Károly Lajthay (7 December 1883 – 30 August 1946) was a Hungarian film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 17 films between 1918 and 1944. He also appeared in 13 films between 1916 and 1920. He was born in Marosvásárhely, Austria-Hungary (now Târgu Mureş, Romania). He directed the first film version of Dracula entitled Drakula halála (1921). Lajthay died in Budapest, Hungary. ()