Blacula

Blacula is the name of a fictional character that appeared in two blaxploitation horror films produced for American International Pictures in 1972 and 1973, respectively. The character was portrayed by William Marshall. Both films deal with the character of Mamuwalde, an African prince transformed into a vampire and then imprisoned in a sealed coffin by Count Dracula, only to find himself released in the 1970s. The first film was produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff and Joseph T. Naar, directed by William Crain, and written by Raymond Koenig and Joan Torres. Blacula won the "Best Horror Film" award at the 1972 Saturn Awards.