The most famous bloodsucker
By: Gyöngyi Tünde

Béla Lugosi (20 October 1882 – 16 August 1956) was a Hungarian actor, well known for playing Count Dracula in the Broadway and in the film version as well.

Through his association with Dracula (in which he appeared with minimal makeup, using his natural, heavily accented voice), Lugosi found himself typecast as a horror villain in such movies as Murders in the Rue Morgue, Son of Frankenstein, White Zombie etc. His accent, while a part of his image, limited the roles he could play.

Lugosi did attempt to break type by auditioning for other roles. He lost out to Lionel Barrymore for the role of Rasputin in Rasputin and the Empress; C. Henry Gordon for the role of Surat Khan in Charge of Light Brigade etc.

Lugosi died of a heart attack on August 16, 1956 while lying on a couch in his Los Angeles home. He was 73.

Lugosi was buried wearing one of the Dracula stage play costumes, per the request of his son and fourth wife, in Culver City, California. Contrary to popular belief, Lugosi never requested to be buried in his cloak; Bela Lugosi, Jr. has confirmed on numerous occasions that he and his mother, Lillian, made the decision.