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Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

Known For Acting
Birthday Nov 23, 1887
Died Feb 02, 1969 (81)
Birthplace Camberwell, London, England, UK
Popularity 0.4 (history)
Updated Aug 08, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Boris Karloff, whose real name was William Henry Pratt, 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.

Known For

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Filmography

The Last Repair Shop

The Last Repair Shop

2024

as The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited)

Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film

Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film

2014

as Various roles (archive footage)

Terror in the Tropics

Terror in the Tropics

2006

as Mr. Wong (archive footage)

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made

2004

as Dr. Bernard Adrian (archive footage)

The Mesmerist

The Mesmerist

2003

as (archive footage)

Heroes of Horror

Heroes of Horror

2001

as (archive footage)

The Many Faces of Dracula

The Many Faces of Dracula

2000

as The Monster (archive footage)

Universal Horror

Universal Horror

1998

as (archive footage)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition

1994

as (voice - archive footage)

In Search of Dr. Seuss

In Search of Dr. Seuss

1994

as (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)

Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook

1991

as The Monster / Gustav Niemann / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde / etc.

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook

1991

as Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage)

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To

1990

as (archive footage)

Transylvania Twist

Transylvania Twist

1989

as Man in Room

Creepy Classics

Creepy Classics

1987

as Dr. Scarabus - (archive footage)

Horrible Horror

Horrible Horror

1986

as Gruesome in 'Dick Tracey Meets Gruesome'

Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

as (archive footage)

The Horror of It All

The Horror of It All

1983

as Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage)

The Horror Show

The Horror Show

1979

as (archive footage)

Madhouse

Madhouse

1974

as (archive footage)

Cauldron of Blood

Cauldron of Blood

1970

as Franz Badulescu

Fear Chamber

Fear Chamber

1968

as Dr. Carl Mandel

Curse of the Crimson Altar

Curse of the Crimson Altar

1968

as Professor John Marsh

Targets

Targets

1968

as Byron Orlok

Mad Monster Party?

Mad Monster Party?

1967

as Baron Boris von Frankenstein (voice)

The Sorcerers

The Sorcerers

1967

as Prof. Marcus Monserrat

The Venetian Affair

The Venetian Affair

1967

as Dr. Pierre Vaugiroud

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

1966

as Narrator / The Grinch (voice)

Doom of Dracula

Doom of Dracula

1966

as The Madman

The Daydreamer

The Daydreamer

1966

as The Rat (voice)

Die, Monster, Die!

Die, Monster, Die!

1965

as Nahum Witley

The Son of Frankenstein

The Son of Frankenstein

1965

as The Monster (archive footage)

The Comedy of Terrors

The Comedy of Terrors

1964

as Amos Hinchley

Bikini Beach

Bikini Beach

1964

as Art Dealer

The Terror

The Terror

1963

as Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe

The Raven

The Raven

1963

as Dr. Scarabus

The Incredible Doktor Markesan

The Incredible Doktor Markesan

1962

as Dr. Konrad Markesan

Arsenic & Old Lace

Arsenic & Old Lace

1962

as Jonathan Brewster

Little Lost Robot

Little Lost Robot

1962

as Host

Grip of the Strangler

Grip of the Strangler

1958

as James Rankin

Frankenstein 1970

Frankenstein 1970

1958

as Baron Viktor von Frankenstein

Destination Nightmare

Destination Nightmare

1958

as Host / Ira Perry / Pete Wade Sr. / Professor Charles Goncourt / Morgan Debs

Corridors of Blood

Corridors of Blood

1958

as Dr. Thomas Bolton

Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper

1958

as Host / Capt. John Elwood / Jonas Atterbury / Dr. Francis Mason

Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness

1958

as Mr. Kurtz

Voodoo Island

Voodoo Island

1957

as Phillip Knight

The Juggler of Our Lady

The Juggler of Our Lady

1957

as Narrator (voice)

A Connecticut Yankee

A Connecticut Yankee

1955

as King Arthur

The Sting of Death

The Sting of Death

1955

as Mr. Mycroft

Sabaka

Sabaka

1955

as General Pollegar

Colonel March Investigates

Colonel March Investigates

1953

as Colonel March

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1953

as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

The Black Castle

The Black Castle

1952

as Dr. Meissen

The Strange Door

The Strange Door

1951

as Voltan

Tap Roots

Tap Roots

1948

as Tishomingo

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

1947

as Gruesome

Lured

Lured

1947

as Charles van Druten

Unconquered

Unconquered

1947

as Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

1947

as Dr. Hugo Hollingshead

Bedlam

Bedlam

1946

as George Sims

The Body Snatcher

The Body Snatcher

1945

as John Gray

Isle of the Dead

Isle of the Dead

1945

as Gen. Nikolas Pherides

House of Frankenstein

House of Frankenstein

1944

as Dr. Gustav Niemann

The Climax

The Climax

1944

as Dr. Friedrich Hohner

The Mummy's Curse

The Mummy's Curse

1944

as Kharis in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

The Boogie Man Will Get You

The Boogie Man Will Get You

1942

as Prof. Nathaniel Billings

The Devil Commands

The Devil Commands

1941

as Dr. Julian Blair

Before I Hang

Before I Hang

1940

as Dr. John Garth

The Ape

The Ape

1940

as Dr. Bernard Adrian

The Fatal Hour

The Fatal Hour

1940

as James Lee Wong

The Man with Nine Lives

The Man with Nine Lives

1940

as Dr. Leon Kravaal

Doomed to Die

Doomed to Die

1940

as James Lee Wong

Black Friday

Black Friday

1940

as Dr. Ernest Sovac

You'll Find Out

You'll Find Out

1940

as Judge Spencer Mainwaring

The Mummy's Hand

The Mummy's Hand

1940

as Kharis (archive footage / uncredited)

The Mystery of Mr. Wong

The Mystery of Mr. Wong

1939

as James Lee Wong

British Intelligence

British Intelligence

1939

as Valdar

Devil's Island

Devil's Island

1939

as Dr. Charles Gaudet

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

Mr. Wong in Chinatown

1939

as Mr. James Lee Wong

The Man They Could Not Hang

The Man They Could Not Hang

1939

as Dr. Henryk Savaard

Son of Frankenstein

Son of Frankenstein

1939

as The Monster

Tower of London

Tower of London

1939

as Mord

Mr. Wong, Detective

Mr. Wong, Detective

1938

as James Lee Wong

The Invisible Menace

The Invisible Menace

1938

as Jevries

Night Key

Night Key

1937

as David Mallory

West of Shanghai

West of Shanghai

1937

as "General" Wu Yen Fang

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead

1936

as John Ellman

The Invisible Ray

The Invisible Ray

1936

as Dr. Janos Rukh

Juggernaut

Juggernaut

1936

as Dr. Victor Sartorius

The Man Who Changed His Mind

The Man Who Changed His Mind

1936

as Dr. Laurience

Charlie Chan at the Opera

Charlie Chan at the Opera

1936

as Gravelle

The Raven

The Raven

1935

as Edmond Bateman

The Black Room

The Black Room

1935

as Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman

Bride of Frankenstein

Bride of Frankenstein

1935

as The Monster

The Black Cat

The Black Cat

1934

as Hjalmar Poelzig

The House of Rothschild

The House of Rothschild

1934

as Count Ledrantz

The Lost Patrol

The Lost Patrol

1934

as Sanders

The Ghoul

The Ghoul

1933

as Prof. Morlant

The Old Dark House

The Old Dark House

1932

as Morgan

The Mask of Fu Manchu

The Mask of Fu Manchu

1932

as Dr. Fu Manchu

The Mummy

The Mummy

1932

as Imhotep, alias Ardath Bey

Behind the Mask

Behind the Mask

1932

as Jim Henderson

Night World

Night World

1932

as 'Happy' MacDonald

The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood

The Cohens and Kellys in Hollywood

1932

as Boris Karloff

Business and Pleasure

Business and Pleasure

1932

as Sheik Ali Ben Joseph (uncredited)

Scarface

Scarface

1932

as Gaffney

The Miracle Man

The Miracle Man

1932

as Nikko

Boo

Boo

1932

as Frankenstein's Monster (edited from "Frankenstein")

Skyscraper Souls

Skyscraper Souls

1932

as Man Approaching Ticket Counter

King of the Wild

King of the Wild

1931

as Mustapha

The Criminal Code

The Criminal Code

1931

as Ned Galloway

Graft

Graft

1931

as Terry

Frankenstein

Frankenstein

1931

as The Monster

Young Donovan's Kid

Young Donovan's Kid

1931

as Cokey Joe

Tonight or Never

Tonight or Never

1931

as Waiter

The Public Defender

The Public Defender

1931

as The Professor

The Guilty Generation

The Guilty Generation

1931

as Tony Ricca

I Like Your Nerve

I Like Your Nerve

1931

as Luigi - Pacheco's Butler

Cracked Nuts

Cracked Nuts

1931

as Boris - First Revolutionary

Five Star Final

Five Star Final

1931

as T. Vernon Isopod

The Mad Genius

The Mad Genius

1931

as Fedor's Father (uncredited)

The Yellow Ticket

The Yellow Ticket

1931

as Drunken Orderly

Smart Money

Smart Money

1931

as Sport Williams

The Vanishing Legion

The Vanishing Legion

1931

as The Voice (voice)

The Utah Kid

The Utah Kid

1930

as Henchman Baxter

The Sea Bat

The Sea Bat

1930

as Corsican

The Bad One

The Bad One

1930

as Monsieur Gaston

Burning the Wind

Burning the Wind

1929

as Pug Doran

The Devil's Chaplain

The Devil's Chaplain

1929

as Boris

Behind That Curtain

Behind That Curtain

1929

as Beetham's Manservent

The Phantom of the North

The Phantom of the North

1929

as Jules Gregg

The King of the Kongo

The King of the Kongo

1929

as Scarface Macklin

The Fatal Warning

The Fatal Warning

1929

as Mullins

Two Sisters

Two Sisters

1929

as Cecil

The Unholy Night

The Unholy Night

1929

as Abdul Mohammed Bey - the Hindu Lawyer (uncredited)

The Little Wild Girl

The Little Wild Girl

1928

as Maurice Kent

The Vanishing Rider

The Vanishing Rider

1928

as The Villain

Vultures of the Sea

Vultures of the Sea

1928

as Grouchy

Sharp Shooters

Sharp Shooters

1928

as Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)

The Phantom Buster

The Phantom Buster

1927

as Ramon

The Meddlin' Stranger

The Meddlin' Stranger

1927

as Al Meggs

The Love Mart

The Love Mart

1927

as Fleming

Two Arabian Knights

Two Arabian Knights

1927

as Purser

Soft Cushions

Soft Cushions

1927

as The Chief Conspirator

Let It Rain

Let It Rain

1927

as Crook

Flaming Fury

Flaming Fury

1926

as Gaspard

The Nickel-Hopper

The Nickel-Hopper

1926

as Dance Hall Masher

The Bells

The Bells

1926

as The Mesmerist

The Golden Web

The Golden Web

1926

as Dave Sinclair

Her Honor, the Governor

Her Honor, the Governor

1926

as Snipe Collins

Flames

Flames

1926

as Blackie Blanchette

The Man in the Saddle

The Man in the Saddle

1926

as Robber (uncredited)

The Eagle of the Sea

The Eagle of the Sea

1926

as Pirate (uncredited)

Old Ironsides

Old Ironsides

1926

as Saracen Guard (uncredited)

The Greater Glory

The Greater Glory

1926

as Scissors Grinder

Lady Robinhood

Lady Robinhood

1925

as Cabraza

Forbidden Cargo

Forbidden Cargo

1925

as Pietro Castillano

Parisian Nights

Parisian Nights

1925

as Pierre

The Prairie Wife

The Prairie Wife

1925

as Diego

Without Mercy

Without Mercy

1925

as Madame Gordon's 2nd Henchman (uncredited)

Dynamite Dan

Dynamite Dan

1924

as Tony Garcia

The Hellion

The Hellion

1924

as The Outlaw

The White Panther

The White Panther

1924

as Shere Ali's Aide (as Karloff Boris)

The Prisoner

The Prisoner

1923

as Prince Kapolski

The Man from Downing Street

The Man from Downing Street

1922

as Maharajah Jehan

The Infidel

The Infidel

1922

as The Nabob

The Woman Conquers

The Woman Conquers

1922

as Raoul Maris

The Altar Stairs

The Altar Stairs

1922

as Hugo

Nan of the North

Nan of the North

1922

as Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Omar the Tentmaker

Omar the Tentmaker

1922

as Imam Mowaffak

Without Benefit of Clergy

Without Benefit of Clergy

1921

as Ahmed Khan

The Hope Diamond Mystery

The Hope Diamond Mystery

1921

as Priest of Kama-Sita / Dakar

The Cave Girl

The Cave Girl

1921

as Baptiste

Cheated Hearts

Cheated Hearts

1921

as Nei Hamid

The Deadlier Sex

The Deadlier Sex

1920

as Jules Borney

The Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans

1920

as Indian (uncredited)

The Prince and Betty

The Prince and Betty

1919

as Undetermined Role

His Majesty, the American

His Majesty, the American

1919

as Henchman in cloth cap

Bikini Beach

Bikini Beach

1964

Thanks

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Colonel March of Scotland Yard

as Colonel March Of Scotland Yard

Episodes: 26

First Aired: Feb 22, 1956

Studio One

as Skaggs

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 07, 1948

General Electric Theater

as Mr. Blue Ocean

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 01, 1953

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Cauchon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 24, 1951

Thriller

as Clayton Mace

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1960

Lux Video Theatre

as Sir Arthur Strangeways

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1950

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Charles Brandon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1951

Climax!

as Dr. Philip Nestri

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1954

Suspense

as Toff

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 06, 1949

Robert Montgomery Presents

as Bennett Kimball

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 30, 1950

Suspicion

as Judge Winthrop Gelsey

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1957

Lux Video Theatre

as Montgomery Royle

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1950

General Electric Theater

as Henry E. Church

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 01, 1953

Lux Video Theatre

as Larkin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1950

The Name of the Game

as Mikhail Orlov

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1968

Thriller

as Dr. Albert Farnham

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1960

Thriller

as Dr. Thorne

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1960

Thriller

as Doktor Konrad Markesan

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1960

Thriller

as Pop Jenkins / Col. Jackson Beauregard Finchess

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1960

Studio One

as Professor Koernig

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 07, 1948

Studio One

as King Arthur

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Nov 07, 1948

Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Jonathan Brewster

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Dec 24, 1951

Climax!

as Vicar Tellworth

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1954

Suspense

as Bronson

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 06, 1949

Suspense

as Rasputin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 06, 1949

The Red Skelton Show

as Professor Townsend (Spy)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 30, 1951

The United States Steel Hour

as George Redford

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 27, 1953

Bones

as Imhotep (archive footage) (uncredited)

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 2005

Shirley Temple's Storybook

as Narrator (voice) / Father Knickerbocker

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 12, 1958

Thriller

as Self - Host

Episodes: 67

First Aired: Sep 13, 1960

Out of This World

Episodes: 14

First Aired: Jun 30, 1962

Starring Boris Karloff

Episodes: 13

First Aired: Sep 22, 1949

The Veil

Episodes: 9

First Aired: Jan 01, 1958

Down You Go

as Self

Episodes: 7

First Aired: May 30, 1951

Suspense

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jan 06, 1949

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

as Self

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 05, 1956

Tales of Tomorrow

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Aug 03, 1951

The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 1966

Route 66

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1960

This Is Your Life

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 29, 1955

The Wild Wild West

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 17, 1965

Shindig!

as Self - Guest Host / Singer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 16, 1964

Lights Out

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jul 19, 1949

DuPont Show of the Month

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1957

Telephone Time

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 08, 1956

The George Gobel Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1954

Robert Montgomery Presents

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 30, 1950

The Lux Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 26, 1957

The Rosemary Clooney Show

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: May 22, 1956

What's My Line?

as Self

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 02, 1950

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 5 16 18 13
2024 6 13 17 10
2024 7 20 30 8
2024 8 17 34 9
2024 9 15 26 5
2024 10 10 23 6
2024 11 8 16 4
2024 12 10 16 4
2025 1 12 21 6
2025 2 8 12 1
2025 3 3 11 0
2025 4 1 1 1
2025 5 2 4 1
2025 6 1 2 1
2025 7 0 1 0
2025 8 2 4 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
2024 5 600 271
2024 6 505 106
2025 1 621 312
2025 2 144 46
2025 3 767 593
2025 7 498 150
2025 8 576 523

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