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Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt, known professionally as Boris Karloff, was an English actor with a career that spanned five decades. Karloff is best known for his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film 'Frankenstein' (1931), his 82nd film, which helped him establish a successful career as a horror icon. He also took up the role for the sequels 'Bride of Frankenstein' (1935) and 'Son of Frankenstein' (1939), and is remembered for his performance as Imhotep in 'The Mummy' (1932). Karloff's contribution to the film and television industry even earned him two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrating a career that was not only limited to acting but also included stage plays, radio, and television parts.
Karloff was born on 23 November 1887, at 36 Forest Hill Road, Peckham. He was raised primarily by his half-sister and elder siblings after both his parents passed away while he was young. His first acting stint was in theater, where he adopted his stage name. After a couple of odd jobs in Canada, he left England and established his acting career in America. A career in Hollywood saw him start out with small roles in silent films before becoming a much-loved figure in horror films. His private life was quite vibrant, with Karloff marrying six times and fathering one child.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Boris Karloff, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Boris Karloff rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: William Henry Pratt
Born: Dulwich, Surrey, England
Citizenship: England
Birthday: November 23, 1887
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1919-1968
Children: 1
Spouses: Grace Harding, Montana Laurena Williams, Helene Vivian Soule, Dorothy Stine, Evelyn Hope Helmore
External Links and Streaming Options
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Movies Featuring Boris Karloff
Scarface
The Body Snatcher
Black Sabbath
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
The Bride of Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters
The Many Faces of Dracula
The American Nightmare
Heroes of Horror
The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
Karloff: The Gentle Monster
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Lugosi: The Dark Prince
The Horror of It All
Going Hollywood: The ’30s
Creepy Classics
His Majesty, the American
Transylvania Twist
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Horror!!!
Dynamite Dan
The Man with Nine Lives
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
The Mask of Fu Manchu
Cauldron of Blood
Sabaka
The Mummy’s Hand
The Guilty Generation
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
The Strange Door
The Climax
Unconquered
Five Star Final
King of the Wild
The Criminal Code
Curse of the Crimson Altar
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
The Old Dark House
I Like Your Nerve
The Last of the Mohicans
The Deadlier Sex
The Bells
The Sorcerers
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Black Friday
The House of Rothschild
Doom of Dracula
Cracked Nuts
The Fatal Hour
Bikini Beach
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood
Monsters We’ve Known and Loved
The Venetian Affair
The Island Monster
Gift of Gab
Madhouse
The Movie Orgy
Smart Money
Two Arabian Knights
Die, Monster, Die!
The Ghoul
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome
The Unholy Night
The ‘Frankenstein’ Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
The Sea Bat
Breakdowns of 1937
The Yellow Ticket
Son of Frankenstein
The Comedy of Terrors
The Walking Dead
The Miracle Man
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
House of Frankenstein
Corridors of Blood
Jack the Ripper
Lured
Days of Thrills and Laughter
The Emperor’s Nightingale
Boo
Colonel March Investigates
Old Ironsides
The Black Room
The Mummy
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
Isle of the Snake People
Isle of the Dead
The Juggler of Our Lady
The Son of Frankenstein
The Ape
Before I Hang
The Nickel-Hopper
Mad Monster Party?
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition
Tarzan and the Golden Lion
The Raven
The Boogie Man Will Get You
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
Voodoo Island
Behind That Curtain
Alien Terror
Little Lost Robot
The Black Castle
The Public Defender
Behind the Mask
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
Tap Roots
Frankenstein 1970
A Fool’s World
Macabre Serenade
Business and Pleasure
Skyscraper Souls
Mr. Wong, Detective
Night World
100 Years of Horror: The Walking Dead
The Universal Story
British Intelligence
Hollywood Hobbies
Charlie Chan at the Opera
Targets
The Daydreamer
The Black Cat
Destination Nightmare
The Man Who Changed His Mind
Universal Horror
The Mad Genius
The Last Repair Shop
The King of the Kongo
The Horror Show
Bedlam
Graft
Tonight or Never
The Lost Patrol
The Terror
The Devil Commands
Tower of London
Heart of Darkness
The Incredible Doktor Markesan
The Mummy’s Curse
The Man They Could Not Hang
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of ‘The Wolf Man’
The Mystery of Mr. Wong
Arsenic & Old Lace
Fear Chamber
West of Shanghai
Doomed to Die
Juggernaut
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Boris Karloff, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
2021
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
Self - Interviewee
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Self (archive footage)
2007
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire
Himself (archive footage)
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
Self (archive footage)
2006
Karloff: The Gentle Monster
Self (archive footage)
Lugosi: The Dark Prince
Self (archive footage)
2000
The Many Faces of Dracula
The Monster (archive footage)
The American Nightmare
Self
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
Self (archive footage)
1999
The ‘Frankenstein’ Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
Self (archive footage)
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of ‘The Wolf Man’
Self (archive footage)
1994
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Self (archive footage)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition
(voice - archive footage)
1991
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
1968
Curse of the Crimson Altar
Professor John Marsh
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
Macabre Serenade
Matthias Morteval
Targets
Byron Orlok
Fear Chamber
Dr. Carl Mandel
1967
The Sorcerers
Prof. Marcus Monserrat
The Venetian Affair
Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
Mad Monster Party?
Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
1966
Doom of Dracula
The Madman (archive footage)
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
The Corpse
The Daydreamer
The Rat (voice)
1962
Little Lost Robot
Host
The Incredible Doktor Markesan
Dr. Konrad Markesan
Arsenic & Old Lace
Jonathan Brewster
1958
Corridors of Blood
Dr. Thomas Bolton
Jack the Ripper
Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
Frankenstein 1970
Baron Viktor von Frankenstein
Destination Nightmare
Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs
Heart of Darkness
Mr. Kurtz
1949
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Swami Talpur
The Emperor’s Nightingale
Narrator (English version)
1947
Unconquered
Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Dr. Hugo Hollingshead
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome
Gruesome
Lured
Charles van Druten
1944
The Climax
Dr. Friedrich Hohner
House of Frankenstein
Dr. Gustav Niemann
The Mummy’s Curse
Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
1940
The Man with Nine Lives
Dr. Leon Kravaal
The Mummy’s Hand
Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
Black Friday
Dr. Ernest Sovac
The Fatal Hour
James Lee Wong
The Ape
Dr. Bernard Adrian
Before I Hang
Dr. John Garth
Doomed to Die
James Lee Wong
1939
Son of Frankenstein
The Monster
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Mr. James Lee Wong
British Intelligence
Valdar
Tower of London
Mord
The Man They Could Not Hang
Dr. Henryk Savaard
The Mystery of Mr. Wong
James Lee Wong
1936
The Walking Dead
John Ellman
Charlie Chan at the Opera
Gravelle
The Man Who Changed His Mind
Dr. Laurence
Juggernaut
Dr. Victor Sartorius
1935
The Bride of Frankenstein
The Black Room
Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
The Raven
Edmond Bateman
Hollywood Hobbies
Himself
1934
The House of Rothschild
Count Ledrantz
Gift of Gab
Himself
The Black Cat
Hjalmar Poelzig
The Lost Patrol
Sanders
1932
Scarface
The Mask of Fu Manchu
Dr. Fu Manchu
The Old Dark House
Morgan
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood
Boris Karloff
The Miracle Man
Nikko
Boo
Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
The Mummy
Imhotep, alias Ardath Bey
Behind the Mask
Jim Henderson
Business and Pleasure
Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph
Skyscraper Souls
Man Approaching Ticket Counter
Night World
'Happy' MacDonald
1931
Frankenstein
The Guilty Generation
Tony Ricca
Five Star Final
T. Vernon Isopod
King of the Wild
Mustapha
I Like Your Nerve
Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
Cracked Nuts
Boris - First Revolutionary
Smart Money
Sport Williams
The Yellow Ticket
Drunken Orderly
The Public Defender
The Professor
The Mad Genius
Fedor's Father (uncredited)
Graft
Terry
Tonight or Never
Waiter
1929
The Unholy Night
Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
Behind That Curtain
Beetham's Manservent
The King of the Kongo
Scarface Macklin
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