Boris Karloff
Acting
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.
Filmography
Acting (242)
2026
The Orbit of Minor Satellitesas Roger Ashley Norton
2025
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Moviesas Self - (archive footage)
2024
The Last Repair Shopas The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)
7.5
2022
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Storyas Self - Interviewee
10.0
2021
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monsteras Self (archive footage)
6.3
2021
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!as Self (archive footage)
5.3
2015
2015
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monstersas Self (archive footage)
10.0
2014
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Filmas Various roles (archive footage)
7.5
2013
A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02)as Self (archive footage)
2013
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensoredas Self (archive footage)
5.5
2008
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierceas Self (archive footage)
8.4
2007
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampireas Himself (archive footage)
6.3
2007
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hydeas Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
8.0
2007
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackermanas Self (archive footage)
9.0
2006
Lugosi: The Dark Princeas Self (archive footage)
7.6
2006
Karloff: The Gentle Monsteras Self (archive footage)
7.6
2006
Terror in the Tropicsas Mr. Wong (archive footage)
2003
The Mesmeristas (archive footage)
8.0
2001
Heroes of Horroras (archive footage)
8.7
2000
The American Nightmareas Self
6.8
2000
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthedas Self (archive footage)
7.0
2000
The Many Faces of Draculaas The Monster (archive footage)
3.5
1999
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monsteras Self (archive footage)
7.7
1999
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'as Self (archive footage)
7.3
1998
Universal Horroras (archive footage)
7.1
1996
The Universal Storyas Self (archive footage)
8.0
1994
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeldas Self (archive footage)
8.5
1994
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Editionas (voice - archive footage)
7.2
1992
Dracula in the Moviesas (archive footage)
10.0
1991
Halloween Monster Bashas Baron Von Leppe (archive footage)
1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbookas Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)
9.5
1991
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbookas The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
6.3
1990
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home Toas (archive footage)
8.5
1990
Abbott and Costello in the Moviesas Archival
1989
Transylvania Twistas Man in Room (archive footage)
5.4
1988
Hollywood Scandals and Tragediesas (archive footage) (uncredited)
1987
Creepy Classicsas Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)
6.4
1985
10.0
1984
Going Hollywood: The '30sas (archive footage)
9.0
1983
The Horror of It Allas Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
8.3
1982
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!as Self (archive footage)
6.0
1979
The Horror Showas (archive footage)
3.4
1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?as Self (archive footage)
6.3
1974
Madhouseas (archive footage)
6.2
1974
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Saluteas Self (archive footage)
7.7
1971
Alien Terroras Prof. John Mayer
3.6
1971
Isle of the Snake Peopleas Carl van Molder / Damballah
3.1
1970
Hatchet for the Honeymoonas Gorca (archive footage)
6.4
1968
Curse of the Crimson Altaras Professor John Marsh
5.2
1968
Targetsas Byron Orlok
7.1
1968
Fear Chamberas Dr. Carl Mandel
4.4
1968
Macabre Serenadeas Matthias Morteval
4.0
1968
Cauldron of Bloodas Franz Badulescu
4.3
1968
The Movie Orgyas Self (archive footage)
6.8
1967
The Sorcerersas Prof. Marcus Monserrat
6.2
1967
Mad Monster Party?as Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
6.5
1966
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!as Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
7.5
1966
The Venetian Affairas Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
4.9
1966
The Daydreameras The Rat (voice)
5.1
1966
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikinias The Corpse
5.1
1965
Die, Monster, Die!as Nahum Witley
5.6
1964
Bikini Beachas Art Dealer
5.6
1964
Today's Teensas Narrator
1964
The Comedy of Terrorsas Amos Hinchley
6.5
1964
Horror!!!as Self
1.0
1964
A Fool's Worldas Narrator
3.4
1963
Black Sabbathas Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")
7.2
1963
The Terroras Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe
5.1
1963
The Ravenas Dr. Scarabus
6.3
1962
Little Lost Robotas Host
7.0
1962
The Incredible Doktor Markesanas Dr. Konrad Markesan
7.0
1962
Arsenic & Old Laceas Jonathan Brewster
6.5
1962
1961
The Grim Reaperas Self
2.0
1961
Days of Thrills and Laughteras Self (archive footage)
6.0
1960
Who Killed Chung Ling Soo?as Narrator
1960
The Fatal Impulseas Self
1.0
1958
Corridors of Bloodas Dr. Thomas Bolton
6.2
1958
Heart of Darknessas Mr. Kurtz
1958
Frankenstein 1970as Baron Viktor von Frankenstein
5.4
1958
Grip of the Strangleras James Rankin
6.0
1958
Jack the Ripperas Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
7.5
1958
Destination Nightmareas Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs
6.0
1957
The Juggler of Our Ladyas Narrator (voice)
7.7
1957
The Larkas Bishop Cauchon
1957
Voodoo Islandas Phillip Knight
4.6
1956
Rendezvous in Blackas Ward Allen
1955
A Connecticut Yankeeas King Arthur
6.0
1955
Sting of Deathas Mr. Mycroft
1955
Sabakaas General Pollegar
4.6
1954
The Island Monsteras Don Gaetano
3.2
1953
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeas Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
6.3
1953
Colonel March Investigatesas Colonel March
6.3
1952
The Black Castleas Dr. Meissen
6.4
1951
The Strange Dooras Voltan
6.2
1949
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloffas Swami Talpur
6.6
1948
Tap Rootsas Tishomingo
6.9
1947
Unconqueredas Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
6.5
1947
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesomeas Gruesome
5.5
1947
The Secret Life of Walter Mittyas Dr. Hollingshead
6.8
1947
Luredas Charles van Druten
6.3
1946
Bedlamas George Sims
6.7
1945
Isle of the Deadas Gen. Nikolas Pherides
6.0
1945
The Body Snatcheras John Gray
7.0
1944
The Mummy's Curseas Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
5.5
1944
House of Frankensteinas Dr. Gustav Niemann
6.1
1944
The Climaxas Dr. Friedrich Hohner
5.5
1942
The Boogie Man Will Get Youas Prof. Nathaniel Billings
6.2
1942
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6as Himself
6.0
1941
The Devil Commandsas Dr. Julian Blair
6.3
1941
10.0
1940
You'll Find Outas Judge Spencer Mainwaring
5.6
1940
The Apeas Dr. Bernard Adrian
4.8
1940
The Mummy's Handas Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
5.7
1940
Before I Hangas Dr. John Garth
6.3
1940
Doomed to Dieas James Lee Wong
5.7
1940
The Man with Nine Livesas Dr. Leon Kravaal
6.3
1940
Black Fridayas Dr. Ernest Sovac
6.0
1940
The Fatal Houras James Lee Wong
5.7
1939
Tower of Londonas Mord
6.1
1939
British Intelligenceas Valdar
5.8
1939
The Man They Could Not Hangas Dr. Henryk Savaard
6.6
1939
Mr. Wong in Chinatownas Mr. James Lee Wong
5.4
1939
The Mystery of Mr. Wongas James Lee Wong
5.9
1939
Son of Frankensteinas The Monster
6.7
1939
Devil's Islandas Dr. Charles Gaudet
5.7
1938
Mr. Wong, Detectiveas James Lee Wong
5.6
1938
The Invisible Menaceas Jevries
4.3
1937
Breakdowns of 1937as Self
6.0
1937
West of Shanghaias "General" Wu Yen Fang
5.8
1937
Night Keyas David Mallory
6.2
1937
Cinema Circusas Himself
8.0
1936
Charlie Chan at the Operaas Gravelle
6.8
1936
The Man Who Changed His Mindas Dr. Laurence
6.1
1936
Juggernautas Dr. Victor Sartorius
4.5
1936
The Walking Deadas John Ellman
6.3
1936
The Invisible Rayas Dr. Janos Rukh
6.4
1935
The Black Roomas Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
6.5
1935
The Ravenas Edmond Bateman
6.6
1935
Hollywood Hobbiesas Himself
7.0
1935
Bride of Frankensteinas The Monster
7.5
1934
Gift of Gabas Himself
5.2
1934
The Black Catas Hjalmar Poelzig
6.7
1934
The House of Rothschildas Count Ledrantz
6.2
1934
The Lost Patrolas Sanders
6.5
1934
Screen Snapshots No. 11as Himself
1933
The Ghoulas Prof. Morlant
5.6
1932
The Mummyas Imhotep / Ardath Bey
6.7
1932
Booas Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
5.6
1932
The Mask of Fu Manchuas Dr. Fu Manchu
5.4
1932
The Old Dark Houseas Morgan
6.7
1932
Skyscraper Soulsas Man Approaching Ticket Counter
5.5
1932
Night Worldas 'Happy' MacDonald
6.8
1932
Scarfaceas Gaffney
7.4
1932
The Miracle Manas Nikko
5.9
1932
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywoodas Boris Karloff
7.0
1932
Behind the Maskas Jim Henderson
5.8
1932
Business and Pleasureas Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph
6.3
1931
Frankensteinas The Monster
7.5
1931
The Guilty Generationas Tony Ricca
6.2
1931
The Yellow Ticketas Drunken Orderly
5.1
1931
The Mad Geniusas Fedor's Father (uncredited)
6.4
1931
Five Star Finalas T. Vernon Isopod
6.6
1931
Graftas Terry
5.0
1931
I Like Your Nerveas Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
5.9
1931
The Public Defenderas The Professor
6.4
1931
Smart Moneyas Sport Williams
6.9
1931
Young Donovan's Kidas Cokey Joe
10.0
1931
The Vanishing Legionas The Voice (voice)
8.5
1931
Cracked Nutsas Boris - First Revolutionary
8.0
1931
King of the Wildas Mustapha
4.2
1931
Tonight or Neveras Waiter
6.2
1931
The Criminal Codeas Ned Galloway
6.1
1930
The Utah Kidas Henchman Baxter
4.7
1930
The Sea Batas Corsican
4.4
1930
The Bad Oneas Monsieur Gaston
7.0
1929
The Unholy Nightas Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
5.7
1929
The King of the Kongoas Scarface Macklin
8.0
1929
Behind That Curtainas Beetham's Manservent
4.2
1929
The Phantom of the Northas Jules Gregg
8.0
7.0
1929
Two Sistersas Cecil
6.5
1929
The Devil's Chaplainas Boris
9.0
1929
The Fatal Warningas Mullins
5.0
1929
Burning the Windas Pug Doran
10.0
1928
The Little Wild Girlas Maurice Kent
10.0
1928
Vultures of the Seaas Grouchy
9.0
1928
The Vanishing Rideras The Villain
7.0
1928
Sharp Shootersas Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
7.0
1927
The Love Martas Fleming
8.0
1927
Two Arabian Knightsas Purser
5.8
1927
Soft Cushionsas The Chief Conspirator
7.0
1927
The Phantom Busteras Ramon
8.0
1927
The Meddlin' Strangeras Al Meggs
9.0
1927
Tarzan and the Golden Lionas Owaza
4.8
1927
The Princess from Hobokenas Pavel
8.0
1927
Let It Rainas Crook
7.0
1926
Old Ironsidesas Saracen Guard (uncredited)
6.4
1926
Flaming Furyas Gaspard
10.0
1926
The Nickel-Hopperas Dance Hall Masher
7.5
1926
The Eagle of the Seaas Pirate (uncredited)
10.0
1926
Flamesas Blackie Blanchette
10.0
1926
The Golden Webas Dave Sinclair
10.0
1926
The Bellsas The Mesmerist
6.2
1926
Her Honor, the Governoras Snipe Collins
10.0
1926
The Man in the Saddleas Robber (uncredited)
10.0
1926
The Greater Gloryas Scissors Grinder
8.0
1925
Without Mercyas Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
10.0
1925
Parisian Nightsas Pierre
4.0
6.0
10.0
1925
Lady Robinhoodas Cabraza
9.0
1925
The Prairie Wifeas Diego
8.0
1925
Forbidden Cargoas Pietro Castillano
9.0
1924
Dynamite Danas Tony Garcia
6.0
10.0
1924
The Hellionas The Outlaw
8.0
1924
The White Pantheras Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
7.0
1923
The Prisoneras Prince Kapolski
7.0
1922
Omar the Tentmakeras Imam Mowaffak
10.0
1922
The Altar Stairsas Hugo
8.0
1922
The Woman Conquersas Raoul Maris
10.0
1922
The Man from Downing Streetas Maharajah Jehan
10.0
1922
The Infidelas The Nabob
8.0
1922
Nan of the Northas Undetermined Role (uncredited)
10.0
1921
The Cave Girlas Baptiste
9.0
1921
Cheated Heartsas Nei Hamid
8.0
1921
Without Benefit of Clergyas Ahmed Khan
9.0
1921
The Hope Diamond Mysteryas Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
10.0
1920
The Last of the Mohicansas Indian (uncredited)
6.3
1920
The Courage of Marge O'Dooneas Tavish
8.0
1920
The Woman and the Puppetas (uncredited)
9.0
1920
The Deadlier Sexas Jules Borney
7.5
1919
The Prince and Bettyas Undetermined Role
8.3
1919
His Majesty, the Americanas Henchman in cloth cap
6.6
9.0
—
Suspense: A Night at an Innas Toff
Production & Directing (2)
2026
1964
Bikini BeachThanks
5.6