Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian-American actor best known for his iconic portrayal of Count Dracula in the 1931 film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel. He was born Bela Ferenc Dezső Blaskó in 1882 and changed his name to Bela Lugosi when he began his acting career. He is remembered for his distinctive accent and for his role as the vampire Count Dracula, which he played on stage and in several films.