(reposting my article from the Paranormalists blog)
#1 Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder, The Vampire Diaries)
I watched all 8 seasons of TVD for the first time at the start of 2024, and Damon was the funniest, sexist, most amazing character in the whole series—but also the greatest vampire of all time for several reasons.
First, he was really good at being bad. Such an unrepentant predator, who loved being a vampire, was a refreshing change from other moody, angsty boys (like Stefan and Edward). Second, he had a good backstory, including being a complete romantic. Third, he was so romantic he waited centuries to wake his beloved only to discover she had never been entombed and never loved him. He was consistent in his devotion and fell for her human doppelganger so hard he even gave up being a vampire for her (sigh). Fourth, his relationship with his brother turned out to be core to his story arc and to the show, and it was so good to see him evolve to embrace his brother at the end. Made me cry.
Finally, I have totally fallen for Ian Somerhalder the amazing environmental activist and animal lover, such a good, generous person and only resembling his character, Damon, in that he’s smart, funny, and sexy. I really hope my husband isn’t reading this, but he’s probably guessed I’m infatuated, because he caught me one morning talking to Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley live on Fireside! My husband said, “Good thing I’m secure, as another guy might wonder why his wife is talking to her vampire lovers at 5am.” Watch the recording on my YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Ql_yqYAFvdA
Here he is again just ’cause…
#2 Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard, Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series/ Trueblood HBO series)
Next on my list (which you may have guessed is based on sexy, romantic, and funny so far) is Eric Northman. I read all the Sookie books, and Eric on the page won me over. Alexander Skarsgard’s version was even better! Trueblood is one of the best vampire shows of all time (great drama, great acting, plus oh so funny at times), and since you’re reading this on a paranormal blog, you probably already know that. If you haven’t watched it yet for some insane reason, go and watch it now.
#3 Dracula (Frank Langella, 1979)
I saw this version at the theater when I was six years old (you can calculate my age based on that if you’re good at math). I was so bummed I slept through Star Wars because I was only four then, but I stayed awake and terrified throughout this Dracula. My mom took me along to way too many horror flicks growing up, and I saw several Christopher Lee Dracula movies, but I fell in love with this Dracula because of Frank Langella’s sex appeal and the love story with Lucy (rather than Mina like in the Bram Stoker version). Remember I was only six, but the Shadow archetype that Dracula represents is so powerful I understood it loud and clear. I re-watch this version almost every Halloween and keep imagining Dracula and Lucy ending up together centuries later. Her smile at the end as his cape flew away in the sun could be interpreted in different ways, and I choose the romantic, immortal ending.
#4 Dracula 2000 (Gerard Butler, 2000)
Dracula is the ultimate vampire, so of course he ends up on my list twice! Gerard Butler plays a fantastic version—dark, haunted, compelling, dangerous—and this 21st century version of the story was a great change of pace. A plane crash instead of a sailing ship for one thing!
#5 Spike (James Marsters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
James Marster’s fantastic acting, the romantic turn he takes, and above all the funny (such clever wit) wins me over! Angel doesn’t even make my list because he’s a bit like soggy bran cereal. Spike turns from villain to romantic sop and finally to the ultimate hero of the whole series. What great character development. This was way before Damon followed a similar character arc, so it was also groundbreaking.
#6 Ilsa (My lead character’s evil twin who turned vampire in Book 3)
This is the only female on my list, but I had to mention my book series somehow! Ilsa was evil before she became a vampire (animating dead mice through necromancy as a child), and I suspect she was responsible for Emily’s death (a wasting sickness to prevent further heirs to the Thorne criminal empire), although no one has connected the dots on that one yet. As a vampire, she shows everyone how it’s done, and quickly eliminates her dead sire’s harem of vampire brides before taking over leadership of the most frightening cabal of immortals manipulating the fates of royals and nations. No one does evil like a Thorne.
#7 Jean-Claude (Anita Blake series Laurell K. Hamilton)
Back to sexy vampire lovers. Before the Anita Blake series got too ‘erotica’ and boring for my tastes, I loved Jean-Claude, because of his brilliant business savviness, unfailing support for Anita, and ability to really work the sex appeal whenever he wanted anything. I’m pretty sure no one in these books was monogamous, but I would have ranked him higher if it had been more of a ‘true love’ connection between Anita and Jean-Claude. I’m a romantic at heart.
#8 Lestat (The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice)
While I liked Brad Pitt’s Louis in ‘Interview with the Vampire’, my favorite vampire in Anne Rice’s universe is Lestat. It might be because I read this book first, and it was the 1980s, and I totally loved the rock star vampire lifestyle. I also liked the flashbacks to his 1700s storyline which was linked to the first vampires, ancient Egyptian—Isis and Osiris—favorite deities/prehistoric figures of mine.
#9 Michael (Jason Patric, The Lost Boys)
Another fave 80s movie of mine is ‘Lost Boys’, which also stars Kiefer Sutherland. This one had a good mixture of sexy, 80s rock style, a great soundtrack, and some funny moments (loved the grandpa). Michael is the vampire who makes my list because while he was only a vamp for a short time, he played it well. He had a similar cool, sexiness I normally associate with a great Dracula, plus he fought his growing evil side to save the girl and the kid. I do prefer the Hero archetype over the Shadow, no matter how seductive the dark can be.
#10 Jerry Dandrige (Fright Night 1985 with Chris Sarandon, and 2011 with Colin Farrell)
Jerry is on the list just because the name alone makes me smile. I never wanted to be bitten by either of them, and never wanted either to win, but I loved watching!
Who makes your list? Any fantastic vampires I’m missing out on?
Author Lorel Clayton 
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