Lupita Tovar, actress in Spanish-language ‘Dracula,’ dies at 106

Lupita Tovar, a Mexican-born actress who began her Hollywood career in the silent era and went on to play an imperiled heroine in a racy Spanish-language version of “Dracula,” died at her home in Los Angeles. She was 106.

Tovar was the matriarch of a family involved in filmmaking for three generations. Her daughter, Susan Kohner, earned an Oscar nomination for “Imitation of Life” (1959), and grandsons Chris and Paul Weitz co-directed such films as “American Pie” (1999) and “About a Boy” (2002).

In 31 credited roles over 16 years (1929-1945), Tovar did not establish herself in the pantheon of film greats. But as the decades passed, her sheer longevity sparked renewed interest among movie aficionados and scholars. She had worked with major stars, including Henry Fonda and Gene Autry, and had played a historic role in Mexican cinema.

In 2001, she received an Ariel Award, Mexico’s equivalent of an Oscar, for lifetime achievement.

Early in career, her skills were put to use in Spanish-language versions of Hollywood fare. The films were made at Universal, with the Spanish-speaking crew working overnight after the English-language cast had clocked out. The idea was to tap into the Latin American market demand for sound films and make them at a fraction of the cost of the originals; the sets were already built.

At Universal studios, best known for its horror movies, Tovar had a leading role in “Dracula” (1931) with Carlos Villarias in the bloodsucking role popularized by Bela Lugosi.

Critics have come to prefer the Spanish “Dracula” for its less static camerawork, livelier acting and more pronounced eroticism. The filmmakers were unencumbered by U.S. censorship standards, and Tovar recalled spending much of the film swanning about in a transparent negligee.

Tovar was married to Hollywood producer Paul Kohner from 1932 until his death in 1988. She is survived by her daughter, a son and grandchildren.