3 Actors Who Turned Down the Role of Count Dracula

Count Dracula is an iconic monster, appearing in numerous movies and TV shows. Based on Vlad the Impaler, the vampire is well recognized by his fangs, cloak, piercing gaze, and castle in Transylvania. It’s easy to associate him with the actors who have played him, such as Bela Lugosi and Max Schreck. However, not every actor chosen to play the Count ultimately did so (or, if they did, it wasn’t always their decision).

In total, there have been over 200 films starring Dracula, and most of the actors picked to play the Count eagerly did so. However, the actors on this list were an exception in that they either didn’t want to portray him or, for some reason, were unable. Although it’s rumored that other actors also turned down the role, these three are the only ones where there’s significant proof, and the stories behind why they refused (or tried to refuse) the character are really worth sinking your teeth into.

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Conrad Veidt

It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Bela Lugosi playing Dracula in the 1931 movie of the same name. Although two Dracula movies were technically released before this one, they’ve been lost to history, and their influence on the genre was nothing compared to Lugosi’s. His performance cemented the character in audiences’ minds, and today, actors still draw inspiration from his original performance. Yet, Lugosi wasn’t the first choice to play the Count, or even the second. Or third.

What Almost Was

Originally, the role of Dracula was intended for German actor Conrad Veidt. The actor was known for his performances as Gwynplaine in The Man Who Laughs, Cesare in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Erik the Great in The Last Performance. However, the first two movies didn’t have any dialogue, and the third movie’s dialogue was scarce (and eventually lost). When Veidt learned that Dracula would be a “talkie,” he turned down the role, worried that his English wouldn’t be strong enough.

Interestingly, after Veidt returned to Germany, the role was offered to Lon Chaney, who played Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the titular Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. He accepted, but soon passed away, and the role was once again recast—not immediately with Bela Lugosi, but only after considering other actors, such as John Wray and Paul Lukas. Later, Chaney’s son, Lon Chaney Jr., would portray Count Alucard in Son of Dracula, symbolically connecting Chaney back to the role once more.

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Daniel Day-Lewis

Known for his method acting, Daniel Day-Lewis has starred in numerous movies, including Gangs of New York, There Will Be Blood, Lincoln, and The Last of the Mohicans. He previously played Dracula in two stage plays, but when it came time for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Daniel Day–Lewis was already working on The Last of the Mohicans, so he had to turn it down. Fortunately, both movies went on to be hits.

Notably, Dracula was just one of many roles Daniel Day-Lewis didn’t accept, with others including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia and László Almásy in The English Patient. However, out of all these film rejections, his decision to turn down Dracula might have had the greatest cinematic ripple effect.

An Iconic Portrayal

After turning down Dracula, the role instead went to Gary Oldman, who is known for such movies as True Romance, Darkest Hour, The Fifth Element, and Air Force One. Oldman’s performance would go on to not only be one of the best depictions of Dracula, but also one of Gary Oldman’s best roles, period. His portrayal changed how Dracula was perceived by fans, adding a creepier, more mysterious side. Plus, the general tone and romance of the movie would go on to influence future Dracula films.

While Gary Oldman’s casting was ultimately a boon for the movie, it’s still fun to consider what a version with Daniel Day-Lewis would have looked like—especially given his aforementioned penchant for method acting. Later, another vampire opportunity would present itself when Daniel Day-Lewis was considered for the role of Lestat in Interview with the Vampire. Unfortunately, at the time, Daniel Day-Lewis was filming In the Name of the Father and wasn’t available to look over new scripts, even though producer David Geffen tried to reach him multiple times. So, the role went to Tom Cruise instead, a decision that, while initially panned, wound up winning over audiences.

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Sir Christopher Lee

Viewers might be surprised to see Sir Christopher Lee on our list. After all, he played Count Dracula several times. In 1958, he portrayed the character for the first time in Hammer Film Productions’ Dracula (aka Horror of Dracula), which marked Dracula’s first-ever appearance in full color. From there, he went on to play the Count in seven other Hammer Film Production movies and three other productions, including Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Dracula has Risen from the Grave, and Taste the Blood of Dracula.

So, why is a man who obviously played Dracula, multiple times, on our list of actors who turned down the role? It’s for the simple reason that he did turn down the role, multiple times, only to be coerced into playing him again, over and over.

A Monstrous Experience

While most viewers are familiar with Sir Christopher Lee’s rendition of Dracula, many are unaware that he initially turned down many of the Hammer Film Production movies. He disliked the dialogue and the character, and the only movies he agreed to take part in were Dracula and Dracula: Prince of Darkness. In the latter movie, Dracula doesn’t speak because Lee hated his lines and refused to say them. This would be the start of his hostile relationship with the character and his attempts to get out of playing him. But whenever Lee tried to turn down the role, he would be reeled back in out of concern that the other actors and crew would be out of a job. Fortunately, once The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires came around, he decided enough was enough, and he finally put his foot down.

After leaving Dracula behind in 1973, Sir Christopher Lee went on to star in some of his best roles, including Francisco Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun, Saruman in The Lord of the Rings, and Count Dooku in three Star Wars movies. Although his portrayal of Dracula is unforgettable and helped develop the vampire’s sexuality and gothic aura while also making him an overall more complex character, we’re glad things ended when they did—not just because we might have missed out on his other roles, but because Lee deserved the chance to play them. In the end, no matter how iconic his portrayal of Dracula, Lee’s heart wasn’t in the role, and today, there are plenty of other actors eager to take on the challenge of bringing Dracula’s undead heart to life.