Character name: Count Dracula
Appears in: Dracula
Date(s):
Award(s): | | Character back story: A mysterious figure with ties to the great Wallachian ruler Vlad Tepes, alias Vlad Dracula (and who may very well BE him), Dracula is a Transylvanian count who is feared by the superstitious peasants he rules over, and for good reason: he is a vampire- in fact, he is the lord of the undead, an ancient monster who rules over the creatures of the night, and survives throughout the centuries by drinking the blood of the living. With the advent of the 20th century, Dracula decides to rejoin the modern world, and through the manipulation of a real estate firm and its unwitting agent, he purchases a new home for himself deep in the heart of London. | | Inspiration for character: Stage magicians, the character for the novel, Svengali. | | Age/occupation: Over 500 years old/Count | | Personality type: Cool and charismatic, with dreadful cunning and an intense, hypnotic gaze. | | Signature look: Slicked back hair, black cape with a popped collar, black tuxedo coat, black dress pants, beige silken vest, white dress shirt, red medallion, bow tie. Typically has light shining in his eyes. | | Resides: Initially in his ancestral home of Castle Dracula in the Carpathians, and later in his London residence of Carfax Abbey. | | Character connections: Relentlessly pursued by Abraham Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloane), relentlessly pursuing Mina Harker (Helen Chandler), and doggedly obeyed by lackey Carl Renfield (Dwight Frye). | | Fun facts/trivia: Bela Lugosi played the role of Dracula on Broadway in 1927 before touring the country with the show. Soon after the play began touring Universal started to express interest in the script. Lugosi was so desperate to repeat his stage success and play the role for the film version, that he agreed to a contract paying him $500 per week for a seven week shooting schedule, an insultingly small amount even during the days of the Depression. |
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