Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

🎂 23rd November 1887 (138 yrs) 📍 Camberwell, London, England, UK

Known For

Frankenstein

Biography

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.

Boris Karloff

Movies Featuring Boris Karloff

Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies

Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies (2025)

as Self - (archive footage)
The Last Repair Shop

The Last Repair Shop (2024)

as The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Dark Universe

The Dark Universe (2023)

as Frankenstein (archivo de imagen)
The Dark Universe

The Dark Universe (2023)

as La Momia (archivo de imagen)
No Image

Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story (2022)

as Self - Interviewee
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster

Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (2021)

as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!

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

as Self (archive footage)
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters

Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters (2015)

as Self (archive footage)
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film

Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film (2014)

as Various roles (archive footage)
No Image

A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02) (2013)

as Self (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored

Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored (2013)

as Self (archive footage)
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 (2008)

as Self (archive footage)
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire

Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire (2007)

as Himself (archive footage)
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

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

as Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman

Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007)

as Self (archive footage)
Lugosi: The Dark Prince

Lugosi: The Dark Prince (2006)

as Self (archive footage)
Karloff: The Gentle Monster

Karloff: The Gentle Monster (2006)

as Self (archive footage)
Terror in the Tropics

Terror in the Tropics (2006)

as Mr. Wong (archive footage)
Monster Movie Trivia Quiz

Monster Movie Trivia Quiz (2004)

The Mesmerist

The Mesmerist (2003)

as (archive footage)
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster

The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster (2002)

as Self (archive footage)
No Image

Heroes of Horror (2001)

as (archive footage)
The American Nightmare

The American Nightmare (2000)

as Self
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed

Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (2000)

as Self (archive footage)
The Many Faces of Dracula

The Many Faces of Dracula (2000)

as The Monster (archive footage)
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'

Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999)

as Self (archive footage)
Universal Horror

Universal Horror (1998)

as (archive footage)
The Universal Story

The Universal Story (1996)

as Self (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld

Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld (1994)

as Self (archive footage)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition (1994)

as (voice - archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

as Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)
No Image

Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)

as The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To (1990)

as (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello in the Movies

Abbott and Costello in the Movies (1990)

as Archival
Transylvania Twist

Transylvania Twist (1989)

as Man in Room (archive footage)
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies

Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (1988)

Creepy Classics

Creepy Classics (1987)

as Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)

as (archive footage)
The Horror of It All

The Horror of It All (1983)

as Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! (1982)

as Self (archive footage)
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 (1979)

as (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975)

as Self (archive footage)
Madhouse

Madhouse (1974)

as (archive footage)
No Image

The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute (1974)

as Self (archive footage)
Alien Terror

Alien Terror (1971)

as Prof. John Mayer
Isle of the Snake People

Isle of the Snake People (1971)

as Carl van Molder / Damballah
Hatchet for the Honeymoon

Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970)

as Gorca (archive footage)
Curse of the Crimson Altar

Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968)

as Professor John Marsh
Targets

Targets (1968)

as Byron Orlok
Fear Chamber

Fear Chamber (1968)

as Dr. Carl Mandel
Macabre Serenade

Macabre Serenade (1968)

as Matthias Morteval
Cauldron of Blood

Cauldron of Blood (1968)

as Franz Badulescu
The Movie Orgy

The Movie Orgy (1968)

as Self (archive footage)
The Sorcerers

The Sorcerers (1967)

as Prof. Marcus Monserrat
Mad Monster Party?

Mad Monster Party? (1967)

as Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
The Venetian Affair

The Venetian Affair (1967)

as Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

as Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
The Daydreamer

The Daydreamer (1966)

as The Rat (voice)
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966)

as The Corpse
Doom of Dracula

Doom of Dracula (1966)

as The Madman (archive footage)
Die, Monster, Die!

Die, Monster, Die! (1965)

as Nahum Witley
Bikini Beach

Bikini Beach (1964)

as Art Dealer
No Image

Today's Teens (1964)

as Narrator
The Comedy of Terrors

The Comedy of Terrors (1964)

as Amos Hinchley
Horror!!!

Horror!!! (1964)

as Self
A Fool's World

A Fool's World (1964)

as Narrator
Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath (1963)

as Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")
The Terror

The Terror (1963)

as Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe
Corridors of Blood

Corridors of Blood (1963)

as Dr. Thomas Bolton
The Raven

The Raven (1963)

as Dr. Scarabus
Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing

Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing (1962)

Little Lost Robot

Little Lost Robot (1962)

as Host
The Incredible Doktor Markesan

The Incredible Doktor Markesan (1962)

as Dr. Konrad Markesan
Arsenic & Old Lace

Arsenic & Old Lace (1962)

as Jonathan Brewster
The Storm

The Storm (1962)

The Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper (1961)

as Self
Days of Thrills and Laughter

Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)

as Self (archive footage)
The Fatal Impulse

The Fatal Impulse (1960)

as Self
Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness (1958)

as Mr. Kurtz
Frankenstein 1970

Frankenstein 1970 (1958)

as Baron Viktor von Frankenstein
Grip of the Strangler

Grip of the Strangler (1958)

as James Rankin
No Image

Destination Nightmare (1958)

as Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs
No Image

Jack the Ripper (1958)

as Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
The Juggler of Our Lady

The Juggler of Our Lady (1957)

as Narrator (voice)
The Lark

The Lark (1957)

as Bishop Cauchon
Voodoo Island

Voodoo Island (1957)

as Phillip Knight
Rendezvous in Black

Rendezvous in Black (1956)

as Ward Allen
A Connecticut Yankee

A Connecticut Yankee (1955)

as King Arthur
Sting of Death

Sting of Death (1955)

as Mr. Mycroft
Sabaka

Sabaka (1955)

as General Pollegar
The Island Monster

The Island Monster (1954)

as Don Gaetano
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)

as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Colonel March Investigates

Colonel March Investigates (1953)

as Colonel March
The Black Castle

The Black Castle (1952)

as Dr. Meissen
The Strange Door

The Strange Door (1951)

as Voltan
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949)

as Swami Talpur
The Emperor's Nightingale

The Emperor's Nightingale (1949)

as Narrator (English version)
Tap Roots

Tap Roots (1948)

as Tishomingo
Unconquered

Unconquered (1947)

as Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)

as Gruesome
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)

as Dr Hugo Hollingshead
Lured

Lured (1947)

as Charles van Druten
Bedlam

Bedlam (1946)

as George Sims
Isle of the Dead

Isle of the Dead (1945)

as Gen. Nikolas Pherides
The Body Snatcher

The Body Snatcher (1945)

as John Gray
The Mummy's Curse

The Mummy's Curse (1944)

as Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
House of Frankenstein

House of Frankenstein (1944)

as Dr. Gustav Niemann
The Climax

The Climax (1944)

as Dr. Friedrich Hohner
The Boogie Man Will Get You

The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942)

as Prof. Nathaniel Billings
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6 (1942)

as Himself
The Devil Commands

The Devil Commands (1941)

as Dr. Julian Blair
No Image

Information Please: Series 2, No. 12 (1941)

as Self
You'll Find Out

You'll Find Out (1940)

as Judge Spencer Mainwaring
The Ape

The Ape (1940)

as Dr. Bernard Adrian
The Mummy's Hand

The Mummy's Hand (1940)

as Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
Before I Hang

Before I Hang (1940)

as Dr. John Garth
Doomed to Die

Doomed to Die (1940)

as James Lee Wong
The Man with Nine Lives

The Man with Nine Lives (1940)

as Dr. Leon Kravaal
Black Friday

Black Friday (1940)

as Dr. Ernest Sovac
The Fatal Hour

The Fatal Hour (1940)

as James Lee Wong
Tower of London

Tower of London (1939)

as Mord
British Intelligence

British Intelligence (1939)

as Valdar
The Man They Could Not Hang

The Man They Could Not Hang (1939)

as Dr. Henryk Savaard
Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939)

as Mr. James Lee Wong
The Mystery of Mr. Wong

The Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939)

as James Lee Wong
Son of Frankenstein

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

as The Monster
Devil's Island

Devil's Island (1939)

as Dr. Charles Gaudet
Mr. Wong, Detective

Mr. Wong, Detective (1938)

as James Lee Wong
The Invisible Menace

The Invisible Menace (1938)

as Jevries
Breakdowns of 1937

Breakdowns of 1937 (1937)

as Self
West of Shanghai

West of Shanghai (1937)

as "General" Wu Yen Fang
Night Key

Night Key (1937)

as David Mallory
No Image

Cinema Circus (1937)

as Himself
Charlie Chan at the Opera

Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)

as Gravelle
The Man Who Changed His Mind

The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)

as Dr. Laurence
Juggernaut

Juggernaut (1936)

as Dr. Victor Sartorius
The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead (1936)

as John Ellman
The Invisible Ray

The Invisible Ray (1936)

as Dr. Janos Rukh
The Black Room

The Black Room (1935)

as Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
The Raven

The Raven (1935)

as Edmond Bateman
No Image

Hollywood Hobbies (1935)

as Himself
Bride of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

as The Monster
Gift of Gab

Gift of Gab (1934)

as Himself
The Black Cat

The Black Cat (1934)

as Hjalmar Poelzig
The House of Rothschild

The House of Rothschild (1934)

as Count Ledrantz
The Lost Patrol

The Lost Patrol (1934)

as Sanders
Screen Snapshots No. 11

Screen Snapshots No. 11 (1934)

as Himself
The Ghoul

The Ghoul (1933)

as Prof. Morlant
The Mummy

The Mummy (1932)

as Imhotep / Ardath Bey
Boo

Boo (1932)

as Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
The Mask of Fu Manchu

The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)

as Dr. Fu Manchu
The Old Dark House

The Old Dark House (1932)

as Morgan
Skyscraper Souls

Skyscraper Souls (1932)

as Man Approaching Ticket Counter
Night World

Night World (1932)

as 'Happy' MacDonald
Scarface

Scarface (1932)

as Gaffney
The Miracle Man

The Miracle Man (1932)

as Nikko
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood

The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood (1932)

as Boris Karloff
Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask (1932)

as Jim Henderson
Business and Pleasure

Business and Pleasure (1932)

as Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph
Frankenstein

Frankenstein (1931)

as The Monster
The Guilty Generation

The Guilty Generation (1931)

as Tony Ricca
The Yellow Ticket

The Yellow Ticket (1931)

as Drunken Orderly
The Mad Genius

The Mad Genius (1931)

as Fedor's Father (uncredited)
Five Star Final

Five Star Final (1931)

as T. Vernon Isopod
Graft

Graft (1931)

as Terry
I Like Your Nerve

I Like Your Nerve (1931)

as Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
The Public Defender

The Public Defender (1931)

as The Professor
Smart Money

Smart Money (1931)

as Sport Williams
Young Donovan's Kid

Young Donovan's Kid (1931)

as Cokey Joe
The Vanishing Legion

The Vanishing Legion (1931)

as The Voice (voice)
Cracked Nuts

Cracked Nuts (1931)

as Boris - First Revolutionary
King of the Wild

King of the Wild (1931)

as Mustapha
Tonight or Never

Tonight or Never (1931)

as Waiter
The Criminal Code

The Criminal Code (1931)

as Ned Galloway
The Utah Kid

The Utah Kid (1930)

as Henchman Baxter
The Sea Bat

The Sea Bat (1930)

as Corsican
The Bad One

The Bad One (1930)

as Monsieur Gaston
The Unholy Night

The Unholy Night (1929)

as Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
The King of the Kongo

The King of the Kongo (1929)

as Scarface Macklin
Behind That Curtain

Behind That Curtain (1929)

as Beetham's Manservent
No Image

The Phantom of the North (1929)

as Jules Gregg
No Image

Anne Against the World (1929)

Two Sisters

Two Sisters (1929)

as Cecil
The Devil's Chaplain

The Devil's Chaplain (1929)

as Boris
The Fatal Warning

The Fatal Warning (1929)

as Mullins
Burning the Wind

Burning the Wind (1929)

as Pug Doran
The Little Wild Girl

The Little Wild Girl (1928)

as Maurice Kent
Vultures of the Sea

Vultures of the Sea (1928)

as Grouchy
The Vanishing Rider

The Vanishing Rider (1928)

as The Villain
Sharp Shooters

Sharp Shooters (1928)

as Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
The Love Mart

The Love Mart (1927)

as Fleming
Two Arabian Knights

Two Arabian Knights (1927)

as Purser
Soft Cushions

Soft Cushions (1927)

as The Chief Conspirator
The Phantom Buster

The Phantom Buster (1927)

as Ramon
The Meddlin' Stranger

The Meddlin' Stranger (1927)

as Al Meggs
Tarzan and the Golden Lion

Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927)

as Owaza
The Princess from Hoboken

The Princess from Hoboken (1927)

as Pavel
Let It Rain

Let It Rain (1927)

as Crook
Old Ironsides

Old Ironsides (1926)

as Saracen Guard (uncredited)
Flaming Fury

Flaming Fury (1926)

as Gaspard
The Nickel-Hopper

The Nickel-Hopper (1926)

as Dance Hall Masher
The Eagle of the Sea

The Eagle of the Sea (1926)

as Pirate (uncredited)
Flames

Flames (1926)

as Blackie Blanchette
The Golden Web

The Golden Web (1926)

as Dave Sinclair
The Bells

The Bells (1926)

as The Mesmerist
Her Honor, the Governor

Her Honor, the Governor (1926)

as Snipe Collins
The Man in the Saddle

The Man in the Saddle (1926)

as Robber (uncredited)
The Greater Glory

The Greater Glory (1926)

as Scissors Grinder
Without Mercy

Without Mercy (1925)

as Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
Parisian Nights

Parisian Nights (1925)

as Pierre
Never the Twain Shall Meet

Never the Twain Shall Meet (1925)

Perils of the Wild

Perils of the Wild (1925)

Lady Robinhood

Lady Robinhood (1925)

as Cabraza
The Prairie Wife

The Prairie Wife (1925)

as Diego
Forbidden Cargo

Forbidden Cargo (1925)

as Pietro Castillano
Dynamite Dan

Dynamite Dan (1924)

as Tony Garcia
Riders of the Plains

Riders of the Plains (1924)

The Hellion

The Hellion (1924)

as The Outlaw
The White Panther

The White Panther (1924)

as Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
The Prisoner

The Prisoner (1923)

as Prince Kapolski
Omar the Tentmaker

Omar the Tentmaker (1922)

as Imam Mowaffak
The Altar Stairs

The Altar Stairs (1922)

as Hugo
The Woman Conquers

The Woman Conquers (1922)

as Raoul Maris
The Man from Downing Street

The Man from Downing Street (1922)

as Maharajah Jehan
The Infidel

The Infidel (1922)

as The Nabob
Nan of the North

Nan of the North (1922)

as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
The Cave Girl

The Cave Girl (1921)

as Baptiste
Cheated Hearts

Cheated Hearts (1921)

as Nei Hamid
Without Benefit of Clergy

Without Benefit of Clergy (1921)

as Ahmed Khan
The Hope Diamond Mystery

The Hope Diamond Mystery (1921)

as Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans (1920)

as Indian (uncredited)
The Courage of Marge O'Doone

The Courage of Marge O'Doone (1920)

as Tavish
The Woman and the Puppet

The Woman and the Puppet (1920)

as (uncredited)
The Deadlier Sex

The Deadlier Sex (1920)

as Jules Borney
The Prince and Betty

The Prince and Betty (1919)

as Undetermined Role
His Majesty, the American

His Majesty, the American (1919)

as Henchman in cloth cap
The Lightning Raider

The Lightning Raider (1919)