Bela Lugosi

Born
October 20, 1882 · Lugos, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary [now Lugoj, Timis County, Romania]
Died
August 16, 1956 · Los Angeles, California, USA (heart attack)
Birth name
Béla Ferenc Dezsõ Blaskó
Nicknames
- Adelbert
- Count Dracula
- The Master of Horror
- The Master of Menace
- Arisztid Olt
Height
6′ 1″ (1.85 m)

Black slicked back hair
Thick Hungarian accent
His suave--and often imitated--original portrayal of Count Dracula
Renowned for treating even the most ridiculous of material with immense respect and his aggressive work ethic
Sartorial elegance and regal bearing wearing a tuxedo

In 1929 he married a wealthy San Francisco widow named Beatrice Weeks, a union that lasted all of three days; their divorce named Clara Bow as the "other woman"--it was a media sensation and launched him into national notoriety.
His performance in Tod Browning's Dracula (1931) created such a sensation that he reportedly received more fan mail from females than even Clark Gable.
At the time of his death, Lugosi was in such poor financial straits that Frank Sinatra was rumored to have paid for his funeral. Actually, his widow Hope and ex-wife Lillian paid it; Sinatra's only connection to the aging actor was sending him a $1000 check during his drug rehabilitation. The rumor that Boris Karloff attended the funeral was also an urban myth, as he wasn't in California at the time.
His ex-wife Lilian and son had him buried in one of his many capes, but not the one from his role as the title character of Dracula (1931). It is a myth that he was buried in the original Dracula cape. His son still owns it, as he tried to auction it off in 2011 but the starting bid was too high, upwards of $1 million, leaving no room for fans to enjoy the bidding war.
He did not wear fangs when playing the title character in Dracula (1931). The same was true of Frank Langella in Dracula (1979).

I guess I'm pretty much of a lone wolf. I don't say I don't like people at all but, to tell you the truth, I only like them if I have a chance to look deep into their hearts and their minds. If I find there something, something worthwhile, some... some human kindness, some sympathy.
Circumstances made me the theatrical personality I am, which many people believe is also a part of my personal life.
Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.
I'd like to quit the supernatural roles and play just an interesting, down-to-earth person.
I'll be truthful. The weekly paycheck is the most important thing to me.