History Creator / BelaLugosi

Also rather well known for being [[Music/{{Bauhaus}} dead]]. It wasn't his idea, but he was buried in Dracula costume. Creator/PeterLorre, who attended the funeral, joked that they should drive a stake through his heart just in case.

* GallowsHumor: It's been attributed, to quite a few people, that Creator/PeterLorre said at Lugosi's funeral; "Should we put a stake through him... just in case?"

'''Bela Lugosi''' (October 20, 1882 -- August 16, 1956; born ''Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó'') was a Hungarian-born stage and screen actor mostly known for his work in horror movies, in particular the title role in the [[Film/{{Dracula 1931}} 1931 version]] of ''{{Dracula}}''. Following this film's success, he suffered severely from type-casting and the limitations of his heavy native accent, and spent the vast bulk of his career eking out a living in various low-budget productions, culminating (if that is the word) in his work with director [[{{Creator/EdWood}} Ed Wood]].

He worked on several occasions with/was overshadowed by [[{{Creator/BorisKarloff}} Boris Karloff]]. He managed to make a sort of comeback in death, however, when Martin Landau won an Oscar for his brilliant potrayal of Lugosi in [[{{Creator/TimBurton}} Tim Burton]]'s 1994 film ''Film/EdWood''.

Other notable or infamous movies in which he appeared: ''Film/WhiteZombie'', ''Film/MurdersInTheRueMorgue'', ''Film/TheWolfMan1941'', ''Film/SonOfFrankenstein'' (as Ygor, generally regarded as one of his best performances), ''Film/TheGhostOfFrankenstein'', ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetFrankenstein'', ''Film/GlenOrGlenda'' and ''Film/Plan9FromOuterSpace''. He also had a supporting role in the classic Creator/GretaGarbo comedy ''[[{{Film/Ninotchka}} Ninotchka]]'', and many ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' fans will also remember him from the serial ''The Phantom Creeps'' ([[MemeticMutation "Zees vill zimplify everytink!"]]), as well as the movie ''Film/BrideOfTheMonster'' ([[MemeticMutation "He tampered in God's domain"]]).

* RealityIsUnrealistic: Although more modern Dracula adaptations avoid imitating his accent like the plague, it may be the most accurate one, as historically Vlad Tapes was ethnically Hungarian.

Also rather well known for being [[Music/{{Bauhaus}} dead]]. Per his instructions, he was buried in Dracula costume. Creator/PeterLorre, who attended, joked that they should drive a stake through his heart just in case.

* IAmNotSpock: Subverted, as with Leonard Nimoy himself. Lugosi may have resented how thoroughly he would end up type-cast, but he was always rather fond of the role of Dracula and proud of making such an indelible mark on popular culture. He was even buried in his cape.

* Irony: Although more modern Dracula adaptations avoid imitating his accent like the plague, it may be the most accurate one, as historically Vlad Tapes was ethnically Hungarian.

* VampireVords: Ironically enough, he had no problems pronouncing his W's.

* VampiresAreSexGodsL He played Dracula as a seductive and charismatic villain.

* WhiteDwarfStarlet

* ClassicalMovieVampire: He was the original.

* HighCollarOfDoom: By wearing the collar of the black cape up in the stage play o f''Dracula'', turning around would blend in with the curtain and make it seem like he disappeared. In the movie version, he kept the collar up just for the heck of it, and high collars became an iconic part of the VillainousFashionSense.

* BadassCape

* CompellingVoice

* GallowsHumor: It's been attributed, to quite a few people, that Creator/PeterLorre said at Lugosi's funeral; "Should we put a stake through him...just in case?"

* Irony: Although more modern Dracula adaptations avoid imitating his accent like the plague...but it may be the most accurate one! Historically, Vlad Tapes was ethnically Hungarian.
* LargeHam: He made it work, though.

* VampiresAreSexGods

* WhiteDwarfStarlet

* IAmNotSpock: Subverted. Lugosi identified himself so much with the role of Dracula (despite only portraying him in two films) that he was buried in his cape.

Also rather well known for being [[Music/{{Bauhaus}} dead]].

'''Bela Lugosi''' (1882-1956; born ''Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó'') was a Hungarian-born stage and screen actor mostly known for his work in horror movies, in particular the title role in the [[Film/{{Dracula 1931}} 1931 version]] of ''{{Dracula}}''. Following this film's success, he suffered severely from type-casting and the limitations of his heavy native accent, and spent the vast bulk of his career eking out a living in various low-budget productions, culminating (if that is the word) in his work with director [[{{Creator/EdWood}} Ed Wood]].

* CreatorBacklash: Lugosi and Dracula. In his own words, Dracula ended up being both "a curse and a blessing".

* [[IAmNotSpock I Am Not Dracula]]

* TypeCasting: The posterboy of the trope, sadly.
** Lugosi before ''Dracula'' had been a romantic lead in European, mostly Hungarian, films during the Silent Era. The only time he managed to get such a role in the United States was in ''[[{{Film/Ninotchka}} Ninotchka]]''.
** PlayingAgainstType - Lugosi played the title hero in the serial "The Return of Chandu" (A sequel to the serial where Lugosi played Chandu's nemesis.).

* CatchPhrase:
** "I never drink.... '''''wine'''''."
** "Pull the strings!"

'''Bela Lugosi''' (1882-1956; born ''Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó'') was a Hungarian-born stage and screen actor mostly known for his work in horror movies, in particular the title role in the [[Film/{{Dracula}} 1931 version]] of ''{{Dracula}}''. Following this film's success, he suffered severely from type-casting and the limitations of his heavy native accent, and spent the vast bulk of his career eking out a living in various low-budget productions, culminating (if that is the word) in his work with director [[{{Creator/EdWood}} Ed Wood]].

Other notable or infamous movies in which he appeared: ''Film/WhiteZombie'', ''Film/MurdersInTheRueMorgue'', ''Film/TheWolfMan1941'', ''Film/SonOfFrankenstein'' (as Ygor, generally regarded as one of his best performances), ''Film/TheGhostOfFrankenstein'', ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetFrankenstein'', ''Film/GlenOrGlenda'' and ''Film/Plan9FromOuterSpace''. He also had a supporting role in the classic Greta Garbo comedy ''[[{{Film/Ninotchka}} Ninotchka]]'', and many ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' fans will also remember him from the serial ''The Phantom Creeps'' ([[MemeticMutation "Zees vill zimplify everytink!"]]), as well as the movie ''Film/BrideOfTheMonster'' ([[MemeticMutation "He tampered in God's domain"]]).

* BlackCloak: Buried with one, too, at his family's request.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/belalugosi02_978.png

* AllInTheEyes: Multiple movies would make good use out of an illuminated close-up of Lugosi's. Dracula aside, both White Zombie and its sequel (which Béla wasn't actually in, funny enough) used this effect.

* FakeShemp: In ''[[{{Film/Plan9FromOuterSpace}} Plan 9 From Outer Space]]''.
* GallowsHumor: It's been attributed, to quite a few people, that [[{{Creator/PeterLorre}} Peter Lorre]] said at Lugosi's funeral; "Should we put a stake through him...just in case?"

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/belalugosi02_978.png]]

* BlackCloak: Buried with one, too, at his request.

Other notable or infamous movies in which he appeared: ''Film/WhiteZombie'', ''Film/MurdersInTheRueMorgue'', ''Film/TheWolfMan1941'', ''Film/SonOfFrankenstein'' (as Ygor, generally regarded as one of his best performances), ''Film/TheGhostOfFrankenstein'', ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetFrankenstein'', ''Film/GlenOrGlenda'' and ''Film/Plan9FromOuterSpace''. He also had a supporting role in the classic Greta Garbo comedy ''{{Ninotchka}}'', and many ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' fans will also remember him from the serial ''The Phantom Creeps'' ([[MemeticMutation "Zees vill zimplify everytink!"]]), as well as the movie ''Film/BrideOfTheMonster'' ([[MemeticMutation "He tampered in God's domain"]]).

** Lugosi before ''Dracula'' had been a romantic lead in European, mostly Hungarian, films during the Silent Era. The only time he managed to get such a role in the United States was in ''Ninotchka''.

'''Bela Lugosi''' (1882-1956; born ''Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó'') was a Hungarian-born stage and screen actor mostly known for his work in horror movies, in particular the title role in the [[Film/{{Dracula}} 1931 version]] of ''{{Dracula}}''. Following this film's success, he suffered severely from type-casting and the limitations of his heavy native accent, and spent the vast bulk of his career eking out a living in various low-budget productions, culminating (if that is the word) in his work with director Creator/EdWood.

He worked on several occasions with/was overshadowed by BorisKarloff. He managed to make a sort of comeback in death, however, when Martin Landau won an Oscar for his brilliant potrayal of Lugosi in TimBurton's 1994 film ''Film/EdWood''.

Other notable or infamous movies in which he appeared: ''Film/WhiteZombie'', ''Film/MurdersInTheRueMorgue'', ''Film/TheWolfMan1941'', ''Film/SonOfFrankenstein'' (as Ygor, generally regarded as one of his best performances), ''Film/TheGhostOfFrankenstein'', ''Film/AbbottAndCostelloMeetFrankenstein'', ''GlenOrGlenda'' and ''Film/Plan9FromOuterSpace''. He also had a supporting role in the classic Greta Garbo comedy ''{{Ninotchka}}'', and many ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' fans will also remember him from the serial ''The Phantom Creeps'' ([[MemeticMutation "Zees vill zimplify everytink!"]]), as well as the movie ''Film/BrideOfTheMonster'' ([[MemeticMutation "He tampered in God's domain"]]).

* FakeShemp: In Plan9FromOuterSpace.
* GallowsHumor: It's been attributed, to quite a few people, that PeterLorre said at Lugosi's funeral; "Should we put a stake through him...just in case?"