Biography
Boris Karloff (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), whose real name was William Henry Pratt, 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.
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Filmography
all 277
Movies 239
self 47
TV Shows 38
Narrator 4
Voice 3
The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Last Repair Shop (2024)
Movie
Self - Interviewee
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story (2022)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (2021)
Movie
Hjalmar Poelzig
A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal (2019)
Movie
ArchiveFootage
Dreams Within a Dream: The Classic Cinema of Edgar Allan Poe (2019)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters (2015)
Movie
Various roles (archive footage)
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film (2014)
Movie
ArchiveFootage
A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02) (2013)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored (2013)
Movie
The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features (2012)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce (2008)
Movie
Himself (archive footage)
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire (2007)
Movie
Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (2007)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007)
Movie
Clips from 'The Haunted Strangler'
Haunted Memories (2007)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Lugosi: The Dark Prince (2006)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Karloff: The Gentle Monster (2006)
Movie
Mr. Wong
Terror in the Tropics (2006)
Movie
Imhotep (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bones (2005)
TV
5.95
ArchiveFootage
Monster Movie Trivia Quiz (2004)
Movie
ArchiveFootage
The Mesmerist (2003)
Movie
Self
Extra Weird Sampler (2003)
Movie
Dr. Scarabus
Corman's Comedy of Poe (2003)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster (2002)
Movie
Self / Frankenstein's Monster / Narrator & The Grinch
Heroes of Horror (2001)
Movie
Self
The American Nightmare (2000)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (2000)
Movie
The Monster (archive footage)
The Many Faces of Dracula (2000)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999)
Movie
(archive footage)
Universal Horror (1998)
Movie
Himself (archive footage)
The Universal Story (1996)
Movie
(voice - archive footage)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition (1994)
Movie
(voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
In Search of Dr. Seuss (1994)
Movie
The Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Documentary (1994)
Movie
6.42
The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)
Movie
Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)
Movie
(archive footage)
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To (1990)
Movie
Archival
Abbott and Costello in the Movies (1990)
Movie
Man in Room
Transylvania Twist (1989)
Movie
Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)
Creepy Classics (1987)
Movie
Gruesome in 'Dick Tracey Meets Gruesome'
Horrible Horror (1986)
Movie
Self
Don't Scream: It's Only a Movie! (1985)
Movie
The Monster (Archive Footage)
Terror in the Aisles (1984)
Movie
(archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)
Movie
Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
The Horror of It All (1983)
Movie
4
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! (1982)
Movie
(archive footage)
The Horror Show (1979)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975)
Movie
(archive footage)
Madhouse (1974)
Movie
2.67
Self (archive footage)
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute (1974)
Movie
Prof. John Mayer
Alien Terror (1971)
Movie
Karl Van Molder / Damballah
Isle of the Snake People (1971)
Movie
Gorca (archive footage)
Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970)
Movie
Franz Badulescu
Cauldron of Blood (1970)
Movie
Professor John Marsh
Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968)
Movie
Mikhail Orlov
The Name of the Game (1968)
TV
Byron Orlok
Targets (1968)
Movie
Matthias Morteval
Macabre Serenade (1968)
Movie
Dr. Karl Mantell
Fear Chamber (1968)
Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy (1968)
Movie
Prof. Marcus Monserrat
The Sorcerers (1967)
Movie
Baron Boris von Frankenstein
Mad Monster Party? (1967)
Movie
Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
The Venetian Affair (1967)
Movie
Narrator / The Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Movie
8.2
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966)
TV
The Rat (voice)
The Daydreamer (1966)
Movie
The Corpse
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966)
Movie
3.63
The Madman
Doom of Dracula (1966)
Movie
Nahum Witley
Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
Movie
4.5
The Wild Wild West (1965)
TV
5.75
Self - Guest Host / Singer
Shindig! (1964)
TV
Art Dealer / Thanks
Bikini Beach (1964)
Movie
5.06
Narrator
Today's Teens (1964)
Movie
Amos Hinchley
The Comedy of Terrors (1964)
Movie
6
Self
Horror!!! (1964)
Movie
Self - Narrator
A Fool's World (1964)
Movie
Gorca (segment "I Wurdalak")
Black Sabbath (1963)
Movie
6
Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe / Eric
The Terror (1963)
Movie
Dr. Scarabus
The Raven (1963)
Movie
6
Self - Host
Little Lost Robot (1962)
Movie
Self - Host
Out of This World (1962)
TV
Self / Doktor Konrad Markesan
The Incredible Doktor Markesan (1962)
Movie
Jonathan Brewster
Arsenic & Old Lace (1962)
Movie
Self
The Storm (1962)
Movie
Self - Host
The Return of Andrew Bentley (1961)
Movie
archive footage
Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)
Movie
Route 66 (1960)
TV
Self - Host / Self - Host / Doktor Konrad Markesan / Dr. Albert Farnham / Clayton Mace / Pop Jenkins / Col. Jackson Beauregard Finchess / Dr. Thorne
Thriller (1960)
TV
Dr. Bolton
Corridors of Blood (1958)
Movie
Mr. Kurtz
Heart of Darkness (1958)
Movie
Baron Victor von Frankenstein
Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
Movie
James Rankin
Grip of the Strangler (1958)
Movie
Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr.
Destination Nightmare (1958)
Movie
Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
Jack the Ripper (1958)
Movie
Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958)
TV
Host / Andre Giraud / Captain Elwood
The Veil (1958)
TV
Narrator
The Juggler of Our Lady (1957)
Movie
Judge Winthrop Gelsey
Suspicion (1957)
TV
DuPont Show of the Month (1957)
TV
Self
The Lux Show (1957)
TV
Bishop Cauchon
The Lark (1957)
Movie
Phillip Knight
Voodoo Island (1957)
Movie
Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956)
TV
Self
The Rosemary Clooney Show (1956)
TV
Telephone Time (1956)
TV
Colonel March Of Scotland Yard / Col. Perceval March / Colonel March of Scotland Yard
Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956)
TV
self
This Is Your Life (1955)
TV
T. Vernon Isopod
When the Talkies Were Young (1955)
Movie
King Arthur
A Connecticut Yankee (1955)
Movie
Mr. Mycroft
The Sting of Death (1955)
Movie
Gen. Pollegar
Sabaka (1955)
Movie
Dr. Philip Nestri / Vicar Tellworth
Climax! (1954)
TV
Mr. Mycroft
The Elgin Hour (1954)
TV
Self
The George Gobel Show (1954)
TV
Don Gaetano
The Island Monster (1954)
Movie
George Redford
The United States Steel Hour (1953)
TV
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)
Movie
6.67
Colonel March
Colonel March Investigates (1953)
Movie
Mr. Blue Ocean / Henry E. Church
General Electric Theater (1953)
TV
Dr. Meissen
The Black Castle (1952)
Movie
3.5
Don Quixote
CBS Television Workshop (1952)
TV
Cauchon / Jonathan Brewster
Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
TV
8.33
Charles Brandon
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
TV
Tales of Tomorrow (1951)
TV
Voltan
The Strange Door (1951)
Movie
4
Self
Down You Go (1951)
TV
Self
The Ernie Kovacs Show (1951)
TV
Sir Arthur Strangeways / Larkin / Montgomery Royle
Lux Video Theatre (1950)
TV
Self - Mystery Guest
What's My Line? (1950)
TV
Bennett Kimball
Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
TV
Starring Boris Karloff (1949)
TV
Swami Talpur
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949)
Movie
6.33
Lights Out (1949)
TV
Narrator (English version)
The Emperor's Nightingale (1949)
Movie
Toff / Bronson / Rasputin
Suspense (1949)
TV
Self
Celebrity Time (1948)
TV
Skaggs / King Arthur / Professor Koernig
Studio One (1948)
TV
Doctor Steven Johnson
The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (1948)
TV
Tishomingo
Tap Roots (1948)
Movie
Guyasuta - Chief of the Senecas
Unconquered (1947)
Movie
Gruesome
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)
Movie
4
Dr. Hugo Hollingshead
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
Movie
Charles van Druten
Lured (1947)
Movie
Master George Sims
Bedlam (1946)
Movie
Gen. Nikolas Pherides
Isle of the Dead (1945)
Movie
6
Cabman John Gray
The Body Snatcher (1945)
Movie
3.5
Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
The Mummy's Curse (1944)
Movie
5.36
Doctor Gustav Niemann
House of Frankenstein (1944)
Movie
5.35
Dr. Friedrich Hohner
The Climax (1944)
Movie
Prof. Nathaniel Billings
The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942)
Movie
6
Himself
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6 (1942)
Movie
Self
Information Please: Series 2, No. 12 (1941)
Movie
Dr. Julian Blair
The Devil Commands (1941)
Movie
6.2
Judge Spencer Mainwaring
You'll Find Out (1940)
Movie
Dr. Bernard Adrian
The Ape (1940)
Movie
Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
The Mummy's Hand (1940)
Movie
5.41
Dr. John Garth
Before I Hang (1940)
Movie
3
James Lee Wong
Doomed to Die (1940)
Movie
6
Dr. Leon Kravaal
The Man with Nine Lives (1940)
Movie
4
Dr. Ernest Sovac
Black Friday (1940)
Movie
6
James Lee Wong
The Fatal Hour (1940)
Movie
Mord
Tower of London (1939)
Movie
6
Valdar
British Intelligence (1939)
Movie
1
Dr. Henryk Savaard
The Man They Could Not Hang (1939)
Movie
5.2
James Lee Wong
Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939)
Movie
4
Mr. James Lee Wong
The Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939)
Movie
3.29
The Monster
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Movie
5.39
Dr. Charles Gaudet
Devil's Island (1939)
Movie
James Lee Wong
Mr. Wong, Detective (1938)
Movie
3.33
Jevries
The Invisible Menace (1938)
Movie
Self
Breakdowns of 1937 (1937)
Movie
Wu Yen Fang
West of Shanghai (1937)
Movie
David Mallory
Night Key (1937)
Movie
1
Himself
Cinema Circus (1937)
Movie
Gravelle
Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)
Movie
4.67
Dr. Laurience / Dick Haslewood
The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)
Movie
Doctor Victor Sartorius
Juggernaut (1936)
Movie
John Ellman
The Walking Dead (1936)
Movie
5
Dr. Janos Rukh
The Invisible Ray (1936)
Movie
5
Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
The Black Room (1935)
Movie
6.75
Edmond Bateman
The Raven (1935)
Movie
5.83
Himself
Hollywood Hobbies (1935)
Movie
The Monster
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Movie
5.73
Himself
Gift of Gab (1934)
Movie
Hjalmar Poelzig
The Black Cat (1934)
Movie
6.17
Count Ledrantz
The House of Rothschild (1934)
Movie
Sanders
The Lost Patrol (1934)
Movie
Himself
Screen Snapshots No. 11 (1934)
Movie
Prof. Henry Morlant
The Ghoul (1933)
Movie
6
Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
Boo (1932)
Movie
Dr. Fu Manchu
The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)
Movie
6
Morgan
The Old Dark House (1932)
Movie
4.8
Man Approaching Ticket Counter
Skyscraper Souls (1932)
Movie
'Happy' MacDonald
Night World (1932)
Movie
Gaffney
Scarface (1932)
Movie
4.5
Nikko
The Miracle Man (1932)
Movie
Boris Karloff
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood (1932)
Movie
Jim Henderson
Behind the Mask (1932)
Movie
Sheik Ali Ben Joseph (uncredited)
Business and Pleasure (1932)
Movie
Imhotep, alias Ardath Bey
The Mummy (1932)
Movie
5.66
The Monster
Frankenstein (1931)
Movie
5.47
Tony Ricca
The Guilty Generation (1931)
Movie
Drunken Orderly
The Yellow Ticket (1931)
Movie
Fedor's Father (uncredited)
The Mad Genius (1931)
Movie
T. Vernon Isopod
Five Star Final (1931)
Movie
'Terry'
Graft (1931)
Movie
Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
I Like Your Nerve (1931)
Movie
The Professor
The Public Defender (1931)
Movie
Sport Williams
Smart Money (1931)
Movie
Cokey Joe
Young Donovan's Kid (1931)
Movie
The Voice (voice)
The Vanishing Legion (1931)
Movie
Boris - First Revolutionary
Cracked Nuts (1931)
Movie
Mustapha
King of the Wild (1931)
Movie
Waiter
Tonight or Never (1931)
Movie
Galloway
The Criminal Code (1931)
Movie
Henchman Baxter
The Utah Kid (1930)
Movie
Corsican
The Sea Bat (1930)
Movie
Monsieur Gaston
The Bad One (1930)
Movie
Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
The Unholy Night (1929)
Movie
Scarface Macklin
The King of the Kongo (1929)
Movie
Beetham's Manservent
Behind That Curtain (1929)
Movie
Jules Gregg
The Phantom of the North (1929)
Movie
Anne Against the World (1929)
Movie
Cecil
Two Sisters (1929)
Movie
Boris
The Devil's Chaplain (1929)
Movie
Mullins
The Fatal Warning (1929)
Movie
Pug Doran
Burning the Wind (1929)
Movie
Maurice Kent
The Little Wild Girl (1928)
Movie
Grouchy
Vultures of the Sea (1928)
Movie
The Villain
The Vanishing Rider (1928)
Movie
Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Sharp Shooters (1928)
Movie
Fleming
The Love Mart (1927)
Movie
Purser
Two Arabian Knights (1927)
Movie
The Chief Conspirator
Soft Cushions (1927)
Movie
Ramon
The Phantom Buster (1927)
Movie
Al Meggs
The Meddlin' Stranger (1927)
Movie
Owaza
Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927)
Movie
Pavel
The Princess from Hoboken (1927)
Movie
Crook
Let It Rain (1927)
Movie
Saracen Guard (uncredited)
Old Ironsides (1926)
Movie
Gaspard
Flaming Fury (1926)
Movie
Dance Hall Masher
The Nickel-Hopper (1926)
Movie
Pirate (uncredited)
The Eagle of the Sea (1926)
Movie
Blackie Blanchette
Flames (1926)
Movie
Dave Sinclair
The Golden Web (1926)
Movie
The Mesmerist
The Bells (1926)
Movie
6
Snipe Collins
Her Honor, the Governor (1926)
Movie
Robber (uncredited)
The Man in the Saddle (1926)
Movie
Scissors Grinder
The Greater Glory (1926)
Movie
Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
Without Mercy (1925)
Movie
Pierre
Parisian Nights (1925)
Movie
Never the Twain Shall Meet (1925)
Movie
Perils of the Wild (1925)
Movie
Cabraza
Lady Robinhood (1925)
Movie
Diego
The Prairie Wife (1925)
Movie
Pietro Castillano
Forbidden Cargo (1925)
Movie
Tony Garcia
Dynamite Dan (1924)
Movie
Riders of the Plains (1924)
Movie
The Outlaw
The Hellion (1924)
Movie
Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
The White Panther (1924)
Movie
Prince Kapolski
The Prisoner (1923)
Movie
Imam Mowaffak
Omar the Tentmaker (1922)
Movie
Hugo
The Altar Stairs (1922)
Movie
Raoul Maris
The Woman Conquers (1922)
Movie
The Nabob
The Infidel (1922)
Movie
Maharajah Jehan
The Man from Downing Street (1922)
Movie
Undetermined Role
Nan of the North (1922)
Movie
Baptiste
The Cave Girl (1921)
Movie
Nei Hamid
Cheated Hearts (1921)
Movie
Ahmed Khan
Without Benefit of Clergy (1921)
Movie
Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
The Hope Diamond Mystery (1921)
Movie
Indian (uncredited)
The Last of the Mohicans (1920)
Movie
Tavish
The Courage of Marge O'Doone (1920)
Movie
Jules Borney
The Deadlier Sex (1920)
Movie
Undetermined Role
The Prince and Betty (1919)
Movie
Henchman in cloth cap
His Majesty, the American (1919)
Movie
The Lightning Raider (1919)
Movie
Ratings
Average 5.3
Based on 742 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1919
1931
1948
1931
2024
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Gallery
Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1887-11-23
Deathday1969-02-02 (81 years old)
Birth NameWilliam Henry Pratt
Birth PlaceDulwich, United Kingdom
ReligionAnglicanism
Height180-centimeter
RelationshipsEvelyn Hope (1946-04-11 - 1969-02-02), http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/85e2da23ad01f6b90ea1831aa58c94cf (1910-01-01 - 1913-01-01), http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/928f815fb0dd42a3e6d4e7c6c9775586 (1916-01-01 - 1919-01-01), http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/cb51526ee7c7516158b74fd3ebd1a9b9 (1930-01-01 - 1946-01-01), http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/b7c34ed7f32c0b914d67c8e8c7b2e114 (1924-01-01 - 1928-01-01), http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/db0bc787f2d053200904814e49a89897 (1920-01-01 - 1922-01-01)
FatherEdward John Pratt
MotherEliza Sarah Millard
CitizenshipsUnited States of America, United Kingdom
Also Known AsWilliam Henry Pratt
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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