Ygor, sometimes spelled Igor, is a character from the Universal Frankenstein films of the 1930s and 1940s, debuting in 1938's Son of Frankenstein. Portrayed by Bela Lugosi, he was an assistant to Henry Frankenstein and his sons, Wolf and Ludwig. He appeared as a scareactor during a few events at Orlando and Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights.
Character Biography[]
Son of Frankenstein[]
Ygor was an assistant to Henry Frankenstein, stealing bodies from graves for his experiments. He was caught by the police and hung for his crimes. However, he didn't die and the noose only broke his neck. He was thrown into the remains of Castle Frankenstein, where he lived for many years.
While living there, he discovered that the Monster had survived the lab's explosion. Ygor took him under his wing and began using him to 'hunt' and to perform other tasks. One night, the Monster fell from a tree and was put into a coma. Ygor brought him back to the ruins, keeping him a crypt until he was well, again.
When Henry's son, Wolf, came to town, Ygor convinced him to revive the Monster so he could bring honor back to his family name. His plan worked, and the Monster was brought back to life. Ygor began using the monster to kill men around the town - ones who were responsible for his hanging. Wolf discovered this, but it was no use - Ygor had full control over the Monster. With an angry mob at his doorstep, Wolf confronted him at the lab and shot him three times, presumably killing him.
Ghost of Frankenstein[]
Ygor managed to survive getting shot, remaining in Castle Frankenstein. One day, the townspeople came to blow the castle up, revealing that the Monster had survived falling into the sulfur pit. Ygor escaped with the Monster, taking him to see Henry's other son, Ludwig Frankenstein, to heal him. Ludwig didn't want to get involve, but Ygor blackmailed him, threatening to reveal all of Frankenstein's history to everyone. He eventually agreed, hoping to swap the monster's brain with a better one.
Unknown to him, Ygor conspired to put his own brain into the Monster's body - leaving his old body for a new one that he'd live forever in. The brain transplant was successful, and Ygor's personality took over the body. However, Ygor's bloodtype was different than the Monster's leaving him blind. In his rage, he destroyed the lab and the house, presumably killing himself in the process.
For the remainder of the Frankenstein films, in particular Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, Ygor's brain is inside of the Monster's body.
Epic Universe[]
In 2025, Epic Universe opens on May with a new land called Dark Universe. Ygor appeared as a walk around character. He also appeared in the ride called Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment where he is doing a demonstration on the benches as guests make their way through.
Appearances at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando[]
- Frankenstein: Creation of the Damned (2009)
- Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Scareactor Dining Experience (2017) (2018) (2019)
- Academy of Villains: Altered States (2019)
Appearances at Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood[]
- Universal Monsters Remix (2012)
- Universal Monsters Remix: Resurrection (2013)
- Universal Monsters: Music by Slash (2018)
- Universal Monsters: Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (2019)
Pictures[]
Trivia[]
- Ygor is not to be confused with Fritz, Henry Frankenstein's hunchback assistant in the first film. The name "Igor" commonly associated with Frankenstein's assistant likely came from the parody film Young Frankenstein.