Boris Karloff
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 23, 1887
- Died
- February 2, 1969
- Birthplace
- Camberwell, London, England, UK
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
Suspense: A Night at an Inn TBA
as Toff
- The Orbit of Minor Satellites
The Orbit of Minor Satellites 2026
as Roger Ashley Norton, Vocals
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies 2025
as Self (archive footage)
The Last Repair Shop 2024
as The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story 2022
as Self - Interviewee
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster 2021
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists! 2021
as Self (archive footage)
True Fear: The Making of Psycho 2015
as Self
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters 2015
as Self (archive footage)
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film 2014
as 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
as Self (archive footage)
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored 2013
as Self (archive footage)
The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features 2012
Actor
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce 2008
as Self (archive footage)
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire 2007
as Himself (archive footage)
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde 2007
as Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman 2007
as Self (archive footage)
Lugosi: The Dark Prince 2006
as Self (archive footage)
Karloff: The Gentle Monster 2006
as Self (archive footage)
Terror in the Tropics 2006
as Mr. Wong (archive footage)
Monster Movie Trivia Quiz 2004
Actor
The Mesmerist 2003
as (archive footage)
- Heroes of Horror
Heroes of Horror 2001
as (archive footage)
The American Nightmare 2000
as Self
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed 2000
as Self (archive footage)
The Many Faces of Dracula 2000
as The Monster (archive footage)
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' 1999
as Self (archive footage)
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster 1999
as Self (archive footage)
Universal Horror 1998
as (archive footage)
The Universal Story 1996
as Self (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld 1994
as Self (archive footage)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition 1994
as (voice - archive footage)
Dracula in the Movies 1992
as (archive footage)
Halloween Monster Bash 1991
as Baron Von Leppe (archive footage)
- Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook 1991
as The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook 1991
as Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To 1990
as (archive footage)
Abbott and Costello in the Movies 1990
as Archival
Transylvania Twist 1989
as Man in Room (archive footage)
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies 1988
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Creepy Classics 1987
as Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)
Don't Scream: It's Only a Movie! 1985
as Self
Going Hollywood: The '30s 1984
as (archive footage)
The Horror of It All 1983
as Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! 1982
as Self (archive footage)
Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!) 1980
Actor
The Horror Show 1979
as (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? 1975
as Self (archive footage)
Madhouse 1974
as (archive footage)
- The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute 1974
as Self (archive footage)
Alien Terror 1971
as Prof. John Mayer
Isle of the Snake People 1971
as Carl van Molder / Damballah
Hatchet for the Honeymoon 1970
as Gorca (archive footage)
Curse of the Crimson Altar 1968
as Professor John Marsh
Targets 1968
as Byron Orlok
Macabre Serenade 1968
as Matthias Morteval
Fear Chamber 1968
as Dr. Carl Mandel
Cauldron of Blood 1968
as Franz Badulescu
The Movie Orgy 1968
as Self (archive footage)
The Sorcerers 1967
as Prof. Marcus Monserrat
Mad Monster Party? 1967
as Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 1966
as Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
The Venetian Affair 1966
as Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
The Daydreamer 1966
as The Rat (voice)
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini 1966
as The Corpse
Die, Monster, Die! 1965
as Nahum Witley
Bikini Beach 1964
as Art Dealer, Thanks
- Today's Teens
Today's Teens 1964
as Narrator
The Comedy of Terrors 1964
as Amos Hinchley
Horror!!! 1964
as Self
A Fool's World 1964
as Narrator
Black Sabbath 1963
as Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")
The Terror 1963
as Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe
The Raven 1963
as Dr. Scarabus
Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing 1962
Actor
Little Lost Robot 1962
as Host
The Incredible Doktor Markesan 1962
as Dr. Konrad Markesan
Arsenic & Old Lace 1962
as Jonathan Brewster
The Storm 1962
Actor
The Remarkable Mrs. Hawk 1961
as Self
The Devil's Ticket 1961
as Self
Days of Thrills and Laughter 1961
as Self (archive footage)
Who Killed Chung Ling Soo? 1960
as Narrator
The Fatal Impulse 1960
as Self
Corridors of Blood 1958
as Dr. Thomas Bolton
Heart of Darkness 1958
as Mr. Kurtz
Frankenstein 1970 1958
as Baron Viktor von Frankenstein
Grip of the Strangler 1958
as James Rankin
- Destination Nightmare
Destination Nightmare 1958
as Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs
- Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper 1958
as Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
The Juggler of Our Lady 1957
as Narrator (voice)
The Lark 1957
as Bishop Cauchon
Voodoo Island 1957
as Phillip Knight
Rendezvous in Black 1956
as Ward Allen
A Connecticut Yankee 1955
as King Arthur
Sting of Death 1955
as Mr. Mycroft
Sabaka 1955
as General Pollegar
The Island Monster 1954
as Don Gaetano
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1953
as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Colonel March Investigates 1953
as Colonel March
The Black Castle 1952
as Dr. Meissen
The Strange Door 1951
as Voltan
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff 1949
as Swami Talpur
Tap Roots 1948
as Tishomingo
Unconquered 1947
as Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome 1947
as Gruesome
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 1947
as Dr. Hollingshead
Lured 1947
as Charles van Druten
Bedlam 1946
as George Sims
Isle of the Dead 1945
as Gen. Nikolas Pherides
The Body Snatcher 1945
as John Gray
The Mummy's Curse 1944
as Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
House of Frankenstein 1944
as Dr. Gustav Niemann
The Climax 1944
as Dr. Friedrich Hohner
The Boogie Man Will Get You 1942
as Prof. Nathaniel Billings
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6 1942
as Self
The Devil Commands 1941
as Dr. Julian Blair
- Information Please: Series 2, No. 12
Information Please: Series 2, No. 12 1941
as Self
You'll Find Out 1940
as Judge Spencer Mainwaring
The Ape 1940
as Dr. Bernard Adrian
The Mummy's Hand 1940
as Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
Before I Hang 1940
as Dr. John Garth
Doomed to Die 1940
as James Lee Wong
The Man with Nine Lives 1940
as Dr. Leon Kravaal
Black Friday 1940
as Dr. Ernest Sovac
The Fatal Hour 1940
as James Lee Wong
Tower of London 1939
as Mord
British Intelligence 1939
as Valdar
The Man They Could Not Hang 1939
as Dr. Henryk Savaard
Mr. Wong in Chinatown 1939
as Mr. James Lee Wong
The Mystery of Mr. Wong 1939
as James Lee Wong
Son of Frankenstein 1939
as The Monster
Devil's Island 1939
as Dr. Charles Gaudet
Mr. Wong, Detective 1938
as James Lee Wong
The Invisible Menace 1938
as Jevries
Breakdowns of 1937 1937
as Self
West of Shanghai 1937
as "General" Wu Yen Fang
Night Key 1937
as David Mallory
- Cinema Circus
Cinema Circus 1937
as Himself
Charlie Chan at the Opera 1936
as Gravelle
The Man Who Changed His Mind 1936
as Dr. Laurence
Juggernaut 1936
as Dr. Victor Sartorius
The Walking Dead 1936
as John Ellman
The Invisible Ray 1936
as Dr. Janos Rukh
The Black Room 1935
as Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
The Raven 1935
as Edmond Bateman
- Hollywood Hobbies
Hollywood Hobbies 1935
as Himself
Bride of Frankenstein 1935
as The Monster
Gift of Gab 1934
as Himself
The Black Cat 1934
as Hjalmar Poelzig
The House of Rothschild 1934
as Count Ledrantz
The Lost Patrol 1934
as Sanders
Screen Snapshots No. 11 1934
as Himself
The Ghoul 1933
as Prof. Morlant
The Mummy 1932
as Imhotep / Ardath Bey
Boo 1932
as Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
The Mask of Fu Manchu 1932
as Dr. Fu Manchu
The Old Dark House 1932
as Morgan
Skyscraper Souls 1932
as Man Approaching Ticket Counter
Night World 1932
as 'Happy' MacDonald
Scarface 1932
as Gaffney
The Miracle Man 1932
as Nikko
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood 1932
as Boris Karloff
Behind the Mask 1932
as Jim Henderson
Business and Pleasure 1932
as Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph
Frankenstein 1931
as The Monster
The Guilty Generation 1931
as Tony Ricca
The Yellow Ticket 1931
as Drunken Orderly
The Mad Genius 1931
as Fedor's Father (uncredited)
Five Star Final 1931
as T. Vernon Isopod
Graft 1931
as Terry
I Like Your Nerve 1931
as Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
The Public Defender 1931
as The Professor
Smart Money 1931
as Sport Williams
Young Donovan's Kid 1931
as Cokey Joe
The Vanishing Legion 1931
as The Voice (voice)
Cracked Nuts 1931
as Boris - First Revolutionary
King of the Wild 1931
as Mustapha
Tonight or Never 1931
as Waiter
The Criminal Code 1931
as Ned Galloway
The Utah Kid 1930
as Henchman Baxter
The Sea Bat 1930
as Corsican
The Bad One 1930
as Monsieur Gaston
The Unholy Night 1929
as Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
The King of the Kongo 1929
as Scarface Macklin
Behind That Curtain 1929
as Beetham's Manservent
- The Phantom of the North
The Phantom of the North 1929
as Jules Gregg
- Anne Against the World
Anne Against the World 1929
Actor
Two Sisters 1929
as Cecil
The Devil's Chaplain 1929
as Boris
The Fatal Warning 1929
as Mullins
Burning the Wind 1929
as Pug Doran
The Little Wild Girl 1928
as Maurice Kent
Vultures of the Sea 1928
as Grouchy
The Vanishing Rider 1928
as The Villain
Sharp Shooters 1928
as Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
The Love Mart 1927
as Fleming
Two Arabian Knights 1927
as Purser
Soft Cushions 1927
as The Chief Conspirator
The Phantom Buster 1927
as Ramon
The Meddlin' Stranger 1927
as Al Meggs
Tarzan and the Golden Lion 1927
as Owaza
The Princess from Hoboken 1927
as Pavel
Let It Rain 1927
as Crook
Old Ironsides 1926
as Saracen Guard (uncredited)
Flaming Fury 1926
as Gaspard
The Nickel-Hopper 1926
as Dance Hall Masher
The Eagle of the Sea 1926
as Pirate (uncredited)
Flames 1926
as Blackie Blanchette
The Golden Web 1926
as Dave Sinclair
The Bells 1926
as The Mesmerist
Her Honor, the Governor 1926
as Snipe Collins
The Man in the Saddle 1926
as Robber (uncredited)
The Greater Glory 1926
as Scissors Grinder
Without Mercy 1925
as Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
Parisian Nights 1925
as Pierre
Never the Twain Shall Meet 1925
Actor
Perils of the Wild 1925
Actor
Lady Robinhood 1925
as Cabraza
The Prairie Wife 1925
as Diego
Forbidden Cargo 1925
as Pietro Castillano
Dynamite Dan 1924
as Tony Garcia, The Foreman
Riders of the Plains 1924
Actor
The Hellion 1924
as The Outlaw
The White Panther 1924
as Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
The Prisoner 1923
as Prince Kapolski
Omar the Tentmaker 1922
as Imam Mowaffak
The Altar Stairs 1922
as Hugo
The Woman Conquers 1922
as Raoul Maris
The Infidel 1922
as The Nabob
The Man from Downing Street 1922
as Maharajah Jehan
Nan of the North 1922
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
The Cave Girl 1921
as Baptiste
Cheated Hearts 1921
as Nei Hamid
Without Benefit of Clergy 1921
as Ahmed Khan
The Hope Diamond Mystery 1921
as Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
The Last of the Mohicans 1920
as Indian (uncredited)
The Courage of Marge O'Doone 1920
as Tavish
The Woman and the Puppet 1920
as (uncredited)
The Deadlier Sex 1920
as Jules Borney
The Prince and Betty 1919
as Undetermined Role
His Majesty, the American 1919
as Henchman in cloth cap
The Lightning Raider 1919
Actor
Credits from TMDB.