The Golden Era - Horror Film Actors Quiz

Answer: Bela Lugosi

Lugosi was born in Lugos, Austro-Hungary, in 1882, the youngest son of a banker. He dropped out of school at 12 and began his acting career in 1901, mostly in provincial theatres, playing small roles.
He based his screen surname on his place of birth, Lugos.

Answer: Dracula

Lugosi played Dracula several times in films and on stage. Although this was by no means his only role, it is the one for which he is best remembered.
He played character parts in many other A and B list films, sometimes because of his love of acting, other times because he always appeared to be in poverty, possibly due to his drug addiction and the cost of treatment for this.

Answer: True

Although Lugosi had never stated that he wished to be buried in his Dracula outfit, both his son, Bela G. Lugosi (born 1938) and his mother, Lillian (Lugosi's 4th wife), made this decision, believing that this is what Lugosi would have wanted.

Answer: True

His father, Frank H Chaney, and mother, Emma Alice Kennedy, were both deaf. His father founded 'the Colorado School for the Education of Mutes' which still exists but was renamed 'The Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind'.
It was at this school where his parents first met.

Answer: Man of a Thousand Faces

His versatility first became obvious in the 1919 film 'The Miracle Man' in which he played 'The Frog'. Chaney not only displayed his acting ability in this, but also his talent as a master of makeup.
He went on to use this ability in films such as 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', 'The Phantom of the Opera' and also in human interest films such as 'The Penalty', in which he played an amputee.

Answer: James Cagney

James Cagney was a talented actor, but many of his roles were in the genre of the villain/gangster style as opposed to biopics. However, he was also a rather talented 'hoofer' too, the proof of which is in the film 'Yankee Doodle Dandy', where he danced on stage.
Much of the biopic about Chaney's private life possibly came down to poetic licence, as Chaney shunned the Hollywood lifestyle, prefering to live a simple life with his family, so little was known about this side of his life.
The part of the film recounting his public life and performances was reasonably accurate. The film was called 'Man of a Thousand Faces'.

Answer: Creighton Chaney

Lon Chaney Jr started his acting career in 1931, under his real name of Creighton Chaney. It was not until 1935 that he took the name of Lon Chaney Jr, and not until the early 1940s that he branched into the horror movie field.

Answer: The Wolfman

Chaney was noted for his role as Larry Talbot, the Wolfman, and also for his portrayal as Frankenstein's Monster, evoking pathos and sympathy for each of these unfortunates from the audience.
It was in his role as Larry Talbot that Chaney excelled, portraying him as a tragic, misunderstood figure.

Answer: William Henry Pratt

Karloff was born in London in 1887, the youngest of nine siblings, who were responsible for his upbringing after the death of their mother.
He attended King's College, London, where he studied to enter the consular service, but dropped out in 1909.
Later that same year he travelled to Canada, where he changed his name and began his acting career in provincial stage shows.

Answer: Frankenstein's Monster

Karloff was quite a prolific actor, who did far more than star in horror movies. In fact by the time 'talkies' came along he had starred in more than 50 films, in either bit parts, or character roles!
He first portrayed Frankenstein's Monster in 1931 in 'Frankenstein', then again in 1935 in 'The Bride of Frankenstein' and finally in 1939's 'The Son of Frankenstein'.
From 1916 to 1971 Karloff appeared in more than 150 films. Although he died in 1969, three films which he had made in Mexico, were released posthumously.