Boris Karloff
Actor · CrewWilliam 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!.
More details at TMDB
KNOWN FOR
FILMOGRAPHY
ACTOR241
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies
2025
Self - (archive footage)
The Last Repair Shop
2024
The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
2022
Self - Interviewee
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
2021
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
2021
Self (archive footage)
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters
2015
Self (archive footage)
True Fear: The Making of Psycho
2015
Self
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
2014
Various roles (archive footage)
- A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02)
A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02)
2013
Self (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
2013
Self (archive footage)
The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features
2012
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
2008
Self (archive footage)
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire
2007
Himself (archive footage)
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
2007
Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
2007
Self (archive footage)
Lugosi: The Dark Prince
2006
Self (archive footage)
Terror in the Tropics
2006
Mr. Wong (archive footage)
Karloff: The Gentle Monster
2006
Self (archive footage)
Monster Movie Trivia Quiz
2004
The Mesmerist
2003
(archive footage)
- Heroes of Horror
Heroes of Horror
2001
(archive footage)
The American Nightmare
2000
Self
The Many Faces of Dracula
2000
The Monster (archive footage)
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
2000
Self (archive footage)
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
1999
Self (archive footage)
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
1999
Self (archive footage)
Universal Horror
1998
(archive footage)
The Universal Story
1996
Self (archive footage)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition
1994
(voice - archive footage)
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
1994
Self (archive footage)
Dracula in the Movies
1992
(archive footage)
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)
- Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
1991
The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
Halloween Monster Bash
1991
Baron Von Leppe (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello in the Movies
1990
Archival
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
1990
(archive footage)
Transylvania Twist
1989
Man in Room (archive footage)
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
1988
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Creepy Classics
1987
Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
(archive footage)
The Horror of It All
1983
Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
Self (archive footage)
Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!)
1980
The Horror Show
1979
(archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
Madhouse
1974
(archive footage)
- The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
1974
Self (archive footage)
Alien Terror
1971
Prof. John Mayer
Isle of the Snake People
1971
Carl van Molder / Damballah
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
1970
Gorca (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
1968
Self (archive footage)
Curse of the Crimson Altar
1968
Professor John Marsh
Fear Chamber
1968
Dr. Carl Mandel
Macabre Serenade
1968
Matthias Morteval
Targets
1968
Byron Orlok
Cauldron of Blood
1968
Franz Badulescu
Mad Monster Party?
1967
Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
The Sorcerers
1967
Prof. Marcus Monserrat
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
1966
Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
1966
The Corpse
The Venetian Affair
1966
Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
The Daydreamer
1966
The Rat (voice)
Doom of Dracula
1966
The Madman (archive footage)
Die, Monster, Die!
1965
Nahum Witley
The Comedy of Terrors
1964
Amos Hinchley
A Fool's World
1964
Narrator
Bikini Beach
1964
Art Dealer
- Today's Teens
Today's Teens
1964
Narrator
Horror!!!
1964
Self
The Terror
1963
Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe
Black Sabbath
1963
Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")
The Raven
1963
Dr. Scarabus
Little Lost Robot
1962
Host
Arsenic & Old Lace
1962
Jonathan Brewster
The Incredible Doktor Markesan
1962
Dr. Konrad Markesan
The Storm
1962
Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing
1962
Days of Thrills and Laughter
1961
Self (archive footage)
The Grim Reaper
1961
Self
The Fatal Impulse
1960
Self
Who Killed Chung Ling Soo?
1960
Narrator
Frankenstein 1970
1958
Baron Viktor von Frankenstein
Corridors of Blood
1958
Dr. Thomas Bolton
Grip of the Strangler
1958
James Rankin
- Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
1958
Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
- Destination Nightmare
Destination Nightmare
1958
Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs
Heart of Darkness
1958
Mr. Kurtz
Voodoo Island
1957
Phillip Knight
The Lark
1957
Bishop Cauchon
The Juggler of Our Lady
1957
Narrator (voice)
Rendezvous in Black
1956
Ward Allen
Sting of Death
1955
Mr. Mycroft
A Connecticut Yankee
1955
King Arthur
Sabaka
1955
General Pollegar
The Island Monster
1954
Don Gaetano
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1953
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Colonel March Investigates
1953
Colonel March
The Black Castle
1952
Dr. Meissen
The Strange Door
1951
Voltan
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
1949
Swami Talpur
Tap Roots
1948
Tishomingo
Lured
1947
Charles van Druten
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
1947
Dr. Hollingshead
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome
1947
Gruesome
Unconquered
1947
Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
Bedlam
1946
George Sims
The Body Snatcher
1945
John Gray
Isle of the Dead
1945
Gen. Nikolas Pherides
House of Frankenstein
1944
Dr. Gustav Niemann
The Mummy's Curse
1944
Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
The Climax
1944
Dr. Friedrich Hohner
The Boogie Man Will Get You
1942
Prof. Nathaniel Billings
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6
1942
Himself
- Information Please: Series 2, No. 12
Information Please: Series 2, No. 12
1941
Self
The Devil Commands
1941
Dr. Julian Blair
Doomed to Die
1940
James Lee Wong
The Man with Nine Lives
1940
Dr. Leon Kravaal
Before I Hang
1940
Dr. John Garth
Black Friday
1940
Dr. Ernest Sovac
The Ape
1940
Dr. Bernard Adrian
The Mummy's Hand
1940
Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
You'll Find Out
1940
Judge Spencer Mainwaring
The Fatal Hour
1940
James Lee Wong
Son of Frankenstein
1939
The Monster
Devil's Island
1939
Dr. Charles Gaudet
The Man They Could Not Hang
1939
Dr. Henryk Savaard
Tower of London
1939
Mord
British Intelligence
1939
Valdar
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
1939
Mr. James Lee Wong
The Mystery of Mr. Wong
1939
James Lee Wong
Mr. Wong, Detective
1938
James Lee Wong
The Invisible Menace
1938
Jevries
Night Key
1937
David Mallory
- Cinema Circus
Cinema Circus
1937
Himself
West of Shanghai
1937
"General" Wu Yen Fang
Breakdowns of 1937
1937
Self
The Man Who Changed His Mind
1936
Dr. Laurence
Juggernaut
1936
Dr. Victor Sartorius
The Walking Dead
1936
John Ellman
The Invisible Ray
1936
Dr. Janos Rukh
Charlie Chan at the Opera
1936
Gravelle
Bride of Frankenstein
1935
The Monster
The Black Room
1935
Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
The Raven
1935
Edmond Bateman
- Hollywood Hobbies
Hollywood Hobbies
1935
Himself
The Black Cat
1934
Hjalmar Poelzig
The Lost Patrol
1934
Sanders
The House of Rothschild
1934
Count Ledrantz
Gift of Gab
1934
Himself
Screen Snapshots No. 11
1934
Himself
The Ghoul
1933
Prof. Morlant
Scarface
1932
Gaffney
The Mask of Fu Manchu
1932
Dr. Fu Manchu
The Old Dark House
1932
Morgan
Business and Pleasure
1932
Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph
Behind the Mask
1932
Jim Henderson
The Mummy
1932
Imhotep / Ardath Bey
Night World
1932
'Happy' MacDonald
The Miracle Man
1932
Nikko
Skyscraper Souls
1932
Man Approaching Ticket Counter
Boo
1932
Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood
1932
Boris Karloff
Frankenstein
1931
The Monster
King of the Wild
1931
Mustapha
Five Star Final
1931
T. Vernon Isopod
The Criminal Code
1931
Ned Galloway
Smart Money
1931
Sport Williams
Tonight or Never
1931
Waiter
The Mad Genius
1931
Fedor's Father (uncredited)
The Vanishing Legion
1931
The Voice (voice)
The Public Defender
1931
The Professor
Graft
1931
Terry
The Guilty Generation
1931
Tony Ricca
Cracked Nuts
1931
Boris - First Revolutionary
The Yellow Ticket
1931
Drunken Orderly
I Like Your Nerve
1931
Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
Young Donovan's Kid
1931
Cokey Joe
The Bad One
1930
Monsieur Gaston
The Sea Bat
1930
Corsican
The Utah Kid
1930
Henchman Baxter
Burning the Wind
1929
Pug Doran
The Devil's Chaplain
1929
Boris
Two Sisters
1929
Cecil
The Fatal Warning
1929
Mullins
The Unholy Night
1929
Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
- Anne Against the World
Anne Against the World
1929
Behind That Curtain
1929
Beetham's Manservent
The King of the Kongo
1929
Scarface Macklin
- The Phantom of the North
The Phantom of the North
1929
Jules Gregg
The Vanishing Rider
1928
The Villain
Sharp Shooters
1928
Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Vultures of the Sea
1928
Grouchy
The Little Wild Girl
1928
Maurice Kent
Let It Rain
1927
Crook
The Princess from Hoboken
1927
Pavel
The Meddlin' Stranger
1927
Al Meggs
Soft Cushions
1927
The Chief Conspirator
Tarzan and the Golden Lion
1927
Owaza
Two Arabian Knights
1927
Purser
The Phantom Buster
1927
Ramon
The Love Mart
1927
Fleming
The Golden Web
1926
Dave Sinclair
Flames
1926
Blackie Blanchette
Flaming Fury
1926
Gaspard
The Nickel-Hopper
1926
Dance Hall Masher
The Bells
1926
The Mesmerist
The Eagle of the Sea
1926
Pirate (uncredited)
Old Ironsides
1926
Saracen Guard (uncredited)
The Greater Glory
1926
Scissors Grinder
Her Honor, the Governor
1926
Snipe Collins
The Man in the Saddle
1926
Robber (uncredited)
Forbidden Cargo
1925
Pietro Castillano
Perils of the Wild
1925
Lady Robinhood
1925
Cabraza
Never the Twain Shall Meet
1925
Without Mercy
1925
Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
The Prairie Wife
1925
Diego
Parisian Nights
1925
Pierre
The White Panther
1924
Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
The Hellion
1924
The Outlaw
Riders of the Plains
1924
Dynamite Dan
1924
Tony Garcia
The Prisoner
1923
Prince Kapolski
Nan of the North
1922
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
The Man from Downing Street
1922
Maharajah Jehan
The Infidel
1922
The Nabob
Omar the Tentmaker
1922
Imam Mowaffak
The Woman Conquers
1922
Raoul Maris
The Altar Stairs
1922
Hugo
Cheated Hearts
1921
Nei Hamid
The Cave Girl
1921
Baptiste
The Hope Diamond Mystery
1921
Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
Without Benefit of Clergy
1921
Ahmed Khan
The Courage of Marge O'Doone
1920
Tavish
The Last of the Mohicans
1920
Indian (uncredited)
The Deadlier Sex
1920
Jules Borney
The Woman and the Puppet
1920
(uncredited)
The Lightning Raider
1919
The Prince and Betty
1919
Undetermined Role
His Majesty, the American
1919
Henchman in cloth cap
Suspense: A Night at an Inn
Toff
