Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff
Born
William Henry Pratt

(1897-11-23)23 November 1897
London, England
Died(1969-02-02)2 February 1969
Sussex, England
Cause of deathEmphysema
OccupationActor
Years active1919–1968

Boris Karloff who was born William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), was an English actor.

Career

Karloff was born in London, England. His career began in silent movies, such as The Lightning Raider (1919), The Courage of Marge O'Doone (1920), The Woman Conquers (1922), The Greater Glory (1926), and The Devil's Chaplain (1929).

Boris Karloff, along with Bela Lugosi and silent movie actor Lon Chaney, played a lot of evil roles in movies. His most famous role is that of the monster in Frankenstein (1931), a horror movie that was directed by James Whale.

In 1932, he starred in his second horror movie, Behind the Mask (1932), as Jim Henderson. That same year, he had a role in Scarface with Paul Muni.

He was also in The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), and The Mummy (1932), where he played the Mummy. He formed a successful team with Bela Lugosi in The Black Cat (1934), The Raven (1935), and The Invisible Ray (1936).

In 1934, he starred in John Ford's RKO war movie, The Lost Patrol, as Sanders, a religious fanatic during the First World War.

Karloff returned to the character of the monster in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939).

In the 1940s, he starred in more horror movies, such as The Ape (1940), The Climax (1944), and The House of Frankenstein (1944), with Lon Chaney, Jr. and John Carradine.

In 1949, he worked with the famous duo Abbott and Costello in the comedy movie Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, followed by Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 1953.

In the 1960s, after having a career resurgence, he began to work with young directors such as Roger Corman in The Raven (1963), where he plays a wizard who must confront another sorcerer, played by Vincent Price. He also starred in another Corman movie, The Terror, in 1963.

Karloff returned to work with Vincent Price in The Comedy of Terrors (1963), directed by Jacques Tourneur.

Television

Karloff appeared in many television shows, including his British TV series, Coronel March of Scotland Yard (1954–56). He was also the host of the American television series Boris Karloff Presents (1960-62).

In 1966, Karloff voiced The Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Boris Karloff was also a guest star on TV series such as Suspense, The United States Steel Hour, The Veil, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Jim West, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., The Red Skelton Show, and I Spy.

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