Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy on PreacherPhoto: Alfonso Bresciani (AMC/Sony Pictures Television)
We are very excited to see awkward vampires take NYC on What We Do in the Shadows, which debuts tonight on FX. But the show is merely the latest union of TV and vampires, a pairing that has yielded some of pop cultures most memorable bloodsuckers. From a huge field of undead contenders, here are our 10 favorites.
Granted, the Count is far more interested in teaching numbers to kids than he is biting anyones neck, but theres no denying hes a creature of the nightjust look at those fangs and that cape! His first appearance on Sesame Street was in 1972, which means hes been introducing young viewers to the idea of math-savvy vampires for nearly 50 years. And of course, he hasnt aged a day.
Not the godawful Johnny Depp-Tim Burton version from the movie. The true Barnabas Collins is the one played by Jonathan Frid on the gothic soap opera, which ran from 1966 to 1971 on ABC. Originally an 18th-century fancypants, Barnabas was turned into a vampire after breaking off his affair with a vengeful witch, and later popped up in the shows present-day setting after a treasure hunter opened the coffin that had been imprisoning him for generations. Dark Shadows is a corny show, as all soaps tend to be, but Barnabas had a unique blend of charm, menace, and gravitas that made him an instant fan favoriteand also helped propel the show through some of its more delightfully ridiculous storylines.
Buffys bae proved such a compelling character that he got his own spin-off. Angel ran for five seasons and transplanted the 18th-century vampire-with-a-soul from Sunnydale to Los Angeles, where he started a detective agency and promptly got embroiled in all manner of supernatural shenanigans. Angel was almost always a crusader for goodbut since he was a vampire, he had that built-in bad boy charm that Buffy (and all his subsequent partners) found difficult to resist.
Years before she was an Oscar winner, pop sensation Lady Gaga dipped into TV to play the Countess, the fiercely fashionable vampire who ruled the roost at American Horror Story: Hotels aging Los Angeles high-rise. It soon became clear that she wasnt just there as a result of stunt casting; Hotel took the time to dig into the characters surprisingly layered backstory, which traced her strange journey from Hollywood flapper to trophy wife to creature of the night/couture muse/child-kidnapper, and (eventually) ghost. Along the way she also provided Hotels link to American Horror Storys first season, visiting the murder house circa 1926 to unsuccessfully abort her not-quite-human son.
Obviously True Blood had a number of important vampires hanging around, but Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgrd)1,000-year-old former Viking; on-again, off-again love interest of Sookie Stackhouse; witty, sometimes to the point of being knowingly goofy; and almost laughably easy on the eyesinspired the biggest tsunami of pop-culture passion. Was there anyone who didnt have at least a teeny crush on this dude at the height of True Blood mania?
Weve had mixed feelings about Preacher, which has a fourth season on the way, but one thing its consistently gotten right is its interpretation of Irish vampire Cassidythe most hard-living undead dude on this planet since his transformation in 1916. Hes spent decades running from vampire hunters, though Cassidy doesnt generally act like a typical bloodsucker (he does, however, drink blood); hes also had his fair share of agonizing personal troubles. But he is a loyal friend, an enthusiastic partier, a hell of a fighter, and a fan of Justin Bieberalthough not of The Big Lebowski. Dont hold either of those last two facts against him, though.
The most famous vampire of all spent most of his time on the Showtime series in the charming form of Dr. Alexander Sweet, a zoologist working at the London Natural History Museum who woos Vanessa Ives, hoping their union will hasten his return to heaven. (In this telling, Dracula is Lucifers brother, cast out of heaven to Earth while his brother was banished to Hell.) She eventually figures out his horrifying true identity, and as a lead-in to the series surprise finale at the end of season three, she ends up giving in to himthough she eventually chooses death and redemption rather than joining with him to rule over humankinds final days.
Yep, another Dracula. The version in this animated Netflix show, based on the beloved video game, is in a class of his own, though, causing all manner of chaos and mayhem after his beloved wife, a gifted scientist, is accused of practicing witchcraft. Hes a character driven by vengeful anger but also melancholy and grief, though hes also extremely well-armed with his own demon hordes to help work through all that rage. His reign of terror is only halted thanks to another heart-wrenching family tragedy, as he allows his son, the vampire-human hybrid Alucard, to stake him before he does any more damage.
Obviously the great Grandpa had to make this list. A master of sarcasm, wacky inventions, and magic potions, the character (portrayed by Al Lewis) was the eldest member of the macabre family whose sitcom first hit the airwaves in the mid-1960sLily Munster, his daughter, was also a vampire. Grandpa was born in 1367, and his advanced age meant hed brushed up against real-life historical figures, some of whom popped up on the show on occasion, thanks to the wonders of time travel. And even though everyone always refers to him as Grandpa Munster, thats actually incorrect; his full name was Vladimir Dracula, Count of Transylvania. And yes, he might try to chomp on your arm...just for laughs, though!
What with all the aliens, government conspirators, and far weirder monsters already pinballing around, The X-Files didnt attempt too many vampire episodes. But one of themseason fives cheeky Bad Bloodis a series highlight. It mostly exists to contrast the divergent POVs of Agents Mulder (who believes hes encountered a vampire in the form of pizza delivery guy Ronnie Strickland) and Scully (whos like, Mulder, you just staked a random human being to death), but it has a lot of fun with vampire mythology, like the too-rarely-used idea that a vampire will have to stop and count anything spilled in their path (like, say, Mulders scattered sunflower seeds). Bad Blood features a guest-starring turn by Luke Wilson as a genial sheriff who knows more than hes letting on, but its The Sandlot alum Patrick Renna as the glowing-eyed, pointy-toothed Ronnie who really leaves an impression.
Honorable mentions: The Salvatore brothers, always chasing after the same woman on The Vampire Diaries; Matthew Clairmont, brainy academic vampire who falls for a brainy academic witch on A Discovery of Witches; and Count Burns, a vampire who looks an awful lot like a blend of Mr. Burns and Gary Oldmans big-screen take on Dracula, in The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror IV.
For more, make sure youre following us on our new Instagram @io9dotcom
Read more:
10 Memorable TV Vampires: From Angel to The X-Files
- Is This a Real Photo of Vampire Queen 'Madam Violet,' Voted UK's Scariest Woman Alive in the 1880s? - Snopes.com - March 16th, 2024
- The erotic 70s horror where lechy men turn into bloody-hungry vampires - Dazed - March 16th, 2024
- The vampires ball is coming to an end - Meduza - March 16th, 2024
- Oregon son, 56, who is accused of killing his mom by shoving a huge makeshift stake through her throat claims - Daily Mail - March 16th, 2024
- Muni Bond Games and the IRS' Lurking Arbitrage Vampires - Governing - March 16th, 2024
- Ball of vampires', nuke warning: Key takeaways from Putins interview - The Times of India - March 16th, 2024
- Putin compares western elites to 'VAMPIRES' who 'fill their bellies with human flesh' - GB News - March 16th, 2024
- Every Time Alaric Died In The Vampire Diaries & Legacies - Screen Rant - March 16th, 2024
- V Rising declares a 1.0 release date, climbing from the grave of a years-long early access to become your next time ... - Yahoo Movies UK - March 16th, 2024
- 15 Actors That Could Play Edward Cullen in the Twilight TV Series - MovieWeb - March 16th, 2024
- BLOOD HUNT #1 Preview Releases A Horde Of Vampires On The Marvel Universe's Greatest Heroes - CBM (Comic Book Movie) - March 16th, 2024
- Man accused of killing mother in Siletz believed she was a vampire - Yahoo News - March 16th, 2024
- Stephen King approved 'Salem's Lot' movie to stream on Max this year - Yahoo Movies Canada - March 16th, 2024
- Empire of the Damned Review: A Wickedly Good Time | Arts - Harvard Crimson - March 8th, 2024
- The BLOODCOVEN: Marvel's Vampires Get Their Own Avengers With 6 "Supervampires Fed on the Blood of ... - Screen Rant - March 8th, 2024
- 17 fantasy and science fiction books to read in March 2024 - Winter is Coming - March 8th, 2024
- This MCU Hero Returns to Fight Vampires as Marvel's Massive BLOOD HUNT Begins - Screen Rant - February 28th, 2024
- These Vampons by 'Artisan Vampires' Will Make Your Period Goth AF - Loudwire - February 28th, 2024
- Bloodsuckers Through the Ages - A History of Vampires (Video) - Ancient Origins - February 28th, 2024
- 'Blood Hunt' #2 Cover Shows the Avengers Are Bloody, Battered, and Broken - Marvel.com - February 28th, 2024
- Vampires Invade the Marvel Universe in New Blood Hunt Trailer - Superherohype.com - February 28th, 2024
- 'Near Dark' Is the Acid-Soaked Vampire Western You Need to See - IMDb - February 19th, 2024
- In The Sci-Fi World I Created, Vampires And Werewolves Are Still A Huge Problem (20 New Pics) - Bored Panda - February 19th, 2024
- Kathryn Bigelow's 'Near Dark' Is the Acid-Soaked Vampire Western You Need to See - Collider - February 19th, 2024
- Interview With the Vampire review Tom Cruise and Brad Pitts brilliant bloodsucking bromance - The Guardian - February 19th, 2024
- Is This Too Niche: Vampires - The Post - The Post - February 19th, 2024
- ALEX VAN HELSING Novel Trilogy Being Adapted as a TV Series By Kit Williamson GeekTyrant - GeekTyrant - February 19th, 2024
- The Supernatural Romance Of Vampire: The Masquerade Blood-Stained Love - Forbes - February 19th, 2024
- Leaving the shadows for passion: Why vampires are classic monsters that best reflect our fears and desires - EL PAS USA - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend to Embark on 2024 Tour, Releases Two New Singles - Variety - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend adds second Austin show to 2024 tour - Laredo Morning Times - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend's summer 2024 tour will stop in Minneapolis - Bring Me The News - February 19th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend Announce Massive Tour in Support of New Album Only God Was Above Us - Rolling Stone - February 19th, 2024
- Harry Potter: Are There Vampires in the Wizarding World? - CBR - Comic Book Resources - February 19th, 2024
- The Midnight Sons return, Black Panther becomes a vampire, and much more in Marvel's Blood Hunt tie-ins - Gamesradar - February 19th, 2024
- Morbius is The Secret To Saving Marvel's Entire Universe (Yes, Seriously) - Screen Rant - February 19th, 2024
- Geometry Survivor is a little Geometry Wars and a bit Vampire Survivors - GamingOnLinux - February 19th, 2024
- The War with Angels Is On! SYFY's Reginald the Vampire Officially Returns for Season 2 in May - Yahoo Entertainment - February 19th, 2024
- BLOOD HUNT: Marvel Comics Reveals T'Challa/Black Panther Will Be Transformed Into A Vampire This May - CBM (Comic Book Movie) - February 19th, 2024
- Interview With The Vampire season 2 teaser reveals May 12 release date - Winter is Coming - February 11th, 2024
- Interview with the Vampire Season 2: Cast, Latest News, and Everything You Need to Know - TV Guide - February 11th, 2024
- 'Interview with the Vampire' Season 2 coming to AMC in May - Yahoo Lifestyle UK - February 11th, 2024
- Vampires Are Here to Spill Some Blood in the Newest Max Win Gaming Slot Release Midnight Thirst Deadspins - World Casino Directory - February 11th, 2024
- Everything We Know About INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Season 2 - Yahoo Entertainment - February 11th, 2024
- Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler's top secret vampire movie will be set in the 1930s and have anime influences - Gamesradar - February 11th, 2024
- Sean Strickland has weird altercation with 'vampire' Machine Gun Kelly, Dana White offers hilarious reaction | Video ... - MMA Mania - February 11th, 2024
- Interview With The Vampire Season 2's Claudia Recast Impact Explained By Star & Producer - Screen Rant - February 11th, 2024
- Interview With The Vampire Season 2 Book Accuracy Explained By EP - Screen Rant - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend Announced Their 'Only God Was Above Us' New Album - UPROXX - February 11th, 2024
- Interview with the Vampire - AMC Sets Season Two Premiere Date - Bloody Disgusting - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend announce new album 'Only God Was Above Us' & Austin total eclipse show - Brooklyn Vegan - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire Weekend tease new music with a cryptic video - NME - February 11th, 2024
- Louis and Lestat Are Coming Back: Interview With the Vampire Season 2 Has a New Trailer - Them - February 11th, 2024
- Expansion Of Anne Rices Immortal Universe In Development; Interview With The Vampire & Mayfair Witches Season 2 Updates From AMC - Deadline - February 11th, 2024
- 'Interview With the Vampire' season 2 is FINALLY on the horizonhere's when you can watch it - Out Magazine - February 11th, 2024
- Introducing the 'Vampire Virus' and What It Means for Connecticut and New York - i95rock.com - February 11th, 2024
- 'Interview With the Vampire' Season 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot, and More - The Mary Sue - February 11th, 2024
- Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 Is Already Making One Big Mistake - Screen Rant - February 11th, 2024
- AMC's very good, very sexy Interview With The Vampire sets its return - Yahoo Entertainment - February 11th, 2024
- Man accused of burning down home said voices told him the place contained vampires - KOIN.com - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' reboot: 'They're still working on that' - USA TODAY - February 3rd, 2024
- Become the ultimate vampire In V Rising, coming to PS5 this year - PlayStation - February 3rd, 2024
- Here's Your First Look At Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 Gameplay From Its New Developer - Game Informer - February 3rd, 2024
- The Vampire Diaries: Be Transported To Mystic Falls With These Best Books For Fans - GameRant - February 3rd, 2024
- Our first look at Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 shies away from what makes it a vampire RPG, and that has ... - Gamesradar - February 3rd, 2024
- Hulu's ACOTAR Show Could Kick Off The Next Early 2000s Vampire Craze - Screen Rant - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton On Potential Buffy The Vampire Slayer Revival: Theyre Still Working On That - Deadline - February 3rd, 2024
- Here's 15 minutes of The Chinese Room's Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 - Eurogamer.net - February 3rd, 2024
- Sink Your Fangs into This Extended Gameplay Reveal of Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 - MMORPG.com - February 3rd, 2024
- They're still working on it: Dolly Parton teases Buffy The Vampire Slayer revival - Gay Times Magazine - February 3rd, 2024
- 'Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2' gameplay revealed in new trailer - NME - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton Hints At 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' Reboot - Purple Sneakers - February 3rd, 2024
- All 8 The Vampire Diaries Seasons, Ranked Worst To Best - Screen Rant - February 3rd, 2024
- 10 BTS The Vampire Diaries Details That Will Change How You See The Show - Screen Rant - February 3rd, 2024
- Is Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot still in the works? Here's what Dolly Parton says - Sportskeeda - February 3rd, 2024
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot still in the works, says Dolly Parton - PinkNews - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton shares Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot revelation - The Independent - February 3rd, 2024
- Dolly Parton Spills the Tea on Potential 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Reboot - American Songwriter - February 3rd, 2024
- Hit Vampire RPG V Rising Arrives on PS5 This Year - Push Square - February 3rd, 2024
- Blade Theory: Mahershala Ali isn't Hunting Vampires, He's Hunting Followers of Knull Planning an Incursion - FandomWire - January 26th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero