Boris Karloff (I) (1887–1969)

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Along with fellow actors Lon Chaney, Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price, Boris Karloff is recognized as one of the true icons of horror cinema, and the actor most closely identified with the general public's perception of the "monster" from the classic Mary Shelley book, "Frankenstein". William Henry Pratt was born on November 23, 1887, in Camberwell, ... See full bio »

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Known For

The Bride of Frankenstein
The Bride of Frankenstein The Monster
(1935)
The Mummy
The Mummy Imhotep
(1932)
Black Friday
Black Friday Dr. Ernest Sovac
(1940)
The Mask of Fu Manchu
The Mask of Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu
(1932)
Show Show all  | 
 |  Edit

Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actor (204 credits)
 1971 Alien Terror
Prof. John Mayer
 1971 Isle of the Snake People
Carl van Molder / Damballah
 1970 Cauldron of Blood
Franz Badulescu
 1968 Fear Chamber
Dr. Karl Mantell
 1968 House of Evil
Matthias Morteval
 1968 The Crimson Cult
Professor John Marsh
 1968 The Name of the Game (TV Series)
Mikhail Orlov
- The White Birch (1968) ... Mikhail Orlov
 1956-1968 The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series)
Dr. Nelson Sr. / Mad Scientist
- He Who Steals My Robot Steals Trash (1968) ... Dr. Nelson Sr.
- The Atomic Sailor (1956) ... Mad Scientist
 1968 Targets
Byron Orlok
 1967 The Sorcerers
Prof. Marcus Monserrat
 1967 Mad Monster Party?
Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
 1967 I Spy (TV Series)
Don Ernesto Silvando
- Mainly on the Plains (1967) ... Don Ernesto Silvando
 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV Movie)
Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
 1966 The Venetian Affair
Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
 1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series)
Mother Muffin
- The Mother Muffin Affair (1966) ... Mother Muffin
 1966 The Wild Wild West (TV Series)
Mr. Singh
- The Night of the Golden Cobra (1966) ... Mr. Singh
 1966 The Daydreamer
The Rat (voice)
 1965 Monster of Terror
Nahum Witley
 1964 Bikini Beach
The Art Dealer
 1963 The Comedy of Terrors
Amos Hinchley
 1963 Black Sabbath
Gorca (segment "I Wurdalak")
 1963 The Terror
Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe / Eric
 1963 The Raven
Dr. Scarabus
 1962 Route 66 (TV Series)
Boris Karloff
- Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing (1962) ... Boris Karloff
 1962 The Dickie Henderson Show (TV Series)
- The Gangster (1962)
 1962 Theatre '62 (TV Series)
Judge Lord Thomas Horfield
- The Paradine Case (1962) ... Judge Lord Thomas Horfield
 1962 The Paradine Case (TV Movie)
Judge Lord Thomas Horfield
 1962 Arsenic & Old Lace (TV Movie)
Jonathan Brewster
 1960 Who Killed Chung Ling Soo? (Short)
Narrator
 1960 The Secret World of Eddie Hodges (TV Movie)
Captain Hook
 1960 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series)
Capt. Billy Bones
- Treasure Island (1960) ... Capt. Billy Bones
 1956-1960 Playhouse 90 (TV Series)
Guibert / Mr. Kurtz / Ward Allen
- To the Sound of Trumpets (1960) ... Guibert
- Heart of Darkness (1958) ... Mr. Kurtz
- Rendezvous in Black (1956) ... Ward Allen
 1955-1959 General Electric Theater (TV Series)
Henry E. Church / Mr. Blue Ocean
- The Indian Giver (1959) ... Henry E. Church
- Mr. Blue Ocean (1955) ... Mr. Blue Ocean
 1959 The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna (TV Series)
Boris Karloff
- It's Murder My Dear (1959) ... Boris Karloff
 1958 Corridors of Blood
Dr. Bolton
 1958 The Veil (TV Mini-Series)
Host / Ira Perry / Sgt. Willmore / ...
- Whatever Happened to Peggy (1958) ... Host / Ira Perry
- Vision of Crime (1958) ... Host / Sgt. Willmore
- The Return of Madame Vernoy (1958) ... Host / Professor Charles Goncourt
- The Doctors (1958) ... Dr. Carlo Marcabienti
- The Crystal Ball (1958) ... Host / Andre Giraud
Show all 10 episodes
 1958 Frankenstein 1970
Baron Victor von Frankenstein
 1958 The Haunted Strangler
James Rankin
 1951-1958 Studio One in Hollywood (TV Series)
Professor Koernig / King Arthur / Skaggs
- The Shadow of a Genius (1958) ... Professor Koernig
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1952) ... King Arthur
- Mutiny on the Nicolette (1951) ... Skaggs
 1958 Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV Series)
Father Knickerbocker / Narrator
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1958) ... Father Knickerbocker / Narrator
 1958 Telephone Time (TV Series)
Dr. Pierre
- The Vestris (1958) ... Dr. Pierre
 1957 Suspicion (TV Series)
Judge Winthrop Gelsey
- The Deadly Game (1957) ... Judge Winthrop Gelsey
 1957 The Juggler of Our Lady (Short)
Narrator (voice)
 1951-1957 Lux Video Theatre (TV Series)
Montgomery Royle / Larkin / Sir Arthur
- The Man Who Played God (1957) ... Montgomery Royle
- Fear (1952) ... Larkin
- The Jest of Hahalaba (1951) ... Sir Arthur
 1957 Voodoo Island
Phillip Knight
 1957 The Lark (TV Movie)
Bishop Cauchon
 1954-1956 Climax! (TV Series)
Vicar Tellworth / Dr. Philip Nestri
- Bury Me Later (1956) ... Vicar Tellworth
- The White Carnation (1954) ... Dr. Philip Nestri
 1954-1956 Colonel March of Scotland Yard (TV Series)
Colonel March Of Scotland Yard / Col. Perceval March / Colonel March of Scotland Yard
- The Deadly Gift (1956) ... Colonel March Of Scotland Yard
- Death in Inner Space (1956) ... Colonel March Of Scotland Yard
- The New Invisible Man (1956) ... Colonel March Of Scotland Yard
- Death in the Dressing Room (1956) ... Colonel March Of Scotland Yard
- Hot Money (1956) ... Colonel March Of Scotland Yard
Show all 26 episodes
 1956 The Alcoa Hour (TV Series)
Doc Dixon
- Even the Weariest River (1956) ... Doc Dixon
 1955 The United States Steel Hour (TV Series)
George Redford
- Counterfeit (1955) ... George Redford
 1955 A Connecticut Yankee (TV Movie)
King Arthur
 1955 The Elgin Hour (TV Series)
Mr. Mycroft
- Sting of Death (1955) ... Mr. Mycroft
 1955 The Best of Broadway (TV Series)
Jonathan Brewster
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1955) ... Jonathan Brewster
 1954 Sabaka
Gen. Pollegar
 1954 The Island Monster
Don Gaetano
 1953 The Plymouth Playhouse (TV Series)
Story One - The Chase
- Reticence of Lady Anne (1953)
- Sketchbook (1953)
- Four Stories (1953) ... Story One - The Chase
 1953 Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
 1949-1953 Suspense (TV Series)
Rasputin / Bronson / Toff
- The Signal Man (1953)
- The Black Prophet (1953) ... Rasputin
- The Lonely Place (1951)
- The Yellow Scarf (1949) ... Bronson
- The Monkey's Paw (1949)
Show all 6 episodes
 1952-1953 Tales of Tomorrow (TV Series)
Dr. Henry Marco
- Past Tense (1953) ... Dr. Henry Marco
- Memento (1952)
 1951-1953 Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series)
Bennett Kimball
- Burden of Proof (1953)
- The Kimballs (1951) ... Bennett Kimball
 1953 Hollywood Opening Night (TV Series)
- The Invited Seven (1953)
 1952 The Black Castle
Dr. Meissen
 1952 Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)
Charles Brandon
- The House of Death (1952) ... Charles Brandon
 1952 Curtain Call (TV Series)
- The Soul of the Great Bell (1952)
 1952 CBS Television Workshop (TV Series)
Don Quixote
- Don Quixote (1952) ... Don Quixote
 1951 The Strange Door
Voltan
 1950 Lights Out (TV Series)
- The Leopard Lady (1950)
 1950 Masterpiece Playhouse (TV Series)
- Uncle Vanya (1950)
 1949 The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (TV Series)
Doctor Steven Johnson
- A Passenger to Bali (1949)
- Expert Opinion (1949) ... Doctor Steven Johnson
 1949 The Emperor's Nightingale
Narrator (English version) (English version, voice)
 1949 The Ford Theatre Hour (TV Series)
Jonathan Brewster
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1949) ... Jonathan Brewster
 1948 Tap Roots
Tishomingo
 1947 Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome
Gruesome
 1947 Unconquered
Guyasuta - Chief of the Senecas
 1947 Lured
Charles van Druten
 1947 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Dr. Hugo Hollingshead
 1946 Bedlam
Master George Sims
 1945 Isle of the Dead
Gen. Nikolas Pherides
 1945 The Body Snatcher
Cabman John Gray
 1944 House of Frankenstein
Doctor Gustav Niemann
 1944 The Climax
Dr. Friedrich Hohner
 1942 The Boogie Man Will Get You
Prof. Nathaniel Billings
 1941 The Devil Commands
Dr. Julian Blair
 1940 You'll Find Out
Judge Spencer Mainwaring
 1940 The Ape
Dr. Bernard Adrian
 1940 Before I Hang
Dr. John Garth
 1940 Doomed to Die
James Lee Wong
 1940 The Man with Nine Lives
Dr. Leon Kravaal
 1940 Black Friday
Dr. Ernest Sovac
 1940 British Intelligence
Valdar
 1940 The Fatal Hour
James Lee Wong
 1939 Tower of London
Mord
 1939 The Man They Could Not Hang
Dr. Henryk Savaard
 1939 Mr. Wong in Chinatown
James Lee Wong
 1939 The Mystery of Mr. Wong
Mr. James Lee Wong
 1939 Son of Frankenstein
The Monster
 1939 Devil's Island
Dr. Charles Gaudet
 1938 Mr. Wong, Detective
Mr. James Lee Wong
 1938 The Invisible Menace
Jevries
 1937 West of Shanghai
Wu Yen Fang
 1937 Night Key
David Mallory
 1936 Charlie Chan at the Opera
Gravelle
 1936 The Man Who Lived Again
Dr. Laurience / Dick Haslewood
 1936 Juggernaut
Doctor Sartorius
 1936 The Walking Dead
John Ellman
 1936 The Invisible Ray
Dr. Janos Rukh (as Karloff)
 1935 The Black Room
Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
 1935 The Raven
Edmond Bateman (as Karloff)
 1935 The Bride of Frankenstein
The Monster (as Karloff)
 1934 Gift of Gab
The Phantom (as Karloff)
 1934 The Black Cat
Hjalmar Poelzig (as Karloff)
 1934 The House of Rothschild
Count Ledrantz
 1934 The Lost Patrol
Sanders
 1933 The Ghoul
Prof. Henry Morlant
 1932 The Mummy
Imhotep
 1932 The Mask of Fu Manchu
Dr. Fu Manchu
 1932 The Old Dark House
Morgan
 1932 Skyscraper Souls
Man Approaching Ticket Counter (uncredited)
 1932 Night World
'Happy' MacDonald
 1932 The Miracle Man
Nikko
 1932 Scarface
Gaffney
 1932 The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood
Boris Karloff
 1932 Behind the Mask
Jim Henderson
 1932 Business and Pleasure
Sheik Ali Ben Joseph (uncredited)
 1931 Tonight or Never
Waiter
 1931 Frankenstein
The Monster
 1931 The Guilty Generation
Tony Ricca
 1931 The Mad Genius
Fedor's Father (uncredited)
 1931 The Yellow Ticket
Drunken Orderly (uncredited)
 1931 Graft
'Terry'
 1931 I Like Your Nerve
Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
 1931 Five Star Final
T. Vernon Isopod
 1931 The Public Defender
The Professor
 1931 Smart Money
Sport Williams (uncredited)
 1931 Young Donovan's Kid
Cokey Joe
 1931 The Vanishing Legion
The Voice (voice, uncredited)
 1931 Cracked Nuts
Boris - First Revolutionary
 1931 King of the Wild
Mustapha
 1930 The Criminal Code
Galloway
 1930 The Utah Kid
Baxter - Henchman
 1930 The Sea Bat
Corsican
 1930 The Bad One
Monsieur Gaston
 1929 The Unholy Night
Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
 1929 The King of the Kongo
Scarface Macklin
 1929 Behind That Curtain
Beetham's Manservant
 1929 The Phantom of the North
Jules Gregg
 1929 Two Sisters
Cecil
 1929 The Devil's Chaplain
Boris
 1929 The Fatal Warning
Mullins
 1928 The Little Wild Girl
Maurice Kent
 1928 Burning the Wind
Pug Doran
 1928 Vultures of the Sea
Grouchy
 1928 The Vanishing Rider
The Villain
 1928 Sharp Shooters
Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
 1927 The Love Mart
Fleming
 1927 Two Arabian Knights
The Purser
 1927 Soft Cushions
The Chief Conspirator
 1927 The Phantom Buster
Ramon
 1927 The Meddlin' Stranger
Al Meggs
 1927 Let It Rain
Crook
 1926 Old Ironsides
Saracen Guard (uncredited)
 1926 Flaming Fury
Gaspard
 1926 The Nickel-Hopper (Short)
Dance Hall Masher (uncredited)
 1926 The Eagle of the Sea
Pirate (uncredited)
 1926 Flames
Blackie Blanchette
 1926 The Golden Web
Dave Sinclair
 1926 The Bells
The Mesmerist
 1926 Her Honor, the Governor
Snipe Collins
 1926 The Man in the Saddle
Robber (uncredited)
 1926 The Greater Glory
Scissors Grinder
 1925 Without Mercy
Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
 1925 Lady Robinhood
Cabraza
 1925 Parisian Nights
Pierre
 1925 The Prairie Wife
Diego
 1925 Forbidden Cargo
Pietro Castillano
 1924 Dynamite Dan
Tony Garcia
 1924 The Hellion
The Outlaw
 1924 The White Panther
Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
 1923 The Prisoner
Prince Kapolski
 1922 Omar the Tentmaker
Imam Mowaffak
 1922 The Woman Conquers
Raoul Maris
 1922 The Altar Stairs
Hugo
 1922 The Infidel
The Nabob
 1922 The Man from Downing Street
Maharajah Jehan
 1922 Nan of the North
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
 1921 The Cave Girl
Baptiste
 1921 Cheated Hearts
Nei Hamid
 1921 Without Benefit of Clergy
Ahmed Khan
 1921 The Hope Diamond Mystery
Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
 1920 The Last of the Mohicans
Indian (uncredited)
 1920 The Deadlier Sex
Jules Borney
 1919 The Prince and Betty
Undetermined Role
 1919 His Majesty, the American
Henchman in cloth cap (uncredited)
Show Show Soundtrack (11 credits)
Show Show Thanks (12 credits)
Show Show Self (55 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (142 credits)

Related Videos

See all 27 videos »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1920s) Stage: "Hotel Imperial", Los Angeles/San Francisco See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Biographical Movies | 19 Print Biographies | 4 Portrayals | 35 Articles | 4 Pictorials | 14 Magazine Cover Photos | See more »

Alternate Names:

? | Karloff Boris | Karloff

Height:

5' 11" (1.81 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

Certainly, I was typed. But what is typing? It is a trademark, a means by which the public recognizes you. Actors work all their lives to achieve that. I got mine with just one picture. It was a blessing. See more »

Trivia:

He has four roles in common with his Corridors of Blood (1958) and The Crimson Cult (1968) co-star Christopher Lee: (1) Karloff played Frankenstein's Monster in Frankenstein (1931), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939) while Lee played him in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), (2) Karloff played the Mummy in The Mummy (1932) while Lee played him in The Mummy (1959), (3) ... See more »

Trademark:

Frequently cast by James Whale See more »

Nickname:

The Uncanny See more »

Star Sign:

Sagittarius
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