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Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

73 movies on Netflix

Biography

Boris Karloff was an English actor who became a horror icon through his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein (1931), a role he repeated in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939). Born in Dulwich, London, he began stage acting in Canada in 1911 and later appeared in dozens of silent films, often as Arab or Indian characters, before The Criminal Code (1931) brought him recognition. He played Imhotep in The Mummy (1932) and teamed with Bela Lugosi in The Black Cat (1934) and The Raven (1935). His later credits included The Body Snatcher (1945), Isle of the Dead (1945), Bedlam (1946), and Targets (1968). On stage he appeared in Arsenic and Old Lace and was nominated for a Tony Award for The Lark. He voiced and narrated How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), winning a Grammy Award, and in 1960 the Walk of Fame in Hollywood awarded him two stars.

81years old at death

  • Born Dulwich
  • Died Midhurst
  • Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
  • William Henry Pratt (birth name)Also credited as William Pratt

Movie Career

Films
73
Career span
103 years1920 to 2023

Genres

First and latest

Photos

  • Boris Karloff, photo 1 of 3
  • Boris Karloff, photo 2 of 3
  • Boris Karloff, photo 3 of 3

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  1. First role

    Karloff's first certain screen role was in the 1919 serial The Lightning Raider with Pearl White, and his earliest surviving film appearance was The Masked Rider that same year.

  2. Beyond film

    Karloff played the homicidal gangster in the original 1941 Broadway production of Arsenic and Old Lace, a role written to be mistaken for Karloff himself, and Frank Capra cast Raymond Massey in the 1944 film.

  3. Behind the award

    Karloff's late-career comeback in America included voicing the Grinch and narrating the animated Dr. Seuss television special, which CBS-TV first aired in 1966. A Grammy for "Best Recording For Children" followed once the recording was sold.

  4. A first

    Karloff was billed simply as KARLOFF by Universal for eight films in a row at the height of his career, a custom that ended with Son of Frankenstein in 1939.

Boris Karloff movies on Netflix

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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  1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!1966 Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasyas Narrator / The Grinchvoice

    IMDb rating 8.367K votes

  2. The Bride of Frankenstein1935 Drama, Horror, Sci-Fias The Monster

    IMDb rating 7.860K votes

  3. Frankenstein1931as The Monster

    IMDb rating 7.789K votes

  4. The Mummy1932as Imhotep / Ardath Bey

    IMDb rating 6.934K votes

  5. The Old Dark House1932as Morgan

    IMDb rating 7.015K votes

  6. The Black Cat1934as Hjalmar Poelzig

    IMDb rating 6.915K votes

  7. The Body Snatcher1945as Cabman John Gray

    IMDb rating 7.311K votes

  8. Targets1968as Byron Orlok

    IMDb rating 7.314K votes

Most often with

William Nigh directed four of these films, James Whale three and Nick Grinde three. Bela Lugosi appears in nine of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Bela Lugosi, 9 films togetherSee the 9 films with Bela LugosiPeter Lorre, 6 films togetherSee the 6 films with Peter LorreVincent Price, 5 films togetherSee the 5 films with Vincent PriceBasil Rathbone, 5 films togetherSee the 5 films with Basil RathboneAlan Napier, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Alan NapierErnie Adams, 4 films togetherSee the 4 films with Ernie AdamsWilliam NighDirector, 4 filmsSee the 4 films by William NighJames WhaleDirector, 3 filmsSee the 3 films by James WhaleNick GrindeDirector, 3 filmsSee the 3 films by Nick Grinde

Films together

Box office

What Boris Karloff's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$27.4 million

11 of the 73 films have a worldwide figure.

Of the 73 films: 11 worldwide figure; 3 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 57 figure not found.

  • 11Worldwide figure
  • 3US gross only
  • 2Never in cinemas
  • 57Figure not found

Top grosser

Frankenstein1931as The Monster$12.0 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

  1. 1
    Frankenstein1931as The Monster
    $12M43.7% of the total
  2. 2
    Unconquered1947as Guyasuta, Chief of the Senecas
    $6.7M24.3% of the total
  3. 3
    Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde1953as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
    $2.6M9.5% of the total
  4. 4
    The Bride of Frankenstein1935as The Monster
    $2.0M7.3% of the total
  5. 5
    The Raven1963as Dr. Scarabus
    $1.5M5.5% of the total
  6. 6
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty1947as Dr. Hollingshead
    $957K3.5% of the total
  7. 7
    Five Star Final1931as T. Vernon Isopod
    $822K3.0% of the total
  8. 8
    Scarface1932as Gaffney
    $600K2.2% of the total
The Black Cat (1934), $236,000Corridors of Blood (1958), $51,500The Mummy (1932), $1,408

$288,908from the other 3 films with a worldwide figure, 1% of the total

Awards

One award and honor.

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Boris Karloff's awards and nominations, grouped by award
YearAwardFilmResult
Other honors
Star on Hollywood Walk of FameHonored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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