Bela Lugosi, the star of 'Dracula,' exaggerated his drug addiction to win back his much younger wife, according to the author.

Despite being known for his iconic role as Dracula in Hollywood, Bela Lugosi allegedly struggled with a drug addiction for over two decades. However, one author believes that Lugosi may have exaggerated his story for a tragic purpose.

"Robert Cremer, author, revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that his fourth wife was the target of his exaggeration of his drug dependency, which he had been addicted to for 20 to 25 years. He hoped that she would feel guilty and reconcile with him."

Cremer stated that he desired to regain the affection of both his wife and son.

A new book by Cremer, a syndicated columnist at The Hollywood Reporter, titled "Bela Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape," will be published on Dec. 17. The book features over 700 photos, family artifacts, and historical documents, many of which have never been seen outside of Lugosi’s family. It also includes interviews with those who knew the actor over the years.

For more than 50 years, Cremer has been familiar with the Lugosi family. His first book about the Hungarian actor was published in 1976. His upcoming release is the only authorized biography on the star, who passed away in 1956 at the age of 73.

In Hollywood, Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula on stage led to his success in the film industry. His unique style, including a distinctive accent, slicked-back hair, flowing cape, and charming demeanor, helped shape the way vampires are depicted on screen.

"This overblown idea that he was dependent on drugs for so long is absolute nonsense." — Robert Cremer, author of "Bela Lugosi: The Man Behind the Cape"

Despite gaining popularity, Lugosi became addicted to morphine after being injured in World War I, according to TCM.

"Lillian, his fourth wife, made it clear that he was only dependent on drugs from 1953 to 1955 after their divorce. Prior to that, he was not a drug addict, but only took medication for extreme pains caused by his World War I injury. He did not take it regularly as a drug addict would. He only took it when necessary to manage his pain."

Lugosi had hoped that his account would elicit sympathy from studio heads and secure him more roles to support his family, as stated by Cremer.

"Lillian's divorce in 1953 left Cremer devastated, as he was a proud man who took his marriage seriously and felt responsible for his family. Between 1948 and the early 1950s, he was constantly on the road."

"Cremer stated that the man, who was past retirement age and suffered from sciatica, felt a great responsibility to provide for his wife and son while enduring constant pain on the road."

In 1933, Lugosi married Lillian and in 1938, they welcomed his only child, a son named Bela G. Lugosi.

Lugosi's doctor for drug dependency and Lillian before her death in 1981 were previously spoken to by Cremer.

"When discussing the divorce, Lillian's tears flowed endlessly. Despite her love for her husband, Bela's jealousy and insecurity about their age difference made her feel inadequate as a wife. He believed she was looking for younger men, which was not true. The jealousy caused Lillian to feel that she could no longer expose her son Bela Jr. to the tension and arguments."

The author exaggerated Bela Lugosi's drug addiction in the film 'Dracula'.

Cremer refuted the notion that he was addicted to drugs for an extended period, stating it was utter nonsense. Lillian emphasized the importance of clarifying the true background of the situation, saying, "It's crucial for people to understand the real background of this."

"In later years, the press never addressed the deliberate exaggeration in Bela's statements, which served as the basis for their newspaper reports."

Lillian spoke out to correct the record, as noted by Cremer.

Cremer stated that we all agreed to clarify the drug issue once and for all, putting an end to any further misinformation.

Despite suffering from painful sciatica in his later years, Lugosi remained committed to entertaining his fans. According to Cremer, before performing as Dracula, Lugosi was terrified that a sciatic attack would occur on stage, disrupting his act.

Lynne Lugosi Sparks, the granddaughter of Bela Lugosi, spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital about the importance of addressing the longstanding rumors about her grandfather's drug use.

"The first three chapters of the book focus on the end of Bela's life, which is dealt with quickly to make way for the more interesting and important aspects of his life story. This allows us to get a glimpse into my grandmother's feelings about the true situation, and then we delve into the heart of the book, which is a captivating account of Bela's life."

Lugosi, who was exploited by film studios, felt forgotten at the end of his life.

"Lillian revealed that after starring in 'Dracula' in 1931, Bela began taking on small roles, some even uncredited. She felt these roles were beneath his status as a major Hollywood star. His closest friend, whom I interviewed extensively, said that Bela talked to him and asked, "Why are you taking these uncredited and very minor roles?" Bela replied, "I want people to see me more." He believed that if he kept his face on the screen constantly, it would increase his popularity and increase his stature, which was not true."

"According to Cremer, the impression among the studios was that they could get him for a low cost, where they would have to pay other actors significantly more. Despite the roles he played, he always delivered a remarkable performance. This tendency persisted throughout his career, resulting in a tragic outcome."

At age 73, Lugosi passed away in his apartment from a heart attack. His final wife, Hope Lininger, stated that the actor's condition improved month by month after his drug treatment.

Her grandmother and father opted to inter her grandfather in his attire.

She said that it was their way of honoring the character he had created and became famous for, even though they didn't know that, in a few years, horror films would make a comeback and be shown on TV.

"Bela believed he was forgotten, but the tribute to him, entombing him in his cape and costume, was their way of acknowledging, "This is Bela. Bela is Dracula. This was the pinnacle of his life.""