Eric Van Helsing

Eric Van Helsing

Also Known As	Mr Van Helsing Van Helstink Dad Van Helsing Mr Vermin Buster Vanessa Helsinki
Played by	Terence Maynard
Species	Human (Vampire Slayer)
First Appearance	First Day At School
Last Appearance	The Chosen One
Mother	Unknown
Father	Noris Van Helsing
Occupation	Teacher Slayer
Spouse Status	Mina Van Helsing Deceased

"I am Van Helsing, vampire slayer"
- Eric Van Helsing

Eric Van Helsing was a highly trained yet useless vampire slayer and woodwork teacher. He and his son, Jonathan Van Helsing, have appeared in every episode of Young Dracula since they first appeared in First Day At School.

Series 1 & 2

An incompetent vampire slayer, Mr Van Helsing originally believed Robin (due to his unruly dark hair and constant wearing of a black cape) to be one of the Undead, but soon turned his attentions towards Vlad. His daytime or "cover" identity is as a woodwork teacher at Stokely Grammar School, which the Dracula children attend. While not a real threat to the much stronger and smarter Count Dracula, he is a constant annoyance to the family who under no circumstances can afford to have their secret revealed to the world. Van Helsing has been inside the ruined castle where the Draculas live on numerous occasions. He has inveigled his way in, disguised as an itinerant woodworker, as an exterminator, and as a hitman hired by Magda. He has even attempted to get in dressed as a female vampire. He only once has come close to slaying Dracula at the hunt ball in the final episode of series one. Even that was accidental, when he fired a wooden crossbow bolt straight into a flask of poisoned blood in the Count's waistcoat pocket, which he had also been responsible for putting there (while disguised - badly - as the female vampire). After the hunt ball, Eric continues as before, but in partnership with his son Jonathan, though he is seemingly less eager now that Jonathan believes, perhaps realising the irregular relationship and the danger of his situation; he even tries to send Jonathan to live with his divorced wife in one episode. In another episode he starts packing away the equipment in his "Secret Slayer Hideout" (which is revealed in series two); but when Vlad accidentally hurts Jonathan, Eric feels insulted and regains his enthusiasm for slaying. He only slays two vampires during the series when rescuing his ex-wife from the clutches of the Count, and afterwards engages in a fierce battle with other vampires who are guests at the castle, before forgetting their existence thanks to Vlad. To start with,&nbsp Van Helsing was continually put under pressure by Jonathan to stop slaying and live a normal life. He took no notice of this, however, and nurtures an obsession for slaying bordering on addiction.

Season 3

In Series 3, his son and wife return, but it is revealed that he was killed by vampires while helpless, after Vlad's mindwipe caused him to forget how to fight back. His family, understandably, blames Vlad for this.