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Draculais the saint of repulsion fibre , and a large number of actors have portrayed him across all sensitive . With his pale hide , penetrative fangs and pointed ear , the blood - sucking ogre has persisted as the embodiment of thevampire archetypefor well over a century , despite the great variety of incarnations he has go through . Dracula is so versatile that he fits in horror movies , activity - make full blockbuster , comedies , and dramatic telecasting show , as well as in the eye of an ensemble dramatis personae , usually sharing the blind with other fellow classic monsters like Frankenstein ’s demon and the Wolfman .
The emblematic vampire has his stemma in Bram Stoker ’s gothic horror novelDracula , originally published in 1897 . It severalize the story from the point of view of Jonathan Harker , a lawyer who travels to Count Dracula ’s castle in Transylvania to facilitate him move to England . When Dracula pose eye on Harker ’s fiancée Mina and bites her , Harker draft the help ofProfessor Abraham Van Helsingto push him .
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Bram Stoker ’s novel enjoyed considerable success at the time of its publication , but the vehicle that really impel Dracula to global fame was the staggering amount of motion-picture show adaptations that set off with the deep in thought filmDracula ’s Deathin 1921 andNosferatuin 1922 . Since then , several movies and shows have put their own twist on the legend . Here are the most remarkable actors who have land the undead nobleman to life .
Max Schreck (Nosferatu, 1922)
Nosferatu , The first major photographic film to conform Bram Stoker ’s novel , could n’t afford the right to it . However , it managed to become a historic turning point in German Expressionism and in the history of cinema as a whole . rather of Dracula , the vampire was namedCount Orlok , played by Max Schreck . His denuded pass , hunched back , and sharp front teeth differ greatly from future Dracula interpretations , and the shadows he casts in the wall of his castle might be the most recognizable shadows in film history .
Although the lamia ’s name is n’t Dracula , Nosferatushares so many attribute with Bram Stoker ’s novel that the author ’s wife successfully sued for copyright infringement . Yet , Count Orlok originated so many iconic peculiarities that he also created his own prototype of vampire . In fact , 1979’sNosferatu The Vampyredrew heavily from the successful 1922 knockoff , despite Klaus Kinski ’s freak being able to call himself Dracula .
Bela Lugosi (Universal Classic Monsters)
Bela Lugosi is certainly the thespian responsible for bringing Dracula to horror icon status . He first portrayed the vampiric reckoning in a 1927 Broadway adaption of the novel before appearing in Universal ’s 1931 cinema version . Despite his clayey accent mark , natural power to create a sense of mystery , and late experience play the character reference , he was n’t Universal ’s first choice . But once he was contrive in the film , he displayed such a stunning rendering of all of the original case ’s trait that he at once becamethe definitive Dracula — so much so that he struggled to escape the role for the rest of his living .
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His performances are so organically sinister that his sole appearance became synonymous with Dracula even without having to show his fangs , and associate so much with the audience that even his hair’s-breadth became a staple of the fictional character . Curiously enough , he only really portray Dracula on the big screen in 1931’sDraculaand 1948’sAbbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein . The rest ofBela Lugosi ’s like roleswere as Frankenstein ’s monster , the hunchback Ygor , and plenty of other Dracula - inspired vampire .
John Carradine (1944-1966)
First replacing Bela Lugosi forHouse of Frankensteinin 1944 , John Carradine joined Dracula ’s earliest stage set of actor . In that movie , his alter ego is Baron Latos , and he ’s revived by the mad scientist Doctor Niemann ( played by original Frankenstein freak player Boris Karloff ) along with the Wolfman ( Lon Chaney Jr. ) andFrankenstein ’s monster(Glenn Strange ) . He did a good job at following Bela Lugosi ’s model execution , but the movie did n’t do him any favour by kill him early in the story . He reprised the role forHouse of Draculain 1945 and move around to the Wild West in the 1966 crossover filmBilly The Kid vs. Dracula .
Christopher Lee (Hammer Films, 1958-1973)
Dracula is just one of themany iconic roles that made Sir Christopher Lee a fabled actor . Before he cemented Dracula in soda culture for a new multiplication , he played Frankenstein ’s monster inThe Curse of Frankenstein(1957 ) , which put him in good terms with Hammer Films , the film production company that popularise horror in the fifties . This successful functioning was come after byHorror of Draculain 1958 . Lee received decisive and popular acclamation for his ability to depict the gross counterbalance of sensuality , deadliness , and fear .
In the next few age , he reprised the role with Hammer Films inDracula : Prince of Darkness(1966),Dracula Has Risen from the Grave(1968),Taste the stock of Dracula(1970 ) , andScars of Dracula(1970 ) , though his presence as the lamia was diminished . Christopher Leeexpressed dashing hopes with Hammer ’s handling of the character , but he returned for two last films that brought Dracula to the modern era : Dracula A.D. 1972andThe Satanic Rites of Dracula(1973 ) , which underperformed both critically and commercially .
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Al Lewis (The Munsters, 1964-1966)
The terrible Count Dracula also found a domicile in the sitcom format with the highly successful CBS showThe Munsters . The eccentric kinfolk included Herman ( Fred Gwynne encounter a " family man " version of Frankenstein ’s monster ) , Lily ( Yvonne de Carlo spoofing a vampiress ) , and the little wolfman Eddie ( Butch Patrick ) . The senior of the family was Grandpa , an extremely old and sarcastic version of Dracula portray by Al Lewis . Although he ’s always called " Grandpa " , his real identicalness of " Vladimir Dracula , Count of Transylvania " is often used for ego - referential jokes throughout the serial publication .
Frank Langella (Dracula, 1979)
After starring in the successful Broadway version of Bram Stoker ’s novel , which earned him a Tony Award , Frank Langella made the jump to the swelled screen in 1979 with John Badham’sDracula . Langella ’s performance abide out from his predecessors ' for switching the character ’s typical sinister behavior in rally for titillating elegance and sex appeal . The film earned a Saturn Award for Best Horror Film and Langella earned a nomination for Best Actor .
Gary Oldman (Bram Stoker’s Dracula, 1992)
Right bel0w Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee , Gary Oldman is widely regarded as the best Dracula ever put to film . As the movie ’s title suggests , Francis Ford Coppola ’s retelling of the legendary Gothic tale stuck close to Bram Stoker ’s roots . consequently , Gary Oldman ’s performance as Draculaleaned more towards a creepier reading of a bizarre old man rather than the clear - cut monster of Lugosi and Lee . With a sensation - studded cast that included Anthony Hopkins as Abraham Van Helsing , Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker , and Winona Ryder as Mina Harker , it ’s Gary Oldman ’s execution as Count Dracula the one that has found a place in the rich account of the lamia .
Leslie Nielsen (Dracula: Dead and Loving It, 1995)
funniness star Leslie Nielsen , jazz for his acclaimed performances inAirplane!andThe Naked Gun , tried to go on his successful streak of lampoon movies with the part ofDraculain 1995 . However , the film was shunned by critics , who knock Nielsen ’s uncharacteristic lack of canny humor . Still , this role is one of many coaction with conductor Mel Brooks that ’s looked back at with fondness .
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Rudolf Martin (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, 2000)
A show calledBuffy the Vampire Slayercouldn’t have existed without at least mentioning the most famous vampire of all . However , Dracula is just present in the serial . He first appears in the 5th season ’s premiere , competently titledBuffy vs Dracula . Rudolf Martin limn the scoundrel as a seductive and sinewy vampire , but instead of siding against the heroes , he apace becomes a favorable ally as Buffy ’s adventure progresses . He reappears in the comic book good continuation of the serial , this meter even more amicable than in the TV show .
Gerard Butler (Dracula 2000)
Gerard Butler ’s portrayal of Dracula gained an unexpected degree of popularity for all the wrong reasons . His audition tape for the role is particularly sticky and his performance in the picture show is n’t generally consider much effective . As the title implies , Dracula 2000resurrects the lamia at the scratch line of the fresh millennium , with a gothic rock soundtrack to go with it . Butler play a more aggressive version of the character reference , who is revealed to be Judas Iscariot .
Dominic Purcell (Blade Trinity, 2004)
Marvel ’s very own vampire hunterBlade come out a successful film trilogyin 1998 , with a similarly lucrative sequel in 2000 . regrettably , the third episode suffered a steep declension , and the rush inclusion of Dracula did n’t help it . Played byPrison Breakstar Dominic Purcell , this version of Dracula has been one of the most monstrous - looking to escort . Nicknamed Drake , he has been hiding in plain sight for centuries until he meets the only other vampire who can survive under the sunshine : Blade ( Wesley Snipes ) . alas , the small quality of the film mean this Dracula ’s potential difference go to wastefulness .
Thomas Kretschmann (Dracula 3D, 2012)
Directed by renownedhorror director Dario Argento , Dracula 3Dadapts Bram Stoker ’s novel with a more exact take on the source cloth than its four predecessor . alas , the plot stumbles when the focal point is given to the visual effects , which also lack the target in quality terminus . While the movie run out to live up to former adaption , Kretschmann redeem it with his execution as a troubled Count Dracula , though he lacks most of the charm and mystery of previous histrion . One class later , Kretschmann went on to play Professor Van Helsing in the 2013 British TV adjustment ofDracula .
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Luke Evans (Dracula Untold, 2014)
As an endeavor to launch a modernized share cosmos of Universal ’s Greco-Roman monsters , the activeness movieDracula Untoldfocused on Dracula ’s pedigree story , choose to be a prequel story for Bram Stoker ’s novel for the first sentence ever . Luke Evans stars as Vlad the Impaler , a powerful prince who turn over into a vampiric monster for protect his realm and his sept from a alien army . Luke Evans ' Dracula also innovates the character as a hero , with barely any traces of the eery fiend he ’s destined to become . Unfortunately , the movie did n’t run across expectations andfailed to kick back off Universal ’s Dark Universe .
Christian Camargo (Penny Dreadful, 2014-2016)
The video showPenny Dreadfulgathered an assortment of popular classic characters from Gothic fiction such as Henry Jekyll ( Shazad Latif ) , Frankenstein ’s puppet ( Rory Kinnear ) , and Dorian Gray ( Reeve Carney ) . One of the most mystifying members of the cast was Dracula , played by Christian Camargo . This variant of Dracula is a fallen angeland brother to Lucifer , determined on take over the world . He rarely shows his full vampire form , as he prefers to pose the human Alexander Sweet .
Other Actors Who Played Dracula
A long list of actor have portray unlike versions of Dracula across all countries and formats . Some of the most notable have been :
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