# What is the origin of Igor?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 1, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648 "2000-04-01T00:22:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/1 "2000-04-01T00:22:00Z")
Where did Igor come from? There was no Igor in Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, nor is there such a character in any of the movies entitled Frankenstein from 1910 through 1994. But a hunchback named Igor almost always accompanies Dr. Frankenstein in popular culture. It’s just like “Play it again, Sam”, or “Elementary, my dear Watson” or “Beam me up, Scotty”… but really now, we’re talking an entire character! Where did this impostor come from?
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### Author:  [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2000, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/2 "2000-04-01T00:26:00Z")
There was an Ygor - Bela Lugosi in \*Son of Frankenstein{/i].
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### Author:  [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2000, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/3 "2000-04-01T00:30:00Z")
Ah. Danke schoen.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2000, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/4 "2000-04-01T05:25:00Z")
Not to mention Marty Feldman’s performance in _Young Frankenstein_ for which he won the first of his seven Academy Awards.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2000, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/5 "2000-04-01T12:56:00Z")
Igor had the **coolest** job in the world!!! Mad scientist’s assistant! Buildin’ monsters! Wish my alma mater had offered **that** in the curriculum! 🆒
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You should tell the truth, expose the lies and live in the moment."-Bill Hicks
“You should tell the lies, live the truth and expose yourself.” - Bill Clinton
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### Author:  [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2000, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/6 "2000-04-01T13:16:00Z")
What is the origin of Igor ?
The socket.
:: cricket chirps ::
:: taps microphone ::
Is this thing on.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2000, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/7 "2000-04-02T02:00:00Z")
And, of course, readers of Terry Pratchett’s latest book(s), CARPE JUGULUM and THE FIFTH ELEPHANT, know about Igors…
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2000, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/8 "2000-04-03T04:10:00Z")
My dad (age 62) say that the character Igor was invented for Bella Lugosi or Peter Lorre or one of those guys. Makes sense, since rolls are created for certain gifted actors all the time.
BTW: Is there any other book who’s ending has been re-written more often than Frankenstein? Every version I’ve seen (which is a few) has a completely different ending. The TNT network’s version a few years back is probably the closest to the book that I’ve seen.
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Synonym: the word you use in place of a word you can’t spell.
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/9 "2000-04-03T04:40:00Z")
Hej!
> [@](#):
>
> And, of course, readers of Terry Pratchett’s latest book(s), CARPE JUGULUM and THE FIFTH ELEPHANT, know about Igors…
Damne! Another two Pratchett books I haven’t read!
Oh yeah… I was waiting for the paperbacks… 🙂
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Rigardu, kaj vi ekvidos…
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2000, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-igor/9648/10 "2000-04-03T15:15:00Z")
Yes, there WAS an Igor (or Ygor) in the classic 1931 Universal FRANKENSTEIN.
He just happened to be named **Fritz,** that’s all. Played by Dwight Frye.
But he was there all right, helping Dr. Henry Frankenstein (not Victor, as in the novel, figure THAT one out) dig up corpses, cut down hanged criminals, and, of course, dropping Normal Brains and substituting Abnormal ones.
Dwight Frye was back in THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935), this time playing **Karl.** On Dr. Praetorius’ payroll, this time. He killed a poor lonely young woman in the night-time streets to get a nice fresh heart for the Monster’s mate.
By the time of SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) we had Bela Lugosi and Ygor, and that’s the role that entered Spiritus Mundi…
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Uke