Igor (character)

Stock character

For other characters named Igor, see Igor (given name) § Fictional characters.

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Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster, Basil Rathbone as Dr. Frankenstein's son Wolf Frankenstein, and Bela Lugosi as Ygor in Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Igor, or sometimes Ygor, is a stock character, as a sometimes hunch-backed laboratory assistant to many types of Gothic villains or as a fiendish character who assists only himself, the latter most prominently portrayed by Bela Lugosi in Son of Frankenstein (1939) and The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942). He is familiar from many horror films and horror film parodies. He is traditionally associated with mad scientists, particularly Victor Frankenstein, although Frankenstein has neither a lab assistant nor any association with a character named Igor in the original Mary Shelley novel. The Igor of popular parlance is a composite character, based on characters created for the Universal Studios film franchise. In the first Frankenstein film (1931), Fritz served the role; in the sequels, a different physically deformed character, Ygor, is featured, though Ygor is not an assistant in those films. Many Igor-type characters are also portrayed with a voice similar to that of actor Peter Lorre.

## Origins

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Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein and Dwight Frye as Fritz in Frankenstein (1931)

Dwight Frye's hunchbacked lab assistant in the first film of the Frankenstein series (1931) is the main source for the "Igor" of public imagination, though this character is actually named Fritz. Fritz did not originate from the Frankenstein novel, but from the earliest recorded play adaptation Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein (1823) where he was played by Robert Keeley.[1][2] Beyond his iconic role as Fritz in Frankenstein (1931), Dwight Frye shaped Universal's horror legacy as Renfield, Count Dracula's insane servant in Dracula (1931), and Karl, Doctor Septimus Pretorius's deranged henchman in Bride of Frankenstein (1935).[3]

In the horror film Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), Ivan Igor is the name of the mad wax museum curator. The film was remade as House of Wax (1953), but the name Igor was given to the curator's henchman (Charles Bronson) rather than the curator himself. This character is deaf and mute, rather than a hunchback.

The second and third sequel films Son of Frankenstein (1939) and The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) feature a character named Ygor, portrayed by Bela Lugosi. This character is neither a hunchback nor a lab assistant, but a blacksmith with a broken neck and twisted back as the result of a botched hanging. He reanimates the Monster as an instrument of vengeance against the townspeople who hanged him for grave robbing. He survives a gunshot wound and appears in the next film, in which his brain is placed in the Monster's body, but the body is rendered blind because Ygor's blood is not compatible with the Monster's blood.

Universal Studios actively cemented the idea of the hunchbacked assistant to the "mad scientist" in House of Frankenstein (1944), with J. Carrol Naish playing a hunchbacked lab assistant named Daniel, who serves the exiled Dr. Gustav Niemann (Boris Karloff). Niemann, after escaping from prison, attempts to replicate Dr. Frankenstein's experiments, continuing his macabre legacy of monster creation. He is similar to Quasimodo in that he falls for a Romani dancer, but she loses interest in him when she meets Lawrence Talbot.

## Development of the stereotype

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The comedy film Young Frankenstein (1974) features the character Igor (portrayed by Marty Feldman and pronounced EYE-gore), a crazy eyed hunchback who becomes the assistant of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (portrayed by Gene Wilder), both their grandfathers having coincidentally worked together. The duo begin working on creating the monster from the corpse of a hanged criminal. Igor is tasked to steal the brain of Hans Delbrück, however he drops it and finds another one labelled abnormal (which he mistakenly reads "Abby Normal") and takes it, resulting in the monster (portrayed by Peter Boyle) becoming unpredictable and running rampant near the village.

### Further examples

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While not named, an Igor-type hunchback was seen in The Transformers episode "Autobot Spike" voiced by Michael Bell. He was seen in a Frankenstein film that was on television.

Sir Terry Pratchett heavily lampooned the stereotype in his Discworld book series by creating a humanoid race — created from and made up of donated interchangeable body parts and organs from other Igors and their patients, that are handed down through the generations — of highly skilled surgical assistants to vampires and mad scientists in the country of Überwald called Igors, who are all named Igor or Igorina.

Another Igor appears in Van Helsing (2004), portrayed by Kevin J. O'Connor, who now becomes loyal to Count Dracula and betrays Dr. Frankenstein.

The animated comedy film Igor (2008) features an assortment of Igors who are servants to multiple mad scientists in the fictional kingdom of Malaria, where they assist their masters to create evil inventions so they can blackmail the world to pay the country billions or they will unleash their monstrosities across the globe. One Igor (voiced by John Cusack) is the assistant of Dr. Glickenstein (voiced by John Cleese) who dreams of becoming a mad scientist himself by creating a monster with the help of his creations Scamper and Brain (voiced by Steve Buscemi and Sean Hayes). However, the monster Eva (voiced by Molly Shannon) develops a sweet gentle personality and desires to become an actress.

The film Victor Frankenstein (2015) features its version of Igor (portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe) whose abnormality is caused by a cyst on his back that Victor Frankenstein drains.

The Universal Epic Universe theme park has a "Dark Universe" section that features an Igor-type character that also named Ygor. He is a normal human who works for Henry Frankenstein's great-great-granddaughter Victoria Frankenstein.

## See also

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* Universal Monsters

## References

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1. ^ Behrendt, Stephen C. (2012). "A Hideous Bit of Morbidity": An Anthology of Horror Criticism from the Enlightenment to World War I. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 97\. ISBN 978-0786469093. "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was adapted for the stage many times, and the first of these interpretations was Richard Brinsley Peake's Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein (1823), which dramatized key scenes from the novel and added Frankenstein's assistant, Fritz, to the mix."
2. ^ Doe, John (August 2001). "Cast and Characters - Romantic Circles". Romantic Circles. RC. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
3. ^ Riley, Philip J. (1990). MagicImage Filmbooks Presents Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man: The Original Shooting Script. MagicImage Filmbooks. ISBN 978-1-882127-13-9.

## External links

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* Igor at Grand Comics Database
* Igor at Comic Vine
* The Igor at TV Tropes

* v
* t
* e

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

Characters|

* Frankenstein's monster
* Victor Frankenstein
* Doctor Waldman
* Elizabeth Lavenza

Films|

| Universal series|

* Frankenstein (1931)
* Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
* Son of Frankenstein (1939)
* The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
* Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
* House of Frankenstein (1944)
* House of Dracula (1945)
* Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Characters|

* Igor
* Doctor Septimus Pretorius
* Wolf Frankenstein
* Bride of Frankenstein
* Ludwig Frankenstein

Hammer series|

* The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
* The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
* The Evil of Frankenstein (1964)
* Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)
* Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969)
* The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)
* Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974)

Toho series|

* Frankenstein vs. Baragon (1965)
* The War of the Gargantuas (1966)

Parodies|

* Mad Monster Party? (1967)
* Mad Mad Mad Monsters (1972)
* Young Frankenstein (1974)
* Frankenstein all'italiana (1975)
* Frankenweenie (1984)
* Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)
* The Monster Squad (1987)
* Frankenhooker (1990)
* Monster Mash (1995)
* Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999)
* Monster Mash (2000)
* Frankenström (2001)
* Frankenthumb (2002)
* Igor (2008)
* The Bride of Gingy (2010)
* Frankenweenie (2012)
* Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy (2014)
* Monster Family (2017)
* Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

| The Munsters|

* Munster, Go Home! (1966)
* The Munsters' Revenge (1981)
* Here Come the Munsters (1995)
* The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas (1996)
* The Munsters (2022)

|

Hotel Transylvania|

* Hotel Transylvania (2012)
* Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
* Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
* Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)

Others|

* Frankenstein (1910)
* Life Without Soul (1915)
* Il mostro di Frankenstein (1921)
* I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957)
* Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
* Frankenstein's Daughter (1958)
* Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster (1965)
* Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966)
* Los Monstruos del Terror (1970)
* Lady Frankenstein (1971)
* Dracula vs. Frankenstein (1971)
* Frankenstein '80 (1972)
* Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)
* Blackenstein (1973)
* Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks (1974)
* Terror of Frankenstein (1976)
* Frankenstein Legend of Terror (1981)
* Frankenstein Island (1981)
* The Bride (1985)
* The Vindicator (1986)
* Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
* Frankenstein (1992)
* Return from Death (Frankenstein 2000) (1992)
* Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994)
* Van Helsing (2004)
* Frankenstein vs. the Creature from Blood Cove (2005)
* Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl (2009)
* House of the Wolf Man (2009)
* Frankenstein: Day of the Beast (2011)
* Frankenstein's Army (2013)
* The Frankenstein Theory (2013)
* I, Frankenstein (2014)
* Army of Frankensteins (2014)
* Frankenstein vs. The Mummy (2015)
* Frankenstein (2015)
* Victor Frankenstein (2015)
* The Great Yokai War: Guardians (2021)
* The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (2023)
* Dead Lover (2025)
* Frankenstein (2025)
* The Bride! (2026)

Television|

* Tales of Frankenstein (1958)
* The Munsters (1964–1966)
* Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles (1966–1968)
* Groovie Goolies (1970-1971)
* Frankenstein (1973)
* Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)
* Monster Squad (1976)
* Struck by Lightning (1979)
* The Munsters Today (1988-1991)
* Monster Force (1994)
* House of Frankenstein (1997)
* Frankenstein (2004 TV film)
* Frankenstein (2004 miniseries)
* Frankenstein (2007)
* Mary Shelley's Frankenhole (2010)
* Once Upon a Time
* "The Doctor" (2012)
* "In the Name of the Brother" (2013)
* Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)
* Frankenstein, MD (2014)
* The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015–2017)
* Second Chance (2016)
* Hotel Transylvania: The Series (2017–2020)
* Code:Realize − Guardian of Rebirth (2017)

Stage|

* Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein (1823)
* Frankenstein, or The Vampire's Victim (1887)
* Frankenstein (1927)
* Fortitude (1968)
* Joined At The Heart (2007)
* Frankenstein – A New Musical (2007)
* Young Frankenstein (2007)
* Frankenstein (2011 play)
* Frankenstein's Wedding (2011 play)

Novels|

* Frankenstein's Aunt (1978)
* Gothic Romance (1984)
* Frankenstein's Aunt Returns (1989)
* Frankenstein's Cat (2001)
* Dean Koontz's Frankenstein
* Prodigal Son (2005)
* City of Night (2005)
* Dead and Alive (2009)
* Lost Souls (2010)
* The Dead Town (2011)
* Frankenstein in Baghdad (2013)

Comics|

* Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein
* Frankenstein (DC Comics)
* Frankenstein (Dell Comics)
* Doc Frankenstein
* Embalming
* Frankenstein's Monster (Marvel Comics)
* Frankenstein (Prize Comics)
* Young Frankenstein

Video games|

* Frankenstein's Monster
* Frankenstein
* Frankenstein: The Monster Returns
* Dr. Franken
* Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
* Frankenstein: Through the Eyes of the Monster
* Van Helsing
* Code: Realize

Related|

* Gothic aspects in Frankenstein
* Universal Classic Monsters
* Frankenstein in popular culture
* Frankenstein Castle
* Frankenstein Day
* Frankenstein's Promethean dimension
* Johann Konrad Dippel
* Frankenstein complex
* Frankenstrat (guitar)
* "Frankenstein" (1973 single)
* "Dr. Stein" (1988 single)
* Frankenstein (Death Race)

* v
* t
* e

Stock characters

* List
* Archetype

By ethics and morality

| Heroes|

| Classic hero|

* Action hero
* Christ figure
* Chosen One
* Everyman
* Folk hero
* Knight-errant
* Legacy hero
* Mythological king
* Paladin
* Superhero
* Youngest son

|

Antihero|

* Byronic hero
* Man alone
* Tragic hero

Other|

* Cyberhero
* Super soldier
* Space marine

Rogues|

| Lovable rogue|

* Gentleman detective
* Jack
* Trickster

|

Tricky slave|

* Zanni (servants, clowns: Harlequin, Brighella, Scapino, Pulcinella and Pierrot)

Outlaw|

* Bad boy
* Gentleman thief
* Pirate
* Air pirate
* Space pirate

Other|

* Good cop/bad cop
* Rake

Villains|

| Antivillains|

* False hero

|

The mole|

* Double agent
* Evil twin
* Terrorist

Social Darwinist|

* Dark lord
* Mad scientist
* Supervillain

Monsters|

* Bug-eyed monster
* Evil clown
* Killer robot
* Killer toy
* Monster girl
* Skeleton
* Slime
* Swamp monster
* Vampires
* Zombie
* Nazi zombies
* Zombie animal

Other|

* Alazon
* Archenemy
* Folk devil
* Igor
* Masked villain
* Miser
* Vecchio (wealthy old men, Pantalone and Il Dottore)
* Il Capitano (self styled captain, braggart)

By sex and gender

| Feminine|

| Love interest|

* Bishōjo
* Blonde stereotype
* Farmer's daughter
* Girl next door
* Hooker with a heart of gold
* Ingénue
* Loosu ponnu
* Magical girlfriend
* Catgirl
* Monster girl
* Manic Pixie Dream Girl
* Vixen

|

Hag|

* Cat lady
* Crone
* Fairy godmother
* La Ruffiana
* Loathly lady

Hawksian woman|

* Dragon Lady
* Femme fatale
* Tsundere

Woman warrior|

* Jungle girl
* Magical girl
* Virago
* Strong female character

Queen bee|

* Princesse lointaine
* Southern belle
* Valley girl
* Yamato nadeshiko

LGBT|

* Class S
* Laotong

Lady-in-waiting|

* Columbina
* Mammy stereotype

Geek girl|

* Gamer girl

Damsel in distress|

* Final girl
* Princess and dragon

Masculine|

| Harlequin|

* Pierrot
* Scaramouche

|

Father figure|

* Wise old man
* Elderly martial arts master

Young|

* American mappillai
* Himbo
* Ivan the Fool
* Jack
* Jock
* Little Johnny
* Nice guy
* Nice Jewish boy
* Superfluous man

Prince Charming|

* Bishōnen
* Knight-errant

Primitive|

* Feral child
* Noble savage
* Caveman
* Mountain man

LGBT|

* Seme and uke
* Otokonoko

Bad boy|

* Pachuco
* Black knight

Others

* Adolescent clique
* Barbarian
* Clown
* Dragonslayer
* Donor
* Fool
* Identity formation
* Imaginary friend
* Innamorati ("The Lovers")
* Little green men
* Magical Negro
* Mole people
* Pop icon
* Redshirt
* Shoulder angel
* Sidekick
* Straight man
* Tokenism
* Town drunk
* Tragic mulatto
* Truck-kun
* Village idiot
* White savior

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