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!.
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0000472
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q203219
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Filmography (Movies)
Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies
Character:Self - (archive footage)
Release Date:21/11/2025
The Last Repair Shop
Character:The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:16/02/2024
The Dark Universe
Character:Frankenstein (archivo de imagen)
Release Date:10/03/2023
The Dark Universe
Character:La Momia (archivo de imagen)
Release Date:10/03/2023
Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story
Character:Self - Interviewee
Release Date:18/10/2022
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:17/09/2021
Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists!
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:13/02/2021
Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:02/10/2015
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
Character:Various roles (archive footage)
Release Date:01/08/2014
A Masque of Madness (Notes on Film 06-B, Monologue 02)
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:14/08/2013
Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:29/01/2013
The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features
Character:
Release Date:23/08/2012
He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:09/07/2008
Bela Lugosi: The Fallen Vampire
Character:Himself (archive footage)
Release Date:24/10/2007
Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Character:Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Release Date:16/06/2007
Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:16/05/2007
Lugosi: The Dark Prince
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:26/09/2006
Karloff: The Gentle Monster
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:30/04/2006
Terror in the Tropics
Character:Mr. Wong (archive footage)
Release Date:31/01/2006
Monster Movie Trivia Quiz
Character:
Release Date:01/04/2004
The Mesmerist
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:07/11/2003
The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/11/2002
Heroes of Horror
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/2001
The American Nightmare
Character:Self
Release Date:11/09/2000
Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:29/08/2000
The Many Faces of Dracula
Character:The Monster (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/2000
Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man'
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1999
Universal Horror
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:08/10/1998
The Universal Story
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:21/04/1996
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:24/11/1994
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition
Character:(voice - archive footage)
Release Date:19/11/1994
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Character:Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1991
Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Character:The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.
Release Date:01/01/1991
Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:04/06/1990
Abbott and Costello in the Movies
Character:Archival
Release Date:01/01/1990
Transylvania Twist
Character:Man in Room (archive footage)
Release Date:01/10/1989
Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies
Character:
Release Date:19/09/1988
Creepy Classics
Character:Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)
Release Date:01/10/1987
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1984
The Horror of It All
Character:Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)
Release Date:23/02/1983
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1982
Monsters on the March (and a Pair of Marvels!)
Character:
Release Date:01/01/1980
The Horror Show
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:06/02/1979
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:06/08/1975
Madhouse
Character:(archive footage)
Release Date:28/03/1974
The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:20/02/1974
Alien Terror
Character:Prof. John Mayer
Release Date:01/04/1971
Isle of the Snake People
Character:Carl van Molder / Damballah
Release Date:01/03/1971
Hatchet for the Honeymoon
Character:Gorca (archive footage)
Release Date:02/06/1970
Curse of the Crimson Altar
Character:Professor John Marsh
Release Date:01/12/1968
Targets
Character:Byron Orlok
Release Date:13/08/1968
Fear Chamber
Character:Dr. Carl Mandel
Release Date:01/05/1968
Macabre Serenade
Character:Matthias Morteval
Release Date:01/05/1968
Cauldron of Blood
Character:Franz Badulescu
Release Date:10/02/1968
The Movie Orgy
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1968
The Sorcerers
Character:Prof. Marcus Monserrat
Release Date:25/06/1967
Mad Monster Party?
Character:Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)
Release Date:08/03/1967
The Venetian Affair
Character:Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud
Release Date:18/01/1967
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Character:Narrator / The Grinch (voice)
Release Date:18/12/1966
The Daydreamer
Character:The Rat (voice)
Release Date:01/06/1966
The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini
Character:The Corpse
Release Date:06/04/1966
Doom of Dracula
Character:The Madman (archive footage)
Release Date:01/01/1966
Die, Monster, Die!
Character:Nahum Witley
Release Date:26/10/1965
Bikini Beach
Character:Art Dealer
Release Date:22/07/1964
Today's Teens
Character:Narrator
Release Date:02/02/1964
The Comedy of Terrors
Character:Amos Hinchley
Release Date:22/01/1964
Horror!!!
Character:Self
Release Date:02/01/1964
A Fool's World
Character:Narrator
Release Date:01/01/1964
Black Sabbath
Character:Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak")
Release Date:17/08/1963
The Terror
Character:Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe
Release Date:17/06/1963
Corridors of Blood
Character:Dr. Thomas Bolton
Release Date:05/06/1963
The Raven
Character:Dr. Scarabus
Release Date:23/01/1963
Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing
Character:
Release Date:26/10/1962
Little Lost Robot
Character:Host
Release Date:07/07/1962
The Incredible Doktor Markesan
Character:Dr. Konrad Markesan
Release Date:25/02/1962
Arsenic & Old Lace
Character:Jonathan Brewster
Release Date:05/02/1962
The Storm
Character:
Release Date:21/01/1962
The Grim Reaper
Character:Self
Release Date:13/06/1961
Days of Thrills and Laughter
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:21/03/1961
The Fatal Impulse
Character:Self
Release Date:29/11/1960
Heart of Darkness
Character:Mr. Kurtz
Release Date:06/11/1958
Frankenstein 1970
Character:Baron Viktor von Frankenstein
Release Date:20/07/1958
Grip of the Strangler
Character:James Rankin
Release Date:11/05/1958
Jack the Ripper
Character:Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason
Release Date:08/03/1958
Destination Nightmare
Character:Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs
Release Date:08/03/1958
The Juggler of Our Lady
Character:Narrator (voice)
Release Date:04/12/1957
The Lark
Character:Bishop Cauchon
Release Date:10/02/1957
Voodoo Island
Character:Phillip Knight
Release Date:01/02/1957
Rendezvous in Black
Character:Ward Allen
Release Date:25/10/1956
A Connecticut Yankee
Character:King Arthur
Release Date:12/03/1955
Sting of Death
Character:Mr. Mycroft
Release Date:12/02/1955
Sabaka
Character:General Pollegar
Release Date:02/02/1955
The Island Monster
Character:Don Gaetano
Release Date:02/01/1954
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Character:Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Release Date:01/08/1953
Colonel March Investigates
Character:Colonel March
Release Date:01/07/1953
The Black Castle
Character:Dr. Meissen
Release Date:31/10/1952
The Strange Door
Character:Voltan
Release Date:31/10/1951
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Character:Swami Talpur
Release Date:26/05/1949
The Emperor's Nightingale
Character:Narrator (English version)
Release Date:15/04/1949
Tap Roots
Character:Tishomingo
Release Date:25/08/1948
Unconquered
Character:Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
Release Date:10/10/1947
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome
Character:Gruesome
Release Date:26/09/1947
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Character:Dr Hugo Hollingshead
Release Date:01/09/1947
Lured
Character:Charles van Druten
Release Date:28/08/1947
Bedlam
Character:George Sims
Release Date:10/05/1946
Isle of the Dead
Character:Gen. Nikolas Pherides
Release Date:07/09/1945
The Body Snatcher
Character:John Gray
Release Date:25/05/1945
The Mummy's Curse
Character:Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)
Release Date:22/12/1944
House of Frankenstein
Character:Dr. Gustav Niemann
Release Date:15/12/1944
The Climax
Character:Dr. Friedrich Hohner
Release Date:20/10/1944
The Boogie Man Will Get You
Character:Prof. Nathaniel Billings
Release Date:22/10/1942
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6
Character:Himself
Release Date:05/10/1942
The Devil Commands
Character:Dr. Julian Blair
Release Date:15/08/1941
Information Please: Series 2, No. 12
Character:Self
Release Date:11/07/1941
You'll Find Out
Character:Judge Spencer Mainwaring
Release Date:22/11/1940
The Ape
Character:Dr. Bernard Adrian
Release Date:30/09/1940
The Mummy's Hand
Character:Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)
Release Date:20/09/1940
Before I Hang
Character:Dr. John Garth
Release Date:17/09/1940
Doomed to Die
Character:James Lee Wong
Release Date:12/08/1940
The Man with Nine Lives
Character:Dr. Leon Kravaal
Release Date:18/04/1940
Black Friday
Character:Dr. Ernest Sovac
Release Date:12/04/1940
The Fatal Hour
Character:James Lee Wong
Release Date:15/01/1940
Tower of London
Character:Mord
Release Date:17/11/1939
British Intelligence
Character:Valdar
Release Date:10/11/1939
The Man They Could Not Hang
Character:Dr. Henryk Savaard
Release Date:17/08/1939
Mr. Wong in Chinatown
Character:Mr. James Lee Wong
Release Date:01/08/1939
The Mystery of Mr. Wong
Character:James Lee Wong
Release Date:08/03/1939
Son of Frankenstein
Character:The Monster
Release Date:13/01/1939
Devil's Island
Character:Dr. Charles Gaudet
Release Date:07/01/1939
Mr. Wong, Detective
Character:James Lee Wong
Release Date:05/10/1938
The Invisible Menace
Character:Jevries
Release Date:11/01/1938
Breakdowns of 1937
Character:Self
Release Date:31/12/1937
West of Shanghai
Character:"General" Wu Yen Fang
Release Date:30/10/1937
Night Key
Character:David Mallory
Release Date:18/04/1937
Cinema Circus
Character:Himself
Release Date:27/01/1937
Charlie Chan at the Opera
Character:Gravelle
Release Date:04/12/1936
The Man Who Changed His Mind
Character:Dr. Laurence
Release Date:11/09/1936
Juggernaut
Character:Dr. Victor Sartorius
Release Date:08/09/1936
The Walking Dead
Character:John Ellman
Release Date:29/02/1936
The Invisible Ray
Character:Dr. Janos Rukh
Release Date:20/01/1936
The Black Room
Character:Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
Release Date:15/07/1935
The Raven
Character:Edmond Bateman
Release Date:08/07/1935
Hollywood Hobbies
Character:Himself
Release Date:05/07/1935
Bride of Frankenstein
Character:The Monster
Release Date:20/04/1935
Gift of Gab
Character:Himself
Release Date:01/09/1934
The Black Cat
Character:Hjalmar Poelzig
Release Date:07/05/1934
The House of Rothschild
Character:Count Ledrantz
Release Date:07/04/1934
The Lost Patrol
Character:Sanders
Release Date:16/02/1934
Screen Snapshots No. 11
Character:Himself
Release Date:01/01/1934
The Ghoul
Character:Prof. Morlant
Release Date:01/08/1933
The Mummy
Character:Imhotep / Ardath Bey
Release Date:22/12/1932
Boo
Character:Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")
Release Date:01/12/1932
The Mask of Fu Manchu
Character:Dr. Fu Manchu
Release Date:04/11/1932
The Old Dark House
Character:Morgan
Release Date:20/10/1932
Skyscraper Souls
Character:Man Approaching Ticket Counter
Release Date:16/07/1932
Night World
Character:'Happy' MacDonald
Release Date:04/05/1932
Scarface
Character:Gaffney
Release Date:09/04/1932
The Miracle Man
Character:Nikko
Release Date:01/04/1932
The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood
Character:Boris Karloff
Release Date:27/03/1932
Behind the Mask
Character:Jim Henderson
Release Date:25/02/1932
Business and Pleasure
Character:Sheik Ali-Ben Joseph
Release Date:24/02/1932
Frankenstein
Character:The Monster
Release Date:21/11/1931
The Guilty Generation
Character:Tony Ricca
Release Date:19/11/1931
The Yellow Ticket
Character:Drunken Orderly
Release Date:30/10/1931
The Mad Genius
Character:Fedor's Father (uncredited)
Release Date:30/09/1931
Five Star Final
Character:T. Vernon Isopod
Release Date:26/09/1931
Graft
Character:Terry
Release Date:21/09/1931
I Like Your Nerve
Character:Luigi - Pacheco's Butler
Release Date:12/09/1931
The Public Defender
Character:The Professor
Release Date:01/08/1931
Smart Money
Character:Sport Williams
Release Date:11/06/1931
Young Donovan's Kid
Character:Cokey Joe
Release Date:06/06/1931
The Vanishing Legion
Character:The Voice (voice)
Release Date:01/06/1931
Cracked Nuts
Character:Boris - First Revolutionary
Release Date:18/04/1931
King of the Wild
Character:Mustapha
Release Date:01/03/1931
Tonight or Never
Character:Waiter
Release Date:04/01/1931
The Criminal Code
Character:Ned Galloway
Release Date:03/01/1931
The Utah Kid
Character:Henchman Baxter
Release Date:27/10/1930
The Sea Bat
Character:Corsican
Release Date:05/07/1930
The Bad One
Character:Monsieur Gaston
Release Date:03/05/1930
The Unholy Night
Character:Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)
Release Date:13/09/1929
The King of the Kongo
Character:Scarface Macklin
Release Date:29/08/1929
Behind That Curtain
Character:Beetham's Manservent
Release Date:30/06/1929
The Phantom of the North
Character:Jules Gregg
Release Date:27/05/1929
Anne Against the World
Character:
Release Date:01/05/1929
Two Sisters
Character:Cecil
Release Date:23/03/1929
The Devil's Chaplain
Character:Boris
Release Date:02/03/1929
The Fatal Warning
Character:Mullins
Release Date:15/02/1929
Burning the Wind
Character:Pug Doran
Release Date:10/02/1929
The Little Wild Girl
Character:Maurice Kent
Release Date:01/08/1928
Vultures of the Sea
Character:Grouchy
Release Date:01/03/1928
The Vanishing Rider
Character:The Villain
Release Date:16/01/1928
Sharp Shooters
Character:Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Release Date:15/01/1928
The Love Mart
Character:Fleming
Release Date:18/12/1927
Two Arabian Knights
Character:Purser
Release Date:23/09/1927
Soft Cushions
Character:The Chief Conspirator
Release Date:27/08/1927
The Phantom Buster
Character:Ramon
Release Date:13/08/1927
The Meddlin' Stranger
Character:Al Meggs
Release Date:12/06/1927
Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Character:Owaza
Release Date:20/03/1927
The Princess from Hoboken
Character:Pavel
Release Date:01/03/1927
Let It Rain
Character:Crook
Release Date:12/02/1927
Old Ironsides
Character:Saracen Guard (uncredited)
Release Date:06/12/1926
Flaming Fury
Character:Gaspard
Release Date:05/12/1926
The Nickel-Hopper
Character:Dance Hall Masher
Release Date:04/12/1926
The Eagle of the Sea
Character:Pirate (uncredited)
Release Date:17/10/1926
Flames
Character:Blackie Blanchette
Release Date:15/09/1926
The Golden Web
Character:Dave Sinclair
Release Date:01/09/1926
The Bells
Character:The Mesmerist
Release Date:29/07/1926
Her Honor, the Governor
Character:Snipe Collins
Release Date:19/07/1926
The Man in the Saddle
Character:Robber (uncredited)
Release Date:11/07/1926
The Greater Glory
Character:Scissors Grinder
Release Date:02/05/1926
Without Mercy
Character:Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)
Release Date:04/10/1925
Parisian Nights
Character:Pierre
Release Date:27/09/1925
Never the Twain Shall Meet
Character:
Release Date:13/09/1925
Perils of the Wild
Character:
Release Date:27/08/1925
Lady Robinhood
Character:Cabraza
Release Date:26/07/1925
The Prairie Wife
Character:Diego
Release Date:23/02/1925
Forbidden Cargo
Character:Pietro Castillano
Release Date:22/02/1925
Dynamite Dan
Character:Tony Garcia
Release Date:02/10/1924
Riders of the Plains
Character:
Release Date:15/09/1924
The Hellion
Character:The Outlaw
Release Date:15/07/1924
The White Panther
Character:Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)
Release Date:22/01/1924
The Prisoner
Character:Prince Kapolski
Release Date:18/03/1923
Omar the Tentmaker
Character:Imam Mowaffak
Release Date:22/12/1922
The Altar Stairs
Character:Hugo
Release Date:04/12/1922
The Woman Conquers
Character:Raoul Maris
Release Date:01/12/1922
The Man from Downing Street
Character:Maharajah Jehan
Release Date:02/04/1922
The Infidel
Character:The Nabob
Release Date:02/04/1922
Nan of the North
Character:Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Release Date:01/03/1922
The Cave Girl
Character:Baptiste
Release Date:26/12/1921
Cheated Hearts
Character:Nei Hamid
Release Date:12/12/1921
Without Benefit of Clergy
Character:Ahmed Khan
Release Date:19/06/1921
The Hope Diamond Mystery
Character:Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar
Release Date:19/02/1921
The Last of the Mohicans
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:21/11/1920
The Courage of Marge O'Doone
Character:Tavish
Release Date:30/05/1920
The Woman and the Puppet
Character:(uncredited)
Release Date:04/04/1920
The Deadlier Sex
Character:Jules Borney
Release Date:28/03/1920
The Prince and Betty
Character:Undetermined Role
Release Date:21/12/1919
His Majesty, the American
Character:Henchman in cloth cap
Release Date:01/09/1919
The Lightning Raider
Character:
Release Date:02/01/1919
Television Appearances
The Name of the Game
Character:Mikhail Orlov
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
Character:Mother Muffin
The Wild Wild West
Character:Mr. Singh
Shindig!
Character:Self - Guest Host / Singer
Out of This World
Character:Host
Route 66
Character:
Thriller
Character:Clayton Mace
Thriller
Character:Self - Host
Thriller
Character:Pop Jenkins / Col. Jackson Beauregard Finchess
Thriller
Character:Dr. Thorne
Thriller
Character:Doktor Konrad Markesan
Thriller
Character:Dr. Albert Farnham
Shirley Temple's Storybook
Character:Narrator (voice) / Father Knickerbocker
The Veil
Character:
Suspicion
Character:Judge Winthrop Gelsey
DuPont Show of the Month
Character:
The Lux Show
Character:Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Character:Self
The Rosemary Clooney Show
Character:Self
Telephone Time
Character:
Tony Awards
Character:Self - Nominee
Colonel March of Scotland Yard
Character:Colonel March Of Scotland Yard
This Is Your Life
Character:Self
Climax!
Character:Dr. Philip Nestri
Climax!
Character:Vicar Tellworth
The George Gobel Show
Character:Self
The United States Steel Hour
Character:George Redford
General Electric Theater
Character:Mr. Blue Ocean
General Electric Theater
Character:Henry E. Church
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Character:Cauchon
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Character:Jonathan Brewster
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Charles Brandon
The Red Skelton Show
Character:Professor Townsend (Spy)
Tales of Tomorrow
Character:
Down You Go
Character:Self
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Sir Arthur Strangeways
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Montgomery Royle
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Larkin
What's My Line?
Character:Self
Robert Montgomery Presents
Character:Bennett Kimball
Robert Montgomery Presents
Character:
Starring Boris Karloff
Character:
Lights Out
Character:
Suspense
Character:Toff
Suspense
Character:
Suspense
Character:Bronson
Suspense
Character:Rasputin
Studio One
Character:Skaggs
Studio One
Character:Professor Koernig
Studio One
Character:King Arthur
Images
