Real-life horror stories behind vampire hits – Dracula legend’s drug hell & star who had skull DUG up in ‘Satanic’ plot

FOR nearly a century, the shadow of Nosferatu has loomed over those who bring the eerie vampire tale to life.

But from the original 1922 film to the remakes and adaptations that have followed, the stars of the vampire movies have been plagued by tragedy, scandal and misfortune in life too.

While some chalk it down to mere coincidence, others believe that this may be tied to the so-called cursed legacy of the films.

Whether it’s the actor saddled with rumours of being a real-life vampire or the filmmaker whose body was mysteriously violated after his death, many who step into the world of Nosferatu have faced sinister fates.

The 2024 remake of the movie opened this week, featuring superstars such as Swedish actor Bill Skarsgård, former Skins Nicholas Hoult, Emma Corrin, and Willem Dafoe.

Here, we examine the stars whose lives took a dark turn after appearing in iconic vampire blockbusters.

‘Real’ vampire

German-born Max Schreck took on the main character of Count Orlok in the original Nosferatu film in 1922.

Max was so dedicated that he insisted on remaining in costume throughout filming – even during breaks.

In fact, he was so convincing that claims began to swirl that he was indeed a real-life vampire.

The rumours may have come from the fact that he was a seasoned theatre actor known for his tendency to play characters with grotesque vibes.

Max was seen as a loner and had an unusual sense of humour. He was also in a polyamorous relationship and had both a wife and a girlfriend.

His girlfriend was Anny Ondra, who was the star of the movie Blackmail by Alfred Hitchcock.

In 1936, he died from a heart attack at 56. He was filling in for his friend in a stage production when he fell ill. The next morning, he had passed away.

He was buried in an unmarked grave – for years, no one had a clue about his resting place.

It turns out his urn was buried next to his mother’s grave in a remote part of Wilmersdorfer Waldfriedhof in Berlin.

Skull stolen for ‘occult’ ceremony

Although he was an experienced film director, F.W. Murnau did not achieve worldwide recognition until Nosferatu propelled him to the top in 1922.

Some fans believe he fell victim to the curse of Dracula when he tragically lost his life at the age of 42.

On March 10, 1931, a week before the opening of the film Tabu, Murnau travelled up the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles, California, in a hired Packard touring car.

His valet, Eliazar Garcia Stevenson, manouvered to avoid a truck that unexpectedly moved into their lane.

The car capsized after hitting an embankment, throwing all passengers out of the car.

The director suffered severe head injuries and died the next day at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. 

But things took an eerie turn when in July 2015, Murnau’s grave was broken into. The remains were disturbed and an unknown perpetrator removed the skull.

Wax residue was reported to have been found at the site, leading to speculation that candles had been lit.

The suggestion was that an occult ceremony may have been performed at his grave.

Grave managers were so disturbed by the incident that they considered sealing off the grave to prevent repeat offenders.

Mysteriously, the missing skull has still never been recovered.

Mystery death

Greta Schroder played Ellen Hutter in Nosferatu and continued her career in German cinema.

Before she secured the role, Greta was relatively unknown and had only bagged a handful of roles.

Following the release of the film, she experienced a surge in popularity but her personal life was in turmoil.

Two years after the movie premiered, she married actor Paul Wegener but their union ended with divorce. She was previously to Ernst Matray from 1912 to 1921.

The circumstances of Greta’s death are shrouded in mystery – while some say she died in 1967, others believe she lived and passed away in 1980 at 87.

Drug hell

When it comes to horror movies, very few actors come close to the pedigree Bela built for himself during his 54-year career.

He is best known for playing Count Dracula in the 1931 horror film classic Dracula and Ygor in 1939’s Son of Frankenstein.

But like many others who were involved in the movies, Bela had his own demons to contend with.

He was candid about his battle with drug addiction and often spoke openly about his habits.

After a 90-day stint in rehab, he granted an interview about his drug use. He said: “I started using it under a doctor’s care. I knew after a time it was getting out of control.

“Seventeen years ago on a trip to England, I heard of Methodone, a new drug. I brought a big box back home. I guess I brought a pound. Ever since I’ve used that, or Demerol.

“I just took the drugs, I didn’t eat. I got sicker and sicker.

While taking a nap in his Los Angeles home in 1956, Bela died of a heart attack at 73. His wife Hope discovered him when she returned from work.

Bela married repeatedly – he wed five times and had one child. Bizarrely, he was buried in his full Dracula costume, including a cape.

Although Hope and his son said he did not ask to be buried this way, they believed it was what Bela would have wanted.

Died during film

Stephen Boyd was a charismatic actor who established himself as one of Hollywood’s leading men in the late 1950s.

He is best known for his role as Messala in Ben-Hur, which earned him a Golden Globe for best supporting actor.

But his career was cut short at just 45 after he suffered a massive heart attack while playing golf with his wife, Elizabeth Mills, in Los Angeles.

Despite all efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time of his death, the star was in the middle of filming Lady Dracula. His role in the film was completed using careful editing and a body double.

Gun arrest

In 1994, Christian Slater starred in Interview with the Vampire alongside a studded cast of actors including Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Antonio Banderas.

That same year, he was arrested for trying to board a commercial flight with a gun in his baggage. He was sentenced to three days of community service.

In the years following the film, Christian opened up about his struggles with alcohol addiction and substance abuse.

In an interview with Details Magazine in 2011, he said: “Look, I could spend a lot of time kicking the s*** out of myself for the choices I made.

“I was dealing with alcoholism and addiction, and there was a lot to take on without much life experience. Addiction is not pretty, and you don’t fully understand it unless you’re dealing with it head-on.

“That’s why when I see other kids struggling, I will sometimes reach out to them – a call or an e-mail.”

In 1998, he spent 59 days in prison after assaulting his girlfriend and a police officer while under the influence of cocaine, heroin, and alcohol.

“Jail was a result of me not taking time for myself,” Slater reflected.

“So I was forced to take some time for myself. It was necessary for me. When you’re going down that path, you either kill yourself or you’re forced to take time out.”

Horror rape trial

Danny Masterson starred in Dracula 2000 alongside Gerard Butler, Johnny Lee Miller and Omar Epps.

He’s also widely known for portraying Steven Hyde in That 70s Show between 1998 and 2006.

Although he was adored for his career, his past soon caught up with him when in May 2023 he was convicted of raping two women 20 years earlier.

In September 2023, he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison.

During the trial, Masterson and his defence lawyers tried several tactics to get the case dismissed. Masterson is a Scientologist and so were his victims.

It has been alleged that there was an elaborate plan orchestrated by the Church of Scientology to silence his victims, leading to a 20-year delay in justice, an allegation the organisation has denied.

In a moving statement, one of the victims said: “I didn’t choose to be born into Scientology, just as I didn’t choose to be raped by Danny Masterson.”

After his sentencing, his wife Bijou Phillips filed for divorce while his That 70s Show costars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis apologised for supporting him.

Last month, Masterson launched yet another appeal to get his conviction squashed.