as Dr. Alex Zorka
  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) as Dracula
  • Scared to Death (1947) as Prof Leonide
  • Genius at Work (1946) as Stone
  • The Body Snatcher (1945) as Joseph
  • Zombies on Broadway (1945) as Dr. Paul Renault
  • Return of the Ape Man (1944) as Prof. Dexter
  • Voodoo Man (1944) as Dr. Richard Marlowe
  • One Body Too Many (1944) as Murkil
  • Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) as The Frankenstein Monster
  • The Return of the Vampire (1943) as Armand Tesla
  • Ghosts on the Loose (1943) as Emil
  • The Ape Man (1943) as Dr. James Brewster
  • Black Dragons (1942) as Dr. Melcher/ Monsieur Colomb
  • The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) as Ygor
  • Night Monster (1942) as Rolf
  • The Corpse Vanishes (1942) as Dr. Lorenz
  • Bowery at Midnight (1942) as Prof. Frederick Brenner aka Karl Wagner
  • The Wolf Man (1941) as Bela
  • Spooks Run Wild (1941) as Nardo
  • The Black Cat (1941) as Eduardo Vidos
  • Invisible Ghost (1941) as Dr. Charles Kessler
  • Black Friday (1940) as Eric Marnay
  • The Devil Bat (1940) as Dr. Paul Carruthers
  • You'll Find Out (1940) as Prince Saliano
  • The Saint's Double Trouble (1940) as Partner
  • Ninotchka (1939) as Commissar Razinin
  • Son of Frankenstein (1939) as Ygor
  • The Phantom Creeps (1939) as Dr. Alex Zorka / Dr. Zane
  • The Gorilla (1939) as Peters
  • The Dark Eyes of London (1939) as Dr. Feodor Orloff / Prof. John Dearborn
  • SOS Coast Guard (1937) as Boroff
  • The Invisible Ray (1936) as Dr. Felix Benet
  • Postal Inspector (1936) as Gregory Benez
  • Shadow of Chinatown (1936) as Victor Poten
  • Shadow of Chinatown (1936) as Victor Poten
  • Mark of the Vampire (1935) as Count Mora
  • The Raven (1935) as Dr. Richard Vollin
  • Murder by Television (1935) as Arthur Perry
  • The Mysterious Mr. Wong (1935) as Mr. Fu Wong aka Lysee
  • The Best Man Wins (1935) as Doc Boehm
  • Chandu on the Magic Island (1935) as Frank Chandler (Chandu)
  • The Mystery of the Mary Celeste (1935) as Anton Lorenzen
  • The Black Cat (1934) as Dr. Vitus Werdegast
  • Gift of Gab (1934) as Himself
  • Screen Snapshots No. 11 (1934) as Himself
  • The Return of Chandu (1934) as Frank Chandler (Chandu)
  • The Devil's in Love (1933) as Military Prosecutor
  • Night of Terror (1933) as Degar
  • International House (1933) as General Petronovich
  • Hollywood on Parade No. A-8 (1933) as Dracula
  • The Whispering Shadow (1933) as Professor Adam Anton Strang
  • Island of Lost Souls (1932) as The Sayer of the Law
  • Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) as Dr. Mirakle
  • White Zombie (1932) as Legendre
  • Chandu the Magician (1932) as Roxor
  • The Death Kiss (1932) as Joseph Steiner
  • Dracula (1931) as Count Dracula
  • Drácula (1931) as Count Dracula (archive footage) (uncredited)
  • Intimate Interviews: Bela Lugosi (1931) as Himself
  • Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3) (1931) as Self
  • The Black Camel (1931) as Tarneverro
  • 50 Million Frenchmen (1931) as Orizon - Magician
  • Women of All Nations (1931) as Prince Hassan
  • Broadminded (1931) as Pancho Arango
  • Oh, for a Man! (1930) as Frescatti
  • King of Jazz (1930) as Emcee - Hungarian Version
  • Renegades (1930) as The Marabout - Sheik Muhammed Halid
  • Such Men Are Dangerous (1930) as Dr. Goodman
  • Wild Company (1930) as Felix Brown
  • Viennese Nights (1930) as Count von Ratz--Hungarian Ambassador
  • The Thirteenth Chair (1929) as Inspector Delzante
  • Prisoners (1929) as Brottos--Nightclub Owner
  • The Veiled Woman (1929) as Murdered Suitor
  • How to Handle Women (1928) as Diplomat's Aide (uncredited)
  • The Midnight Girl (1925) as Nicholas Harmon
  • Daughters Who Pay (1925) as Serge Romonsky
  • He Who Gets Slapped (1924) as Extra (uncredited)
  • The Rejected Woman (1924) as Jean Gagnon
  • The Silent Command (1923) as Hisston
  • Deerslayer (1920) as Chingachgook
  • Caravan of Death (1920) as Scheik
  • Sklaven fremden Willens (1920) as Professor Mors
  • Daughter of the Night (1920) as Andrew Fleurot
  • The Head of Janus (1920) as Warren's Butler
  • Daughter of the Night 2 (1920) as Andrew Fleurot
  • Die Teufelsanbeter (1920)
  • Die Frau im Delphin, oder 30 Tage auf dem Meeresgrund (1920) as Tom Bill
  • Lulu (1918)
  • The Leopard (1918)
  • The Royal Life (1918) as Lord Henry Wotton
  • Álarcosbál (1918)
  • 99 (1918) as Kurt Lingner
  • Spring Tempest (1918) as Renner
  • Homo Promo as (Archival)