The Historical Dictionary of the American Theater

KARLOFF, BORIS

Karloff, Boris: translation

(1887-1969)
Born William Henry Pratt in London, the actor had a solid stage career before his name became synonymous with Frankenstein in motion pictures. Beginning in 1910 in British Columbia, Canada, he acted with stock companies and toured with a repertory company, playing numerous roles. In Chicago he joined a company ofThe Virginian, which ended its tour in Los Angeles in 1917, leaving him in a position to go into movies. From 1916 to 1958, he acted in over 50 films, with occasional returns to thelegitimatestage, as when he played Jonathan Brewster inArsenic and Old Lace* (1941), Captain Hook inPeter Pan(1950), and Cauchon inThe Lark* (1955).

  1. karloff, boris—Karloff Boris translationWilliam Henry Pratt Britishborn actor who had a long career in films and other media but of course most famous as the monster in Frankensteinem ....Biographical Dictionary of Mexican Film Performers