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Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

Acting

Born: November 23, 1887Camberwell, London, England, UK

William Henry Pratt (November 23, 1887 – February 2, 1969), better known as Boris Karloff, was an English-born actor who emigrated to Canada in 1909. Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and Son of Frankenstein (1939). His popularity following Frankenstein was such that for a brief time he was billed simply as "Karloff" or "Karloff the Uncanny". His best-known non-horror role is as the Grinch in the television special of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Description above from the Wikipedia article Boris Karloff, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For
Filmography
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies

Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies

Self - (archive footage)

2025
The Last Repair Shop

The Last Repair Shop

The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)

2024
The Dark Universe

The Dark Universe

La Momia (archivo de imagen)

2023
The Dark Universe

The Dark Universe

Frankenstein (archivo de imagen)

2023

Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story

Self - Interviewee

2022
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster

Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster

Self (archive footage)

2021
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!

Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!

Self (archive footage)

2021
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters

Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters

Self (archive footage)

2015
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film

Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film

Various roles (archive footage)

2014

A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02)

Self (archive footage)

2013
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored

Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored

Self (archive footage)

2013
The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features

The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features

2012
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce

He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce

Self (archive footage)

2008
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire

Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire

Himself (archive footage)

2007
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Cabman John Gray (archive footage)

2007
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman

Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman

Self (archive footage)

2007
Lugosi: The Dark Prince

Lugosi: The Dark Prince

Self (archive footage)

2006
Karloff: The Gentle Monster

Karloff: The Gentle Monster

Self (archive footage)

2006
Terror in the Tropics

Terror in the Tropics

Mr. Wong (archive footage)

2006
Monster Movie Trivia Quiz

Monster Movie Trivia Quiz

2004
The Mesmerist

The Mesmerist

(archive footage)

2003

Heroes of Horror

(archive footage)

2001
The American Nightmare

The American Nightmare

Self

2000
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed

Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed

Self (archive footage)

2000
The Many Faces of Dracula

The Many Faces of Dracula

The Monster (archive footage)

2000
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'

Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'

Self (archive footage)

1999
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster

The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster

Self (archive footage)

1999
Universal Horror

Universal Horror

(archive footage)

1998
The Universal Story

The Universal Story

Self (archive footage)

1996
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld

Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld

Self (archive footage)

1994
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition

(voice - archive footage)

1994

Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook

The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.

1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)

1991
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

(archive footage)

1990
Abbott and Costello in the Movies

Abbott and Costello in the Movies

Archival

1990
Transylvania Twist

Transylvania Twist

Man in Room (archive footage)

1989
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

1988
Creepy Classics

Creepy Classics

Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)

1987
Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s

(archive footage)

1984
The Horror of It All

The Horror of It All

Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)

1983
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

Self (archive footage)

1982
Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!)

Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!)

1980
The Horror Show

The Horror Show

(archive footage)

1979
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage)

1975
Madhouse

Madhouse

(archive footage)

1974

The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute

Self (archive footage)

1974
Alien Terror

Alien Terror

Prof. John Mayer

1971
Isle of the Snake People

Isle of the Snake People

Carl van Molder / Damballah

1971
Hatchet for the Honeymoon

Hatchet for the Honeymoon

Gorca (archive footage)

1970
Curse of the Crimson Altar

Curse of the Crimson Altar

Professor John Marsh

1968
Targets

Targets

Byron Orlok

1968
Macabre Serenade

Macabre Serenade

Matthias Morteval

1968
Fear Chamber

Fear Chamber

Dr. Carl Mandel

1968
Cauldron of Blood

Cauldron of Blood

Franz Badulescu

1968
The Movie Orgy

The Movie Orgy

Self (archive footage)

1968
The Sorcerers

The Sorcerers

Prof. Marcus Monserrat

1967
Mad Monster Party?

Mad Monster Party?

Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)

1967
The Venetian Affair

The Venetian Affair

Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud

1967
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Narrator / The Grinch (voice)

1966
The Daydreamer

The Daydreamer

The Rat (voice)

1966
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini

The Corpse

1966
Doom of Dracula

Doom of Dracula

The Madman (archive footage)

1966
Die, Monster, Die!

Die, Monster, Die!

Nahum Witley

1965
Bikini Beach

Bikini Beach

Art Dealer

1964

Today's Teens

Narrator

1964
The Comedy of Terrors

The Comedy of Terrors

Amos Hinchley

1964
Horror!!!

Horror!!!

Self

1964
A Fool's World

A Fool's World

Narrator

1964
Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath

Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")

1963
The Terror

The Terror

Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe

1963
Corridors of Blood

Corridors of Blood

Dr. Thomas Bolton

1963
The Raven

The Raven

Dr. Scarabus

1963
Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing

Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing

1962
Little Lost Robot

Little Lost Robot

Host

1962
The Incredible Doktor Markesan

The Incredible Doktor Markesan

Dr. Konrad Markesan

1962
Arsenic & Old Lace

Arsenic & Old Lace

Jonathan Brewster

1962
The Storm

The Storm

1962
The Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper

Self

1961
Days of Thrills and Laughter

Days of Thrills and Laughter

Self (archive footage)

1961
The Fatal Impulse

The Fatal Impulse

Self

1960
Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness

Mr. Kurtz

1958
Frankenstein 1970

Frankenstein 1970

Baron Viktor von Frankenstein

1958
Grip of the Strangler

Grip of the Strangler

James Rankin

1958

Jack the Ripper

Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason

1958

Destination Nightmare

Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs

1958
The Juggler of Our Lady

The Juggler of Our Lady

Narrator (voice)

1957
The Lark

The Lark

Bishop Cauchon

1957
Voodoo Island

Voodoo Island

Phillip Knight

1957
Rendezvous in Black

Rendezvous in Black

Ward Allen

1956
A Connecticut Yankee

A Connecticut Yankee

King Arthur

1955
Sting of Death

Sting of Death

Mr. Mycroft

1955
Sabaka

Sabaka

General Pollegar

1955
The Island Monster

The Island Monster

Don Gaetano

1954
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

1953
Colonel March Investigates

Colonel March Investigates

Colonel March

1953
The Black Castle

The Black Castle

Dr. Meissen

1952
The Strange Door

The Strange Door

Voltan

1951
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

Swami Talpur

1949
The Emperor's Nightingale

The Emperor's Nightingale

Narrator (English version)

1949
Tap Roots

Tap Roots

Tishomingo

1948
Unconquered

Unconquered

Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas

1947
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Gruesome

1947
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Dr Hugo Hollingshead

1947
Lured

Lured

Charles van Druten

1947
Bedlam

Bedlam

George Sims

1946
Isle of the Dead

Isle of the Dead

Gen. Nikolas Pherides

1945
The Body Snatcher

The Body Snatcher

John Gray

1945
The Mummy's Curse

The Mummy's Curse

Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

1944
House of Frankenstein

House of Frankenstein

Dr. Gustav Niemann

1944
The Climax

The Climax

Dr. Friedrich Hohner

1944
The Boogie Man Will Get You

The Boogie Man Will Get You

Prof. Nathaniel Billings

1942
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

Himself

1942
The Devil Commands

The Devil Commands

Dr. Julian Blair

1941

Information Please: Series 2, No. 12

Self

1941
You'll Find Out

You'll Find Out

Judge Spencer Mainwaring

1940
The Ape

The Ape

Dr. Bernard Adrian

1940
The Mummy's Hand

The Mummy's Hand

Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)

1940
Before I Hang

Before I Hang

Dr. John Garth

1940
Doomed to Die

Doomed to Die

James Lee Wong

1940
The Man with Nine Lives

The Man with Nine Lives

Dr. Leon Kravaal

1940
Black Friday

Black Friday

Dr. Ernest Sovac

1940
The Fatal Hour

The Fatal Hour

James Lee Wong

1940
Tower of London

Tower of London

Mord

1939
British Intelligence

British Intelligence

Valdar

1939
The Man They Could Not Hang

The Man They Could Not Hang

Dr. Henryk Savaard

1939
Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Mr. James Lee Wong

1939
The Mystery of Mr. Wong

The Mystery of Mr. Wong

James Lee Wong

1939
Son of Frankenstein

Son of Frankenstein

The Monster

1939
Devil's Island

Devil's Island

Dr. Charles Gaudet

1939
Mr. Wong, Detective

Mr. Wong, Detective

James Lee Wong

1938
The Invisible Menace

The Invisible Menace

Jevries

1938
Breakdowns of 1937

Breakdowns of 1937

Self

1937
West of Shanghai

West of Shanghai

"General" Wu Yen Fang

1937
Night Key

Night Key

David Mallory

1937

Cinema Circus

Himself

1937
Charlie Chan at the Opera

Charlie Chan at the Opera

Gravelle

1936
The Man Who Changed His Mind

The Man Who Changed His Mind

Dr. Laurence

1936
Juggernaut

Juggernaut

Dr. Victor Sartorius

1936
The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead

John Ellman

1936
The Invisible Ray

The Invisible Ray

Dr. Janos Rukh

1936
The Black Room

The Black Room

Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman

1935
The Raven

The Raven

Edmond Bateman

1935

Hollywood Hobbies

Himself

1935
Bride of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein

The Monster

1935
Gift of Gab

Gift of Gab

Himself

1934
The Black Cat

The Black Cat

Hjalmar Poelzig

1934
The House of Rothschild

The House of Rothschild

Count Ledrantz

1934
The Lost Patrol

The Lost Patrol

Sanders

1934
Screen Snapshots No. 11

Screen Snapshots No. 11

Himself

1934
The Ghoul

The Ghoul

Prof. Morlant

1933
The Mummy

The Mummy

Imhotep / Ardath Bey

1932
Boo

Boo

Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")

1932
The Mask of Fu Manchu

The Mask of Fu Manchu

Dr. Fu Manchu

1932
The Old Dark House

The Old Dark House

Morgan

1932
Skyscraper Souls

Skyscraper Souls

Man Approaching Ticket Counter

1932
Night World

Night World

'Happy' MacDonald

1932
Scarface

Scarface

Gaffney

1932
The Miracle Man

The Miracle Man

Nikko

1932
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood

The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood

Boris Karloff

1932
Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask

Jim Henderson

1932
Business and Pleasure

Business and Pleasure

Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph

1932
Frankenstein

Frankenstein

The Monster

1931
The Guilty Generation

The Guilty Generation

Tony Ricca

1931
The Yellow Ticket

The Yellow Ticket

Drunken Orderly

1931
The Mad Genius

The Mad Genius

Fedor's Father (uncredited)

1931
Five Star Final

Five Star Final

T. Vernon Isopod

1931
Graft

Graft

Terry

1931
I Like Your Nerve

I Like Your Nerve

Luigi - Pacheco's Butler

1931
The Public Defender

The Public Defender

The Professor

1931
Smart Money

Smart Money

Sport Williams

1931
Young Donovan's Kid

Young Donovan's Kid

Cokey Joe

1931
The Vanishing Legion

The Vanishing Legion

The Voice (voice)

1931
Cracked Nuts

Cracked Nuts

Boris - First Revolutionary

1931
King of the Wild

King of the Wild

Mustapha

1931
Tonight or Never

Tonight or Never

Waiter

1931
The Criminal Code

The Criminal Code

Ned Galloway

1931
The Utah Kid

The Utah Kid

Henchman Baxter

1930
The Sea Bat

The Sea Bat

Corsican

1930
The Bad One

The Bad One

Monsieur Gaston

1930
The Unholy Night

The Unholy Night

Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)

1929
The King of the Kongo

The King of the Kongo

Scarface Macklin

1929
Behind That Curtain

Behind That Curtain

Beetham's Manservent

1929

The Phantom of the North

Jules Gregg

1929

Anne Against the World

1929
Two Sisters

Two Sisters

Cecil

1929
The Devil's Chaplain

The Devil's Chaplain

Boris

1929
The Fatal Warning

The Fatal Warning

Mullins

1929
Burning the Wind

Burning the Wind

Pug Doran

1929
The Little Wild Girl

The Little Wild Girl

Maurice Kent

1928
Vultures of the Sea

Vultures of the Sea

Grouchy

1928
The Vanishing Rider

The Vanishing Rider

The Villain

1928
Sharp Shooters

Sharp Shooters

Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)

1928
The Love Mart

The Love Mart

Fleming

1927
Two Arabian Knights

Two Arabian Knights

Purser

1927
Soft Cushions

Soft Cushions

The Chief Conspirator

1927
The Phantom Buster

The Phantom Buster

Ramon

1927
The Meddlin' Stranger

The Meddlin' Stranger

Al Meggs

1927
Tarzan and the Golden Lion

Tarzan and the Golden Lion

Owaza

1927
The Princess from Hoboken

The Princess from Hoboken

Pavel

1927
Let It Rain

Let It Rain

Crook

1927
Old Ironsides

Old Ironsides

Saracen Guard (uncredited)

1926
Flaming Fury

Flaming Fury

Gaspard

1926
The Nickel-Hopper

The Nickel-Hopper

Dance Hall Masher

1926
The Eagle of the Sea

The Eagle of the Sea

Pirate (uncredited)

1926
Flames

Flames

Blackie Blanchette

1926
The Golden Web

The Golden Web

Dave Sinclair

1926
The Bells

The Bells

The Mesmerist

1926
Her Honor, the Governor

Her Honor, the Governor

Snipe Collins

1926
The Man in the Saddle

The Man in the Saddle

Robber (uncredited)

1926
The Greater Glory

The Greater Glory

Scissors Grinder

1926
Without Mercy

Without Mercy

Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)

1925
Parisian Nights

Parisian Nights

Pierre

1925
Never the Twain Shall Meet

Never the Twain Shall Meet

1925
Perils of the Wild

Perils of the Wild

1925
Lady Robinhood

Lady Robinhood

Cabraza

1925
The Prairie Wife

The Prairie Wife

Diego

1925
Forbidden Cargo

Forbidden Cargo

Pietro Castillano

1925
Dynamite Dan

Dynamite Dan

Tony Garcia

1924
Riders of the Plains

Riders of the Plains

1924
The Hellion

The Hellion

The Outlaw

1924
The White Panther

The White Panther

Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)

1924
The Prisoner

The Prisoner

Prince Kapolski

1923
Omar the Tentmaker

Omar the Tentmaker

Imam Mowaffak

1922
The Altar Stairs

The Altar Stairs

Hugo

1922
The Woman Conquers

The Woman Conquers

Raoul Maris

1922
The Infidel

The Infidel

The Nabob

1922
The Man from Downing Street

The Man from Downing Street

Maharajah Jehan

1922
Nan of the North

Nan of the North

Undetermined Role (uncredited)

1922
The Cave Girl

The Cave Girl

Baptiste

1921
Cheated Hearts

Cheated Hearts

Nei Hamid

1921
Without Benefit of Clergy

Without Benefit of Clergy

Ahmed Khan

1921
The Hope Diamond Mystery

The Hope Diamond Mystery

Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar

1921
The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans

Indian (uncredited)

1920
The Courage of Marge O'Doone

The Courage of Marge O'Doone

Tavish

1920
The Woman and the Puppet

The Woman and the Puppet

(uncredited)

1920
The Deadlier Sex

The Deadlier Sex

Jules Borney

1920
The Prince and Betty

The Prince and Betty

Undetermined Role

1919
His Majesty, the American

His Majesty, the American

Henchman in cloth cap

1919
The Lightning Raider

The Lightning Raider

1919