Our favorite vampire was born on this date in 1882. I think it’s pretty safe to say that his middle name was “Typecast.”

Still, his portrayal of The Count helped to revolutionize the image of vampires, changing them from stinking, blood-clotted apparitions to suave and alluring Renaissance men. The massive explosion of vampires in pop culture can be laid at his and Bram Stoker’s feet. Which technically means that they’re also indirectly responsible for Twilight, but let’s choose to ignore that.

So, happy birthday, Bela, and…uh…fangs for the memories.*

(The photo on his Wikipedia page amuses me; he looks young and eager and friendly and…there’s still something about him which hints that walking down a dark alley with him might not be the best decision.)

*Oh, like you weren’t thinking it.