Béla Lugosi, 1882-1956, trade union organiser

It is the 70th anniversary of Béla Lugosi’s death. Ask just about anyone what Béla Lugosi is famous for, and you will probably get one or two replies: his performance as Dracula and his appearance in possibly the worst film ever made: Ed Wood’s Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957).

However, there was more to his life than just the films. He was born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó, appropriately enough in Transylvania, then part of the Austro-Hungarian empire (today his birthplace, Lugoj, is in Romania). Adopting the stage and screen name Lugosi, he established his reputation in Hungary’s theatre-land and also appeared in a number of films. At the time workers in theatre were unorganised. He played a key role in building up the Free Organisation of Theatre Employees in Hungary.

Screen Actors’ Guild

Lugosi’s union grew and on 17 March 1919 the National Trade Union of Actors was created. Lugosi was a supporter of the Hungarian Workers’ Council Revolution of 1919. It lasted only 133 days and Lugosi had to flee across the border into Austria, eventually settling in Hollywood. In 1933 he — and Boris Karloff — helped to establish the Screen Actors’ Guild and Lugosi served on the advisory board of the SAG.

As president of the Hungarian-American Council for Democracy, he became a vigorous campaigner against fascism in both Germany and his native Hungary. Many Jewish refugees benefitted from his activities. His career as Dracula, and his decline into drug addiction and alcoholism, have tended to overshadow his anti-fascist and trade union activity. He deserves recognition for that activity as much as any other aspect of his life.