Boris Karloff
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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
Credits
The Mummy (1932)
as Imhotep / Ardath Bey
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
as The Monster
Frankenstein (1931)
as The Monster
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
as The Monster
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
as Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
Scarface (1932)
as Gaffney
Unconquered (1947)
as Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
The Raven (1963)
as Dr. Scarabus
The Old Dark House (1932)
as Morgan
House of Frankenstein (1944)
as Dr. Gustav Niemann
Black Sabbath (1963)
as Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")
The Mummy's Curse (1944)
as Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947)
as Dr. Hollingshead
The Body Snatcher (1945)
as John Gray
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies (2025)
as Self (archive footage)
The Terror (1963)
as Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe
The Movie Orgy (1968)
as Self (archive footage)
The Black Cat (1934)
as Hjalmar Poelzig
The Black Room (1935)
as Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
The Mummy's Hand (1940)
as Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
Bedlam (1946)
as George Sims
The Last Repair Shop (2024)
as The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Lost Patrol (1934)
as Sanders
Isle of the Dead (1945)
as Gen. Nikolas Pherides
Targets (1968)
as Byron Orlok
Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968)
as Professor John Marsh
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute (1974)
as Self (archive footage)
Tap Roots (1948)
as Tishomingo
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
The Raven (1935)
as Edmond Bateman
The House of Rothschild (1934)
as Count Ledrantz
The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)
as Dr. Fu Manchu
The Walking Dead (1936)
as John Ellman
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)
as Gruesome
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007)
as Self (archive footage)
The Comedy of Terrors (1964)
as Amos Hinchley
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949)
as Swami Talpur
Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
as Nahum Witley
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)
as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Dracula in the Movies (1992)
as (archive footage)
Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970)
as Gorca (archive footage)
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999)
as Self (archive footage)
Mad Monster Party? (1967)
as Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists! (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To (1990)
as (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975)
as Self (archive footage)
You'll Find Out (1940)
as Judge Spencer Mainwaring
Macabre Serenade (1968)
as Matthias Morteval
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966)
as The Corpse
Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)
as (archive footage)
The American Nightmare (2000)
as Self
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story (2022)
as Self - Interviewee
The Man They Could Not Hang (1939)
as Dr. Henryk Savaard
The Strange Door (1951)
as Voltan
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! (1982)
as Self (archive footage)
The Man with Nine Lives (1940)
as Dr. Leon Kravaal
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film (2014)
as Various roles (archive footage)
Hollywood Hobbies (1935)
as Himself
Soft Cushions (1927)
as The Chief Conspirator
Tower of London (1939)
as Mord
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies (1988)
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)
as The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
King of the Wild (1931)
as Mustapha
Before I Hang (1940)
as Dr. John Garth
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster (1999)
as Self (archive footage)
Lured (1947)
as Charles van Druten
The Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939)
as James Lee Wong
Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936)
as Gravelle
Karloff: The Gentle Monster (2006)
as Self (archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991)
as Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)
The Climax (1944)
as Dr. Friedrich Hohner
Horror!!! (1964)
as Self
The Many Faces of Dracula (2000)
as The Monster (archive footage)
Without Benefit of Clergy (1921)
as Ahmed Khan
Bikini Beach (1964)
as Art Dealer
The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936)
as Dr. Laurence
The Last of the Mohicans (1920)
as Indian (uncredited)
Madhouse (1974)
as (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld (1994)
as Self (archive footage)
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6 (1942)
as Self
Cracked Nuts (1931)
as Boris - First Revolutionary
The Man in the Saddle (1926)
as Robber (uncredited)
The Incredible Doktor Markesan (1962)
as Dr. Konrad Markesan
The Invisible Ray (1936)
as Dr. Janos Rukh
Frankenstein 1970 (1958)
as Baron Viktor von Frankenstein
The Love Mart (1927)
as Fleming
Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing (1962)
Actor
Devil's Island (1939)
as Dr. Charles Gaudet
Grip of the Strangler (1958)
as James Rankin
The King of the Kongo (1929)
as Scarface Macklin
The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942)
as Prof. Nathaniel Billings
British Intelligence (1939)
as Valdar
Transylvania Twist (1989)
as Man in Room (archive footage)
Black Friday (1940)
as Dr. Ernest Sovac
The Lark (1957)
as Bishop Cauchon
Corridors of Blood (1958)
as Dr. Thomas Bolton
Smart Money (1931)
as Sport Williams
The Venetian Affair (1966)
as Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)
as Self (archive footage)
Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939)
as Mr. James Lee Wong
The Horror Show (1979)
as (archive footage)
The Horror of It All (1983)
as Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Cauldron of Blood (1968)
as Franz Badulescu
Five Star Final (1931)
as T. Vernon Isopod
Sharp Shooters (1928)
as Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Sabaka (1955)
as General Pollegar
The Fatal Impulse (1960)
as Self
The Daydreamer (1966)
as The Rat (voice)
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce (2008)
as Self (archive footage)
I Like Your Nerve (1931)
as Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
The Princess from Hoboken (1927)
as Pavel
Perils of the Wild (1925)
Actor
Terror in the Tropics (2006)
as Mr. Wong (archive footage)
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood (1932)
as Boris Karloff
The Black Castle (1952)
as Dr. Meissen
Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927)
as Owaza
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition (1994)
as (voice - archive footage)
Suspense: A Night at an Inn (—)
as Toff
His Majesty, the American (1919)
as Henchman in cloth cap
Lugosi: The Dark Prince (2006)
as Self (archive footage)
Monster Movie Trivia Quiz (2004)
Actor
The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features (2012)
Actor
The Phantom of the North (1929)
as Jules Gregg
Night World (1932)
as 'Happy' MacDonald
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (2000)
as Self (archive footage)
The Devil Commands (1941)
as Dr. Julian Blair
The Woman and the Puppet (1920)
as (uncredited)
Riders of the Plains (1924)
Actor
Don't Scream: It's Only a Movie! (1985)
as Self
Screen Snapshots No. 11 (1934)
as Himself
The Eagle of the Sea (1926)
as Pirate (uncredited)
Voodoo Island (1957)
as Phillip Knight
Anne Against the World (1929)
Actor
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (2007)
as Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello in the Movies (1990)
as Archival
The Invisible Menace (1938)
as Jevries
The Fatal Hour (1940)
as James Lee Wong
The Prince and Betty (1919)
as Undetermined Role
The Miracle Man (1932)
as Nikko
The Mad Genius (1931)
as Fedor's Father (uncredited)
Universal Horror (1998)
as (archive footage)
The Orbit of Minor Satellites (2026)
as Roger Ashley Norton
The Public Defender (1931)
as The Professor
Breakdowns of 1937 (1937)
as Self
The Universal Story (1996)
as Self (archive footage)
Never the Twain Shall Meet (1925)
Actor
Her Honor, the Governor (1926)
as Snipe Collins
Young Donovan's Kid (1931)
as Cokey Joe
The Island Monster (1954)
as Don Gaetano
Skyscraper Souls (1932)
as Man Approaching Ticket Counter
The Sorcerers (1967)
as Prof. Marcus Monserrat
Tonight or Never (1931)
as Waiter
Night Key (1937)
as David Mallory
Doomed to Die (1940)
as James Lee Wong
Nan of the North (1922)
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Vultures of the Sea (1928)
as Grouchy
The Man from Downing Street (1922)
as Maharajah Jehan
Mr. Wong, Detective (1938)
as James Lee Wong
Information Please: Series 2, No. 12 (1941)
as Self
Alien Terror (1971)
as Prof. John Mayer
The Ape (1940)
as Dr. Bernard Adrian
The Hope Diamond Mystery (1921)
as Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
Gift of Gab (1934)
as Himself
The Juggler of Our Lady (1957)
as Narrator (voice)
Omar the Tentmaker (1922)
as Imam Mowaffak
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire (2007)
as Himself (archive footage)
Isle of the Snake People (1971)
as Carl van Molder / Damballah
West of Shanghai (1937)
as "General" Wu Yen Fang
The Ghoul (1933)
as Prof. Morlant
The Greater Glory (1926)
as Scissors Grinder
Halloween Monster Bash (1991)
as Baron Von Leppe (archive footage)
Let It Rain (1927)
as Crook
A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02) (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
Old Ironsides (1926)
as Saracen Guard (uncredited)
The Courage of Marge O'Doone (1920)
as Tavish
Creepy Classics (1987)
as Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)
The Grim Reaper (1961)
as Self
Fear Chamber (1968)
as Dr. Carl Mandel
The Criminal Code (1931)
as Ned Galloway
Colonel March Investigates (1953)
as Colonel March
True Fear: The Making of Psycho (2015)
as Self
Little Lost Robot (1962)
as Host
The Golden Web (1926)
as Dave Sinclair
The Little Wild Girl (1928)
as Maurice Kent
The Devil's Chaplain (1929)
as Boris
Two Arabian Knights (1927)
as Purser
A Fool's World (1964)
as Narrator
The Phantom Buster (1927)
as Ramon
Heart of Darkness (1958)
as Mr. Kurtz
Destination Nightmare (1958)
as Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs
The Cave Girl (1921)
as Baptiste
Arsenic & Old Lace (1962)
as Jonathan Brewster
Heroes of Horror (2001)
as (archive footage)
Business and Pleasure (1932)
as Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph
The Sea Bat (1930)
as Corsican
The Vanishing Rider (1928)
as The Villain
Who Killed Chung Ling Soo? (1960)
as Narrator
The Bells (1926)
as The Mesmerist
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters (2015)
as Self (archive footage)
The Bad One (1930)
as Monsieur Gaston
Jack the Ripper (1958)
as Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!) (1980)
Actor
The Unholy Night (1929)
as Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
The Vanishing Legion (1931)
as The Voice (voice)
The Prairie Wife (1925)
as Diego
Behind That Curtain (1929)
as Beetham's Manservent
Graft (1931)
as Terry
Rendezvous in Black (1956)
as Ward Allen
The Deadlier Sex (1920)
as Jules Borney
Lady Robinhood (1925)
as Cabraza
The Storm (1962)
Actor
Behind the Mask (1932)
as Jim Henderson
Sting of Death (1955)
as Mr. Mycroft
The Prisoner (1923)
as Prince Kapolski
The Yellow Ticket (1931)
as Drunken Orderly
The Guilty Generation (1931)
as Tony Ricca
The White Panther (1924)
as Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
Cheated Hearts (1921)
as Nei Hamid
Dynamite Dan (1924)
as Tony Garcia
Parisian Nights (1925)
as Pierre
The Hellion (1924)
as The Outlaw
Without Mercy (1925)
as Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
Cinema Circus (1937)
as Himself
A Connecticut Yankee (1955)
as King Arthur
The Meddlin' Stranger (1927)
as Al Meggs
Forbidden Cargo (1925)
as Pietro Castillano
The Utah Kid (1930)
as Henchman Baxter
Today's Teens (1964)
as Narrator
The Fatal Warning (1929)
as Mullins
The Lightning Raider (1919)
Actor
The Woman Conquers (1922)
as Raoul Maris
The Infidel (1922)
as The Nabob
Burning the Wind (1929)
as Pug Doran
The Altar Stairs (1922)
as Hugo
The Nickel-Hopper (1926)
as Dance Hall Masher
Flaming Fury (1926)
as Gaspard
Boo (1932)
as Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
Juggernaut (1936)
as Dr. Victor Sartorius
Two Sisters (1929)
as Cecil
The Mesmerist (2003)
as (archive footage)
Flames (1926)
as Blackie Blanchette