In 'Ed Wood', which actor portrayed Bela Lugosi?

In Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood,” Martin Landau portrayed the real-life horror actor Bela Lugosi. Landau plays Lugosi as an aging star whose friendship with filmmaker Ed Wood becomes the emotional center of the film.

Lugosi was internationally famous for playing Count Dracula in the 1931 Universal film, but by the 1950s his career and finances had declined. Burton’s film follows Wood’s efforts to give him work, including roles in “Glen or Glenda” and “Plan 9 from Outer Space.” Their relationship is dramatized, so some scenes do not precisely match the historical record.

Landau researched Lugosi’s films and interviews and used prosthetic makeup designed by Rick Baker. His performance earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, while the film also won the Oscar for Best Makeup. Johnny Depp, who plays Ed Wood, is therefore a frequent source of confusion: he portrays Wood, not Lugosi.