Irving Pichel

 Irving Pichel (June 24, 1891 - July 13,  1954) who played  Sandor, Countess Marya Zaleska’s servant in Dracula’s Daughter was not only an actor but a director as well and is credited with discovering Natalie Wood. Pichel starred in dozens of films throughout his acting career, directed over thirty including The Miracle of the Bells (1948), Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948), and Destination Moon (1950). Destination Moon (1950) is credited as the first science fiction film that attempted to use an abundance of realistic technical detail in the story line.

 

 

Irving Pichel (Universal Pictures)

 In 1947, Pichel was one of the “Hollywood Nineteen” also known as the "Unfriendly Nineteen". The “Hollywood Nineteen” was a group of nineteen individuals that were subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee during the United States' second Red Scare. (1947-1957). Despite the fact that Pichel was never called to testify, he was nonetheless blacklisted. He died on July 13, 1954 shortly after finishing his last film, Day of Triumph (1954)