MOVIE NEWS – She would like to visit Hungary one day and is happy that Madame Tussauds Budapest honors her grandfather with a wax figure, said Lynne Lugosi, the granddaughter of Béla Lugosi, who played a significant role in the soon-to-be-published first official biography of one of the most famous Hungarians in world history.
Béla Lugosi has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, his birthplace is visited by thousands, and Madame Tussauds Budapest pays tribute to the actor who portrayed Dracula with a lifelike wax figure, born 142 years ago on October 20. On this anniversary, his granddaughter also spoke through Madame Tussauds Budapest.
Béla Lugosi started a new life overseas in 1920 and never returned home. In 1933, he married Lillian Arch, with whom he had one child, Béla Lugosi Jr. Currently, it is his daughter, Lynne Lugosi, who runs the company that manages her grandfather’s legacy.
“My grandfather and grandmother, Lillian, meticulously documented his career and family life in beautiful photo albums. These are real treasures for both the family and film history. Our most cherished memory is the cape that Béla Lugosi wore in the 1931 Dracula film,” said Lynne Lugosi. “My grandfather used the cape throughout his remaining life on stage and other appearances. My grandmother gave the cape to my father, who felt that the special relic should be preserved for future generations. The cape is currently part of the Los Angeles Academy Museum’s collection,” she revealed to Madame Tussauds Budapest from the United States, adding that her famous grandfather maintained a lifelong connection to Hungary and Transylvania.
“Béla lived his social life almost exclusively with close Hungarian friends and Lillian’s family, who were also Hungarian. He primarily spoke Hungarian at home and eagerly read Hungarian newspapers. He adored Hungarian dishes, as well as Egri Bikavér wine and Parád mineral water. My father, Béla Jr., understood a bit of Hungarian during his childhood, but over the years, his language skills faded,” Lynne Lugosi shared. She has yet to visit Hungary or Lugos, her grandfather’s birthplace, now part of Romania, but plans to travel to Budapest in the future.
“I look forward to visiting Hungary and Madame Tussauds Budapest one day. The Lugosi family is honored that Béla Lugosi has been given such a prominent place in the attraction,” Lynne Lugosi added. Fans can see Lugosi’s wax figure in only two places in the world: in Hollywood, just steps away from the Walk of Fame, and in downtown Budapest. The granddaughter is doing everything she can to ensure that the memory of Dracula’s most famous portrayer is never forgotten.
“I have taken over the leadership of Lugosi Enterprises from my father, representing the family and Béla Lugosi. Our goal is to protect and expand his legacy. One such project is the Béla Lugosi Collection at the Los Angeles Film Archive. I am also thrilled to announce that in December, the first and only biography of Béla Lugosi, approved by the family, will be published. The book has been in the works for several years and has been a true passion project for both me and the author, our friend Robert Cremer. Titled Béla Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape, it tells the story of a man destined by fate to become Dracula,” Lynne Lugosi stated. At Madame Tussauds Budapest, visitors can see Béla Lugosi not only on his birthday but also on any day, as he is part of the production’s educational program for students.
Source: Madame Tussauds Budapest
