There was no male vampire type in existence. Someone suggested an actor of the Continental School who could play any type, and mentioned me.

Regardless of controversy five films at Universal — The Black Cat The Raven The Invisible Ray Son of Frankenstein Black Friday (plus minor cameo performances in 1934's Gift of Gab) and two at RKO Pictures You'll Find Out and The Body Snatcher — paired Lugosi with Boris Karloff. Moving to Budapest in 1911 he played dozens of roles with the National Theatre of Hungary in the period 1913–1919. Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (20 October 1882 – 16 August 1956) better known as Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian actor who is best known for playing the character Dracula in the 1931 film and for his roles in various other horror films.

Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó (20 October 1882 – 16 August 1956) better known as Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian actor who is best known for playing the character Dracula in the 1931 film and for his roles in various other horror films. Only in The Raven (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939) did he perform major roles again although even in The Raven Karloff received top billing despite Lugosi performing the lead role. This drug dependence was noted by producers and the offers dwindled down to a few parts in Ed Wood's low-budget movies.