August 16th Thread for Bela Lugosi [View All]

While August 16 is famous for being the annivesary of Elvis Presley's death, it also happens to be the anniversary of Bela Lugosi's.

Béla Lugosi was the stage name of actor Béla Ferenc Dezsõ Blaskó (October 20, 1882–August 16, 1956). He was born in Lugos, Transylvania, Austria-Hungary (now Lugoj, Romania), the youngest of four children of a banker.

Lugosi started his acting career on the stage in Hungary in several Shakespearean plays and other major roles; and also appeared in several silent films of the Cinema of Hungary under the stage name "Arisztid Olt". However, he became most notably known for his portrayal of Dracula in the American stage production, and subsequent film, of Bram Stoker's classic vampire story.

During World War I he served as an infantry lieutenant in the Austrian-Hungarian army.

He left from his native Hungary for Germany in 1919 after persecution following his complicity in the forming of an actor's union, and emigrated to the United States in 1921. On June 26, 1931, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States...

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bela_Lugosi



And, yes...at his own request, he was buried in one his Dracula capes.