History Creator / BorisKarloff

* ''The Comedy of Terrors'', as Amos Hinchley (1963) -- Another American-International comedy-horror outing with [[Creator/VincentPrice Price]] and [[Creator/PeterLorre Lorre]], this time adding Basil Rathbone to the mix.

* ''Bedlam'', as George Sims, master of the [[BedlamHouse Bedlam insane asylum]] (1946)

* ''Film/FiveStarFinal'' -- as scumbag [[{{Paparazzi}} paparazzo]] reporter Isopod

* ''[[Franchise/FuManchu The Mask of Fu Manchu]]''- as Dr. [=Fu Manchu=] (1932)

Born William Henry Pratt, [[StageNames Boris Karloff]] (1887-1969) was a [[RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor much-beloved]] English-born character actor who worked in a [[HeAlsoDid variety of genres]] and whose career spanned fifty years (albeit all too often in films that were [[MoneyDearBoy criminal wastes]] of his talents). He is most remembered, however, for his work in {{horror}} films (perhaps most particularly the UniversalHorror cycles of the 1930s and 1940s), where his distinctively sinister lisping voice and gaunt, heavy-browed appearance were a definite advantage.

* ''Doomed to Die'', as James Lee Wong (1940)

Born William Henry Pratt, [[StageNames Boris Karloff]] (1887-1969) was a [[RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor much-beloved]] English-born character actor who worked in a [[HeAlsoDid variety of genres]] and whose career spanned fifty years (albeit all too often in films that were [[MoneyDearBoy criminal wastes]] of his talents). He is most remembered, however, for his work in {{horror}} films (perhaps most particularly the UniversalHorror cycles of the 1930s and 1940s), where his [[HeyItsThatVoice distinctively sinister lisping voice]] and gaunt, heavy-browed appearance were a definite advantage.

Born William Henry Pratt, '''[[StageNames Boris Karloff]]''' (1887-1969) was a [[RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor much-beloved]] English-born character actor who worked in a [[HeAlsoDid variety of genres]] and whose career spanned fifty years (albeit all too often in films that were [[MoneyDearBoy criminal wastes]] of his talents). He is most remembered, however, for his work in {{horror}} films (perhaps most particularly the UniversalHorror cycles of the 1930s and 1940s), where his [[HeyItsThatVoice distinctively sinister lisping voice]] and gaunt, heavy-browed appearance were a definite advantage.

* John Ford's ''The Lost Patrol'', as Sanders (1934)

* ''Die, Monster, Die!'', as Nahum Witley (1965)

His career in films waned somewhat in TheFifties and [[TheSixties Sixties]], as he was reduced, more or less, to playing caricatures of himself in films such as ''Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1953) and ''The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini'' (1966). He found more fulfilling work on television in this period; he starred in the series ''Series/ColonelMarchOfScotlandYard'', hosted (and sometimes acted in) the [[GenreAnthology horror anthologies]] ''Series/{{Thriller}}'' and ''Series/TheVeil'', and guest starred on series such as ''Series/TheGirlFromUNCLE'' (in drag!), ''Series/TheWildWildWest'' and ''Series/{{Route 66}}''.

* ''WesternAnimation/MadMonsterParty'', as Dr. Boris von Frankenstein (1967) -- A RankinBassProductions StopMotion puppetry cartoon.

* ''Tower of London'', as Mord, RichardOfGloucester's torturer (1939)

* ''Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}}'', as the Monster (1931) -- The first time Karloff played the part.
* ''Scarface'', as Gaffney (1932)
* ''Film/TheOldDarkHouse'', as Morgan, the butler (1932)

* ''Film/TheMummy1932'', as the Mummy, Imhotep, AKA Ardeth Bey (1932)

* ''Film/TheRaven1935'', as Edmond Bateman (1935) -- Note this is the ''first'' Karloff film of this name.

His career in films waned somewhat in TheFifties and [[TheSixties Sixties]], as he was reduced, more or less, to playing caricatures of himself in films such as ''Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1953) and ''The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini'' (1966). He found more fulfilling work on television in this period; he starred in the series ''ColonelMarchOfScotlandYard'', hosted (and sometimes acted in) the [[GenreAnthology horror anthologies]] ''Series/BorisKarloffsThriller'' and ''TheVeil'', and guest starred on series such as ''Series/TheGirlFromUNCLE'' (in drag!), ''Series/TheWildWildWest'' and ''Series/{{Route 66}}''.

* ''The Raven'', as Dr. Scarabus (1963) -- The second of Karloff's films with this title, this is an [[Creator/RogerCorman American-International]] comedy-horror romp, in which Karloff plays an over-the-top villain opposite Creator/VincentPrice, Creator/PeterLorre, and Creator/JackNicholson. Notably spawned the following:

Born William Henry Pratt, '''[[StageName Boris Karloff]]''' (1887-1969) was a [[RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor much-beloved]] English-born character actor who worked in a [[HeAlsoDid variety of genres]] and whose career spanned fifty years (albeit all too often in films that were [[MoneyDearBoy criminal wastes]] of his talents). He is most remembered, however, for his work in {{horror}} films (perhaps most particularly the UniversalHorror cycles of the 1930s and 1940s), where his [[HeyItsThatVoice distinctively sinister lisping voice]] and gaunt, heavy-browed appearance were a definite advantage.

[[caption-width-right:263:"When I was nine I played the demon king in 'Literature/{{Cinderella}}' and it launched me on a long and happy life of being a monster."]]

* ''Film/TheBodySnatcher'', as Cabman John Gray (1945). The first of three movies he made with ValLewton.

Among his more famous roles: the Monster in the 1931 version of ''[[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} Frankenstein]]'' and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'', the resurrected Egyptian villain Imhotep in ''Film/TheMummy1932'', and supplying the narration for the classic ChuckJones adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas''. In 1939, he appeared in the original run of the play ''Theatre/{{Arsenic and Old Lace}}'' as [[CastingGag a man whose plastic surgeon had watched too many horror movies]]; he was unable to appear in the film version because, ironically, his play contract had not yet run out.

His career in films waned somewhat in TheFifties and [[TheSixties Sixties]], as he was reduced, more or less, to playing caricatures of himself in films such as ''Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1953) and ''The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini'' (1966). He found more fulfilling work on television in this period; he starred in the series ''ColonelMarchOfScotlandYard'', hosted (and sometimes acted in) the [[GenreAnthology horror anthologies]] ''Series/BorisKarloffsThriller'' and ''TheVeil'', and guest starred on series such as ''Series/TheGirlFromUNCLE'' (in drag!), ''Series/TheWildWildWest'' and ''{{Route 66}}''.

Nearing the end of his career and life, he achieved a personal CrowningMomentOfAwesome in the PeterBogdanovich nail-biter ''{{Targets}}'', playing... Byron Orlock, a veteran horror-movie actor nearing the end of his career and life. An earlier RealLife CrowningMomentOfAwesome occurred in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1912, when as an unknown actor in a travelling theatre troupe he led fundraising efforts to help the victims of a devastating tornado - and ended up raising more money for the victims than the federal government.

* ''TheMaskOfFuManchu'', as Dr. FuManchu (1932)

* ''CharlieChan at the Opera'', as the mad opera singer, Gravelle (1936) -- No, he did not sing; he was dubbed.

* ''Mr. Wong, Detective'', as Mr. James Lee Wong (1938) -- Like CharlieChan, and PeterLorre's Mr. Moto, an Oriental detective played by an Occidental actor. Karloff would play the part three more times.

* ''The Raven'', as Dr. Scarabus (1963) -- The second of Karloff's films with this title, this is an American-International comedy-horror romp, in which Karloff plays an over-the-top villain opposite VincentPrice, PeterLorre, and JackNicholson. Notably spawned the following:

* ''The Comedy of Terrors'', as Amos Hinchley (1963) -- Another American-International comedy-horror outing with [[VincentPrice Price]] and [[PeterLorre Lorre]], this time adding Basil Rathbone to the mix.

Among his more famous roles: the Monster in the 1931 version of ''Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}}'' and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'', the resurrected Egyptian villain Imhotep in ''Film/TheMummy1932'', and supplying the narration for the classic ChuckJones adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas''. In 1939, he appeared in the original run of the play ''Theatre/{{Arsenic and Old Lace}}'' as [[CastingGag a man whose plastic surgeon had watched too many horror movies]]; he was unable to appear in the film version because, ironically, his play contract had not yet run out.

Born William Henry Pratt, '''[[StageName Boris Karloff]]''' (1887-1969) was a [[MeanCharacterNiceActor much-beloved]] English-born character actor who worked in a [[HeAlsoDid variety of genres]] and whose career spanned fifty years (albeit all too often in films that were [[MoneyDearBoy criminal wastes]] of his talents). He is most remembered, however, for his work in {{horror}} films (perhaps most particularly the UniversalHorror cycles of the 1930s and 1940s), where his [[HeyItsThatVoice distinctively sinister lisping voice]] and gaunt, heavy-browed appearance were a definite advantage.

Among his more famous roles: the Monster in the 1931 version of ''Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}}'' and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'', the resurrected Egyptian villain Imhotep in ''Film/TheMummy'', and supplying the narration for the classic ChuckJones adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas''. In 1939, he appeared in the original run of the play ''Theatre/{{Arsenic and Old Lace}}'' as [[CastingGag a man whose plastic surgeon had watched too many horror movies]]; he was unable to appear in the film version because, ironically, his play contract had not yet run out.

* ''Film/TheMummy'', as the Mummy, Imhotep, AKA Ardeth Bey (1932)

* ''Film/TheBlackCat'', as Hjalmar Poelzig (opposite BelaLugosi) (1934)

* ''You'll Find Out'', as Judge Spencer Mainwaring (1940) -- A Kay Kyser {{musical}}, in which Karloff appears with BelaLugosi and PeterLorre

* ''The Terror'', as Baron Victor Frederick von Leppe (1963) -- Famous for being filmed in four days with five different directors (though this has been disputed) on the set of ''The Raven'' when that film finished ahead of schedule. JackNicholson co-stars.

* ''The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini'', as Hiram Stokely, a corpse (1966) -- This time Tommy Kirk (of ''CatalinaCaper'' infamy) is the beach boy.

-->-- '''Officer Klein''' in ''ArsenicAndOldLace'', regarding Jonathan Brewster, who was originally played by Karloff himself

Among his more famous roles: the Monster in the 1931 version of ''Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}}'' and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'', the resurrected Egyptian villain Imhotep in ''Film/TheMummy'', and supplying the narration for the classic ChuckJones adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas''. In 1939, he appeared in the original run of the play ''{{Arsenic and Old Lace}}'' as [[CastingGag a man whose plastic surgeon had watched too many horror movies]]; he was unable to appear in the film version because, ironically, his play contract had not yet run out.