Top 10 Actors With the Most On Screen Movie Deaths

36 Deaths

Bela Lugosi will be forever remembered as one of the first actors to portray Count Dracula. The original 1931 film was far from the only one that featured Lugosi's presence, but his appearances in Universal horror films made him synonymous with the genre. Other than being the iconic vampire, he also starred and died in "White Zombie" and "The Black Cat." He even had a memorable role and tragic end in "Son of Frankenstein." Near the end of his life, he starred in B-movies such as Ed Wood's infamous "Plan 9 from Outer Space." The Hungarian performer left a mark on cinema that's still widely celebrated for his historic contribution to early Hollywood monster filmmaking.

41 Deaths

Tom Sizemore delivers compelling performances in his many diverse and tragic roles, especially during his 90s run. Sizemore's most notable death comes in the finale of the war film "Saving Private Ryan." He dashes across the bridge in the last scene, only to get shot by German troops. He also memorably dies at the hands of Al Pacino's crack-shot cop in the classic crime story "Heat." While the actor has worked less in recent decades and dealt with personal troubles, his talent and contributions to moviemaking are indisputable. The performer has died somewhere in the neighborhood of 41 times on screen.

42 Deaths

While younger generations might not remember his 80s output, Eric Roberts still manages to pop up in several supporting parts. He's made his mark as villains that get their comeuppance in "The Dark Knight" and the action extravaganza "The Expendables." Building off of his good looks, his characters can charm people even when they're bad to the core. His work ethic gives him the reputation of a hard-working journeyman that's always game for anything. He isn't above poking fun at his image either, even in the face of death with his cameo in "The Cable Guy." Roberts keeps dying in a variety of movies from big-budget spectacles to award-nominated fare.

42 Deaths

After emerging from a new generation of actors in the 1950s, Hopper helped change the landscape of Hollywood with "Easy Rider." His death in that film stirred up a generation of anti-establishment fans, but some of his other deaths were as more unsavory people. His terrifying performance as Frank Booth in "Blue Velvet" scared viewers and helped him carve out great villain roles over the next few decades. One of those parts was his antagonist in "Speed," who met a dramatic end on the top of a subway car. No matter who he played, the performer always infused his characters with a hypnotic energy that sometimes got the best of them.

43 Deaths

Boris Karloff was the face of horror in the 30s and 40s. His image in the “Frankenstein” series is as famous as anything in the history of film, but even legends like him die in his roles. He's best known for his performance as the reanimated monster in the original series produced by Universal. Those projects weren't his only foray into fantasy, as he also made historic turns in other successful pictures such as "The Mummy." While his career staggered through the 50s and 60s, his legacy never dwindled in the eyes of historians and movie fans alike.

43 Deaths

John Hurt is one of the most acclaimed British actors of his generation. Whether he was in a sci-fi masterpiece or an independent drama, this performer famously died throughout his amazing career on the silver screen. He's also an integral part of one of the most historic death scenes ever. In the film "Alien," his character has a xenomorph burst through his chest. Hurt's unfortunate deaths didn't stop there, even with his status as a beloved artist. Turning to more evil roles, he has played some diabolical villains in projects like "V for Vendetta." Up until his death in 2017, the performer kept audiences engaged with his explorations of humanity and frequent movie exits.

45 Deaths

Vincent Price's extensive career in horror and B-movies offered him many opportunities to die. After multiple supporting parts in the 1940s, Price took on more substantial roles in the 1950s with films ranging from "House of Wax" to "House on Haunted Hill." Often playing sinister characters, he sometimes dies at the hands of heroes or other villainous beings. He also starred in several Edgar Allan Poe adaptations, playing nefarious evildoers that met their end in adaptations like "The Pit and the Pendulum." He managed to fill his career with many exciting appearances, with Tim Burton's movie "Edward Scissorhands" being one of his final jobs and screen deaths.

56 Deaths

Lance Henriksen graces the silver screen in copious amounts of sci-fi and action classics. As the android Bishop in the "Alien" series, he was damaged and resurrected in multiple entries. The second film in the series features one of the more gruesome dismemberments ever, with his character getting ripped apart by the queen alien. As a cop in "The Terminator" or a gunslinger in Westerns like "The Quick and the Dead," the actor died on screen whether you knew his name or not. This isn't even counting his TV or video game roles, which would make his death list much longer.

69 Deaths

Christopher Lee is one of the most prolific actors of any generation. Not only did he create another influential Dracula role, but the actor also explored multiple genres and died in all of them. His enjoyable turns in the James Bond adventure "The Man with the Golden Gun" and other franchises like "Star Wars" offered him several worthy chances to expire on screen. His experiences in World War II apparently gave his roles an added weight and a greater perspective on life. From the Hammer horror films to the "Lord of the Rings" series, he never failed to provide gravitas to his many deaths.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Dynamic Artist Never Fails to Entertain on Film Whether He's Dying or Not

Jackson’s Successful Filmography Contains a Plethora of High-Profile & Shocking Deaths

Contrary to His Status as an Action Star, Willis Still Dies in a Number of His Leading Roles

The ‘80s Heartthrob Has Died in Everything from “Rumble Fish” to “Iron Man 2”

His Diverse Career Features Deaths across Multiple Decades

72 Deaths

If you're a fan of action flicks from the 90s, there's a chance you've probably seen Danny Trejo die. His long and storied career began with parts in the 1980s. Some of his most noteworthy deaths are in "Desperado" and "From Dusk till Dawn," marking just two of his many collaborations with Robert Rodriguez. His badass attitude makes him the perfect choice to be an unlikely ally or a formidable villain. Starting with his first film roles in a series like "Death Wish 4," the actor always brings the heat even if he does end up dying a lot. In what might be a shocking revelation to some, this actor has one of the higher death counts of anybody in American movies.