20 Black Vampires In TV And Film That Don’t Suck

For those hitting up the movie theaters this weekend, chances are you’ll be one of the many horror fans getting a ticket to see director Ryan Coogler’s highly-anticipated vampire thriller, Sinners. With rave reviews coming in by the minute from critics and cinephiles alike, it’s all building up to be a memorable moment for both Hollywood and Black representation overall in the world of sci-fi.

Take a look at the trailer below for Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Delroy Lindo (Malcolm X, Da 5 Bloods) and Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country, Deadpool & Wolverine) amongst a glowing ensemble cast:

RELATED: Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners: Blood, Blues & Vampires

While Coogler and Jordan are doing an excellent job as a producer/actor duo in bringing more Blackness to a movie mythology famous for its paleness, they aren’t the first by a long shot. It’s been a long journey since the early ’70s with William Marshall’s pioneering debut as Blacula, the first Black vampire to grace the big screen, in addition to Teresa Graves representing for the ladies by giving Vampira a melanin makeover. From film to television, we’ve seen the dark side get even darker in the best ways possible over the past five decades and counting, be it Wesley Snipes in a role he was born to play as the human/vampire hybrid Blade or Angela Bassett playing a vampiress love interest to either Eddie Murphy or Lady Gaga depending on which project you’re referring to. As we push forward into an era in science fiction storytelling where Black and Brown characters are being included more in the narrative, it would only be right to pay our respects for the ones who paved the way for us to get here.

Grab a stake, some garlic and a cold glass of holy water if you’re dealing with a pack of real vamps, or just preparing for a nice dinner at home, but if you’re looking for the best Black vampires in film and television then we got you covered right here.

Before you head out to go see Sinners in theaters, sink your teeth into our list below of 20 Black vampires in film and television history who still have us under a thrall:

Prince Mamuwalde – Blacula (1972)

Major respect to the late William Marshall for setting the standard with this unforgettable blaxploitation performance.

Dr. Hess Green – Ganja & Hess (1973)

Night of the Living Dead star Duane Jones continued his spooky streak with this powerful leading role that cemented his legacy in a much-too-short horror film career.

Willis Daniels – Scream Blacula Scream (1973)

While not the lead vamp in the least bit, we just had to give Richard Lawson props for helping to make Black vampires look fly!

Countess Vampira – Vampira (also released as Old Dracula) [1974]

Teresa Graves literally radiates Black beauty as the dark-skinned vampire queen, and only makes us wonder what could’ve been if not for her retirement from showbiz less than a decade later and accidental death in 2002.

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Lucinda Cavender – The Midnight Hour (1985)

Jonelle Allen really sold it well as a head vampire-witch, which could easily be accredited to having a pair of irresistibly hypnotizing eyes.

Katrina – Vamp (1986)

Grace Jones is just as wild and eccentric in vampire form as you’d expect her to be in real-life.

Temptation – Def By Temptation (1990)

If a crazy countess is as beautiful as Cynthia Bond, well, let’s just say we can understand the appeal.

Maximillian – Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)

The slick-back look on Eddie Murphy is more polarizing than a set of fangs, but he still puts on a fang-tastic performance.

Mr. Trick – Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003)

It would’ve been a real treat, and a much-needed dose of melanin in the Buffyverse, if K. Todd Freeman’s slick-yet-smooth Mr. Trick lasted longer than Season 3.

Eric Brooks/Blade The Daywalker – Blade film trilogy (1998 – 2004)

Over 25 years later and the demand for Wesley Snipes to return as Blade has never been more in-demand, especially following a scene from 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine that we really hope you’ve seen by now.

Queen Akasha – Queen Of The Damned (2002)

In a similar vain to The Rock starring in a spinoff for The Mummy Returns in the form of The Scorpion King, late R&B sensation Aaliyah easily possessed both the acting chops and star power to star in an origin film about the queen of all vampires.

Alpha Vampire – Supernatural (2005 – 2020)

From the big baller style to his menacingly monotone voice, Rick Worthy had the sinister king-of-the-dark approach down to a tee.

Laurent – The Twilight Saga (2008 – 2012)

He could use a bit more work on the dreadlocks, but Edi Gathegi overall does a great job in sending chills down your spine with his sinister act.

Tara Thornton – True Blood (2008 – 2014)

Although it took her five seasons to actually become a vampire, Rutina Wesley really made you wish that it happened sooner based on how well she plays one.

Marcel Gerard, The Originals (2013 – 2018)

Props to Charles Michael Davis for not only making his intro with a nod to Black rocker Kelvin Swaby of The Heavy, but also handling his character’s backstory with care as it relates to slavery, segregation and growing up biracial in the South.

Ganja Hightower – Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014)

Spike Lee’s modern remake of the aforementioned Ganja & Hess faired well on the scale of reboots thanks to a captivating performance by Zaraah Abrahams.

Ramona Royale – American Horror Story: Hotel (2015 -2016)

Revisiting her Vampire In Brooklyn days, Angela Bassett is the supreme when it comes to playing a vampire seductress.

Milo – The Transfiguration (2017)

The power behind Eric Ruffin’s performance is that he’s not portraying an actual vampire in the sense we’ve come to know, but more of a real-world analysis into what vampirism might look like from a psychological level.

Babineaux – Black as Night (2021)

It’s hard to be too against Keith David’s performance as a slave-turned-vengeful-vampire when you start to understand his backstory is influenced by the history of racism in America.

Louis de Pointe du Lac – Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire (2022 – present)

Filling the shoes of Brad Pitt can be tough for any young actor, but Jacob Anderson not only makes the character all his own but even depicts Louis in a way that’s much more in line with Anne Rice’s original vision compared to the fan-favorite 1994 film.

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