Origins & Early Life

Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), better known by his stage name Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian–American actor. He is best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the horror film classic Dracula (1931), Ygor in both Son of Frankenstein (1939) and Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and his roles in many other horror films from 1931 through 1956. Lugosi began acting on the Hungarian stage in 1902, appearing in more than 170 productions. Beginning in 1917, he performed in Hungarian silent films.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

During World War I, he served as an infantry officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1914 to 1916. After the failed Hungarian Communist Revolution of 1919, Lugosi was forced to immigrate to Germany due to his Socialist party activities. He acted in several films in Weimar Germany, before arriving in New Orleans as a seaman on a merchant ship, then making his way north to New York City and Ellis Island. In 1927, he starred as Dracula in a Broadway adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, moving with the play to the West Coast in 1928 and settling down in Hollywood. He later starred in the 1931 film version of Dracula directed by Tod Browning and produced by Universal Pictures...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Éamon de Valera — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Dominant Irish statesman, leading figure in the establishment of modern Irish governance.
• Anna Pavlova — Contemporary (Born in 1882) (1882): Iconic Russian prima ballerina, famed for 'The Dying Swan' and global tours.
• Alan Davis — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): English comic book writer and artist known for Captain Britain and X-Men work.
• Alan Eustace — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• Alfred Kinsey — Contemporary (Died in 1956) (1956): Pioneering sexologist whose research fundamentally shaped modern understanding of human sexuality.
• Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt — Shared historical date (10-20 · Born) (1877): American sportsman and businessman, known for his involvement in pioneering endeavors.
• Andrey Kolmogorov — Shared historical date (10-20 · Died) (1987): Pioneering Soviet mathematician central to modern probability, topology, and information theory.
• Alfredo Stroessner — Shared historical date (08-16 · Died) (2006): Paraguayan military dictator who ruled from 1954 to 1989, known for repression.
• Angela Bassett — Shared historical date (08-16 · Born) (1958): Esteemed American actress celebrated for powerful roles in film and television.
• 1882 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1882
• October 20 (10-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 20
• 1956 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1956
• August 16 (08-16) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 16