On this Date: Bela Lugosi Died (8/16/1956)

“Dark Legions – Vampires” Scarezone, Universal Studios Florida, 2012.

On this date in 1956, Bela Lugosi, the legendary horror film star, died of a heart attack in Los Angeles.

Lugosi’s defining role in “Dracula” (1931) made him a star. The film also played a large role in the success of the “Universal Monsters” movie series, and launched “the vampire” into pop culture, where it remains to this day. Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of Dracula also forever defined the popular image of the creature, as evident in the hordes of little Dracula clones that can be seen trick-or-treating each Halloween.

While the “pale, widows-peaked European gentleman” version of Dracula may not be considered current anymore, hints of Lugosi’s legacy can still be felt at Universal Studios and Halloween Horror Nights today. In fact, an updated homage to the character can still be seen today in Universal Orlando’s “Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue” show. Vampires also make regular appearances at Halloween Horror Nights, such as in the “Dark Legions – Vampires” roaming scareactor group at HHN 22 (seen above).

Bela Lugosi would go on to star in a number of other horror films (such as “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “Son of Frankenstein” and “White Zombie”), though he would be typecast as vampire-type characters for the rest of his career.

“Dark Legions – Vampires” photo by HHN Yearbook.. Bela Lugosi photo courtesy of Doctor Macro.