Dracula: The Series
Encyclopedia
Dracula: The Series was a short-lived syndicated series about Count Dracula
(using the alias
of "Alexander Lucard," a wealthy tycoon — the name itself 'A. Lucard' being 'Dracula' backwards.) and his struggles with Gustav Van Helsing, as well as Gustav's young nephews — Maximilian and Christopher Townsend. They were also aided by a schoolgirl, Sophie Metternich. Romantic tensions developed between Chris and Sophie. The series was filmed in Luxembourg, and produced by Phil Bedard and Larry Lalonde, best known for their work on John Woo's "Once a Thief" and "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues".
The series formula was relatively straightforward, with the four heroes learning of some plot by Lucard/Dracula and attempting to foil it, with at least some success. In keeping with the novel, but not most film and television lore, vampires could walk in sunlight but lacked their powers. Anyone bitten just once by a vampire
transformed into a zombie
-like servant. This process could be stopped by applying holy water
to the bite.
, who played Gustav's son Klaus, who'd been turned into a vampire. He went on to play the vampire Nick Knight
in the series Forever Knight
. Other notables included Stratford and Shaw festival veteran Jonathan Welsh
, well known television and film actors Kim Coates
(from Prison Break
) and Barry Morse
(from The Fugitive
and Space: 1999
), Chas Lawther
, Kirsten Kieferle (from Degrassi: The Next Generation
), and Marina Anderson-Carradine, best known for managing (and then marrying) actor David Carradine
.
Count Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler...
(using the alias
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of "Alexander Lucard," a wealthy tycoon — the name itself 'A. Lucard' being 'Dracula' backwards.) and his struggles with Gustav Van Helsing, as well as Gustav's young nephews — Maximilian and Christopher Townsend. They were also aided by a schoolgirl, Sophie Metternich. Romantic tensions developed between Chris and Sophie. The series was filmed in Luxembourg, and produced by Phil Bedard and Larry Lalonde, best known for their work on John Woo's "Once a Thief" and "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues".
The series formula was relatively straightforward, with the four heroes learning of some plot by Lucard/Dracula and attempting to foil it, with at least some success. In keeping with the novel, but not most film and television lore, vampires could walk in sunlight but lacked their powers. Anyone bitten just once by a vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
transformed into a zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
-like servant. This process could be stopped by applying holy water
Holy water
Holy water is water that, in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and some other churches, has been sanctified by a priest for the purpose of baptism, the blessing of persons, places, and objects; or as a means of repelling evil.The use for baptism and...
to the bite.
Guest appearances
Guest stars for the show were a cross-section of Canadian television and theatre talent, including Geraint Wyn DaviesGeraint Wyn Davies
Geraint Wyn Davies is a British-Canadian-American actor.He was born on 20 April 1957 in Britain, at Swansea. He was the son of a Congregationalist preacher...
, who played Gustav's son Klaus, who'd been turned into a vampire. He went on to play the vampire Nick Knight
Nick Knight
Nicholas Verity Knight is a former England cricketer. Knight's middle name was in honour of the 1930s English Test bowler Hedley Verity who was killed in World War II and is a distant family relation...
in the series Forever Knight
Forever Knight
Forever Knight was a Canadian television series about Nick Knight, an 800-year-old vampire working as a police detective in modern day Toronto. Wracked with guilt for centuries of killing others, he seeks redemption by working as a homicide detective on the night shift while struggling to find a...
. Other notables included Stratford and Shaw festival veteran Jonathan Welsh
Jonathan Welsh
Jonathan Welsh was a veteran Canadian actor of stage, television and film, best known for his principal roles in Canadian television series, notably the 1986–1989 adventure comedy Adderly and the 1989–1994 journalism drama E.N.G.On E.N.G., Welsh portrayed Eric "Mac" MacFarlane, one of the first...
, well known television and film actors Kim Coates
Kim Coates
Kim Coates is a Canadian-American actor who has worked in both Canadian and American movies and television series. He has worked on Broadway portraying Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and in the lead role of Macbeth performed at the Stratford Theatre...
(from Prison Break
Prison Break
Prison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an...
) and Barry Morse
Barry Morse
Herbert "Barry" Morse was an Anglo-Canadian actor of stage, screen, and radio best known for his roles in the ABC television series The Fugitive and the British sci-fi drama Space: 1999...
(from The Fugitive
The Fugitive (TV series)
The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death...
and Space: 1999
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
), Chas Lawther
Chas Lawther
Charles "Chas" Lawther is a British-born Canadian actor, comedian and writer.Lawther came to local prominence in Toronto when in the 1980s he created the character of Chuck The Security Guard for CFMT-TV's The All-Night Show, on the ostensible premise that as the station's night security he would...
, Kirsten Kieferle (from Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series set in the Degrassi universe, which was created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1979. Degrassi is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, and follows The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, and...
), and Marina Anderson-Carradine, best known for managing (and then marrying) actor David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
.
Episode list
| № | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Children of the Night" | 1990 September 29 |
| 2 | "Double Cross" | 1990 October 6 |
| 3 | "The Vampire Solution" | 1990 October 13 |
| 4 | "The Boffin" | 1990 October 20 |
| 5 | "Double Darkness" | 1990 October 27 |
| 6 | "Black Sheep" | 1990 November 3 |
| 7 | "What a Pleasant Surprise!" | 1990 November 10 |
| 8 | "Damsel in Distress" | 1990 November 17 |
| 9 | "Mind Over Matter" | 1990 November 24 |
| 10 | "A Little Nightmare Music" | 1990 December 1 |
| 11 | "Get a Job" | 1990 December 8 |
| 12 | "The Great Tickler" | 1990 December 15 |
| 13 | "Bad Blood" | 1991 January 19 |
| 14 | "Sophie, Queen of the Night" | 1991 January 26 |
| 15 | "My Girlfriend's Back and There's Gonna Be Trouble" | 1991 February 2 |
| 16 | "My Fair Vampire" | 1991 February 9 |
| 17 | "The Decline of the Romanian Vampire" | 1991 February 16 |
| 18 | "I Love Lucard" | 1991 February 23 |
| 19 | "Bats in the Attic" | 1991 April 27 |
| 20 | "My Dinner With Lucard" | 1991 May 4 |
| 21 | "Klaus Encounters of the Interred Kind" | 1991 May 11 |