Boris Karloff - Actor Profile

Boris Karloff

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
10.0 Highest Rated
Born: Nov 23, 1887
Birth Place: Camberwell, London, England, UK

About Boris Karloff

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.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of Boris Karloff reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Documentary

The majority of Boris Karloff's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 100% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Boris Karloff remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best Boris Karloff Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from Boris Karloff's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Boris Karloff.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2024 The Last Repair Shop The Monster (archive footage) (uncredited) Super Hit Similar →
2022 Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story Self - Interviewee Super Hit Similar →
2021 Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
2015 Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2014 Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film Various roles (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2012 The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features - Super Hit Similar →
2008 He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2007 Ian Rankin Investigates: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Cabman John Gray (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2007 Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2006 Lugosi: The Dark Prince Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2006 Karloff: The Gentle Monster Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2003 The Mesmerist (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2002 The 'Frankenstein' Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2001 Heroes of Horror (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
2000 The American Nightmare Self Hit Similar →
2000 Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1999 Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1998 Universal Horror (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1996 The Universal Story Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1994 Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld Self (archive footage) Hit Similar →
1994 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Special Edition (voice - archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1991 Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook Doctor Gustav Niemann (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1990 Myrna Loy: So Nice to Come Home To (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1984 Going Hollywood: The '30s (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1983 The Horror of It All Frankenstein / Cabman John Gray (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1974 The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute Self (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1968 Targets Byron Orlok Hit Similar →
1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Narrator / The Grinch (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1963 Black Sabbath Gorca (segment "The Wurdalak") Hit Similar →
1962 Little Lost Robot Host Hit Similar →
1962 The Incredible Doktor Markesan Dr. Konrad Markesan Hit Similar →
1948 Tap Roots Tishomingo Hit Similar →
1947 The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Dr Hugo Hollingshead Hit Similar →
1946 Bedlam George Sims Hit Similar →
1945 The Body Snatcher John Gray Hit Similar →
1939 Son of Frankenstein The Monster Hit Similar →
1936 Charlie Chan at the Opera Gravelle Hit Similar →
1935 Bride of Frankenstein The Monster Super Hit Similar →
1934 The Black Cat Hjalmar Poelzig Hit Similar →
1932 The Mummy Imhotep / Ardath Bey Hit Similar →
1932 The Old Dark House Morgan Hit Similar →
1932 Night World 'Happy' MacDonald Hit Similar →
1932 Scarface Gaffney Hit Similar →
1931 Frankenstein The Monster Super Hit Similar →
1931 Smart Money Sport Williams Hit Similar →
1931 The Vanishing Legion The Voice (voice) Super Hit Similar →
1931 Cracked Nuts Boris - First Revolutionary Hit Similar →
1929 The King of the Kongo Scarface Macklin Hit Similar →
1926 The Nickel-Hopper Dance Hall Masher Hit Similar →
1919 The Prince and Betty Undetermined Role Super Hit Similar →

Boris Karloff - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of Boris Karloff?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Boris Karloff is "Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook" with a rating of 10.0/10.

How many movies has Boris Karloff acted in?

Boris Karloff has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by Boris Karloff?

Other notable films include "Going Hollywood: The '30s", "Boris Karloff: The Rest of the Story", and "Jack Pierce: The Man Who Made the Monsters".