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Boris Karloff

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Boris Karloff

William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), known professionally as Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film Frankenstein (1931), his 82nd film, established him as a horror icon, and he reprised the role for the sequels Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939). He also appeared as Imhotep in The Mummy (1932), and voiced the Grinch in, as well as narrating, the animated television special of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966), which won him a Grammy Award. Aside from his numerous film roles (174 films), Karloff acted in many live stage plays and appeared on dozens of radio and television programs as well. For his contribution to film and television, Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 8 February 1960.

Infobox

Born
William Henry Pratt (1887-11-23)23 November 1887 Dulwich, London, England
Died
2 February 1969(1969-02-02) (aged 81) Midhurst, Sussex, England
Resting place
Guildford Crematorium, Godalming, Surrey, England
Alma mater
King's College London
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1911–1968
Spouses
Grace Harding (m. 1910; div. 1913) Olive de Wilton (m. 1916; div. 1919) Montana Laurena Williams (m. 1920; div. 1922) Helene Vivian Soule (m. 1924; div. 1928) Dorothy Stine (m. 1930; div. 1946) Evelyn Hope Helmore (m. 1946)
Children
1
Relatives
Anna Leonowens (great-aunt) Louis T. Leonowens (first cousin once removed)

Tables

· Radio appearances (1932–1968)
California Melodies
California Melodies
Program
California Melodies
Episode
Karloff appeared with the Hallelujah Quartet
Date
Jan. 3, 1932
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Program
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Episode
Karloff appeared with Katharine Hepburn
Date
Nov. 25, 1932
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Program
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Episode
Karloff appeared with Victor McLaglen
Date
Oct. 7, 1933
California Melodies
California Melodies
Program
California Melodies
Episode
Karloff appeared as a guest
Date
Oct. 24, 1933
Hollywood on the Air
Hollywood on the Air
Program
Hollywood on the Air
Episode
Karloff appeared as a guest
Date
Jan. 27, 1934
Forty-Five Minutes in Hollywood
Forty-Five Minutes in Hollywood
Program
Forty-Five Minutes in Hollywood
Episode
Karloff appeared as a guest twice
Date
Feb. 15 & Aug. 2, 1934
The Show
The Show
Program
The Show
Episode
Episode "Death Takes a Holiday"
Date
Aug. 27, 1934
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Program
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Episode
Episode "Death Takes a Holiday"
Date
Oct. 11, 1934
Shell Chateau (hosted by Al Jolson)
Shell Chateau (hosted by Al Jolson)
Program
Shell Chateau (hosted by Al Jolson)
Episode
Episode "The Green Goddess" with George Jessel
Date
Aug. 31, 1935
Hollywood Boulevardier
Hollywood Boulevardier
Program
Hollywood Boulevardier
Episode
interviewed by Ben Alexander
Date
Dec. 30, 1935
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Program
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Episode
Episode "The Bells"
Date
Feb. 6, 1936
In Town Tonight
In Town Tonight
Program
In Town Tonight
Episode
Karloff appeared as a guest
Date
Feb. 22, 1936
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Program
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Episode
Karloff appeared as a guest
Date
Sept. 3, 1936
Camel Caravan
Camel Caravan
Program
Camel Caravan
Episode
Episode "Death Takes a Holiday" with Benny Goodman
Date
Dec. 8, 1936
Concert Orchestra
Concert Orchestra
Program
Concert Orchestra
Episode
Karloff appeared with Dolores Del Rio
Date
Sept. 2, 1936
The Royal Gelatin Hour (aka Vallee's Varieties)
The Royal Gelatin Hour (aka Vallee's Varieties)
Program
The Royal Gelatin Hour (aka Vallee's Varieties)
Episode
Karloff reads "Resurrection"; co-starred Tom Mix
Date
Nov. 11, 1937
The Chase and Sanborn Hour (aka The Charlie McCarthy Show)
The Chase and Sanborn Hour (aka The Charlie McCarthy Show)
Program
The Chase and Sanborn Hour (aka The Charlie McCarthy Show)
Episode
Recites "The Evil Eye" ("The Tell-Tale Heart")
Date
January 30, 1938
The Baker's Broadcast
The Baker's Broadcast
Program
The Baker's Broadcast
Episode
Karloff and Bela Lugosi sang a duet on this show called "We're Horrible, Horrible Men"; co-starring Ozzie and Harriet
Date
Mar. 13, 1938
Lights Out
Lights Out
Program
Lights Out
Episode
Episode: "The Dream"
Date
23 March 1938
Lights Out
Lights Out
Program
Lights Out
Episode
Episode: "Valse Triste"
Date
30 March 1938
Lights Out
Lights Out
Program
Lights Out
Episode
"Cat Wife" by Arch Oboler
Date
6 April 1938
Lights Out
Lights Out
Program
Lights Out
Episode
Episode: "Three Matches"
Date
13 April 1938
Lights Out
Lights Out
Program
Lights Out
Episode
Episode: "Night on the Mountain"
Date
20 April 1938
The Royal Gelatin Hour (hosted by Rudy Vallee)
The Royal Gelatin Hour (hosted by Rudy Vallee)
Program
The Royal Gelatin Hour (hosted by Rudy Vallee)
Episode
Skit "Danse Macabre"
Date
May 5, 1938
Hollywood (hosted by George McCall)
Hollywood (hosted by George McCall)
Program
Hollywood (hosted by George McCall)
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Oct. 27, 1938
The Eddie Cantor Show
The Eddie Cantor Show
Program
The Eddie Cantor Show
Episode
Variety show
Date
Jan. 16, 1939
The Royal Gelatin Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
The Royal Gelatin Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Program
The Royal Gelatin Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Episode
Skit "Resurrection"
Date
April 6, 1939
Kay Kayser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
Kay Kayser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
Program
Kay Kayser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
Episode
appeared with Bela Lugosi and Peter Lorre promoting their film You'll Find Out
Date
Sept. 25, 1940
Everyman's Theater
Everyman's Theater
Program
Everyman's Theater
Episode
Episode "Cat Wife" by Arch Oboler
Date
Oct. 18, 1940
Stars on Parade
Stars on Parade
Program
Stars on Parade
Episode
Episode "The Big Man"
Date
1941
Information Please
Information Please
Program
Information Please
Episode
Radio Quiz show
Date
Jan. 24, 1941
ASCAP on Parade
ASCAP on Parade
Program
ASCAP on Parade
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Feb. 8, 1941
Best Plays
Best Plays
Program
Best Plays
Episode
Arsenic and Old Lace
Date
1941
Kate Smith Variety
Kate Smith Variety
Program
Kate Smith Variety
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
March 7, 1941
Hollywood News Girl
Hollywood News Girl
Program
Hollywood News Girl
Episode
Karloff interviewed
Date
Mar. 22, 1941
Inner Sanctum
Inner Sanctum
Program
Inner Sanctum
Episode
Karloff acted in 21 episodes of this radio show
Date
Mar. 16, 1941 – July 13, 1952
Notes
(See subsection on Karloff's "Inner Sanctum" radio appearances below.)
We the People
We the People
Program
We the People
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Apr. 1, 1941
The Voice of Broadway
The Voice of Broadway
Program
The Voice of Broadway
Episode
Karloff interviewed
Date
Apr. 19, 1941
WHN Bundles for Britain
WHN Bundles for Britain
Program
WHN Bundles for Britain
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
June 14, 1941
United Press is on the Air
United Press is on the Air
Program
United Press is on the Air
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
July 11, 1941
The Gloria Whitney Show
The Gloria Whitney Show
Program
The Gloria Whitney Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Aug. 13, 1941
The USO Program
The USO Program
Program
The USO Program
Episode
appeared with Paul Lukas
Date
Nov. 23, 1941
Time to Smile
Time to Smile
Program
Time to Smile
Episode
hosted by Eddie Cantor
Date
Dec. 7, 1941
Keep 'em Rolling
Keep 'em Rolling
Program
Keep 'em Rolling
Episode
Episode "In the Fog"
Date
Feb. 8, 1942
Information Please
Information Please
Program
Information Please
Episode
Karloff appeared on this quiz show with John Carradine
Date
Feb. 20, 1942
Information Please
Information Please
Program
Information Please
Episode
TV Quiz Show
Date
May 17, 1943
Blue Ribbon Town
Blue Ribbon Town
Program
Blue Ribbon Town
Episode
hosted by Groucho Marx
Date
July 24, 1943
The Theatre Guild on the Air
The Theatre Guild on the Air
Program
The Theatre Guild on the Air
Episode
Arsenic and Old Lace
Date
1943
Creeps By Night
Creeps By Night
Program
Creeps By Night
Episode
30-minute suspense anthology; Karloff starred in ten episodes
Date
Feb. 15-May 9, 1944
Notes
(See subsection on Karloff's "Creeps by Night" radio appearances below.)
Blue Ribbon Town
Blue Ribbon Town
Program
Blue Ribbon Town
Episode
hosted by Groucho Marx
Date
June 3, 1944
Duffy's Tavern
Duffy's Tavern
Program
Duffy's Tavern
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Jan. 12, 1945
Suspense
Suspense
Program
Suspense
Episode
Episode "Drury's Bones"
Date
Jan. 25, 1945
Those Websters
Those Websters
Program
Those Websters
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Oct. 19, 1945
Hildegarde's Radio Room
Hildegarde's Radio Room
Program
Hildegarde's Radio Room
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Oct. 23, 1945
The Charlie McCarthy Show
The Charlie McCarthy Show
Program
The Charlie McCarthy Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Nov. 3, 1945
Report to the Nation
Report to the Nation
Program
Report to the Nation
Episode
Episode "Back for Christmas"
Date
Nov. 3, 1945
Information Please
Information Please
Program
Information Please
Episode
TV Quiz Show
Date
Nov. 5, 1945
Theatre Guild on the Air
Theatre Guild on the Air
Program
Theatre Guild on the Air
Episode
Two plays: "The Emperor Jones" and "Where the Cross is Made"
Date
Nov. 11, 1945
The Fred Allen Show
The Fred Allen Show
Program
The Fred Allen Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Nov. 18, 1945
The Screen Guild Theater
The Screen Guild Theater
Program
The Screen Guild Theater
Episode
Arsenic and Old Lace
Date
25 November 1946
Textron Theatre
Textron Theatre
Program
Textron Theatre
Episode
Episode "Angel Street"
Date
Dec. 8, 1945
Exploring the Unknown
Exploring the Unknown
Program
Exploring the Unknown
Episode
Episode "The Baffled Genie"
Date
Dec. 23, 1945
Information Please
Information Please
Program
Information Please
Episode
TV Quiz Show
Date
Dec. 24, 1945
The Kate Smith Show
The Kate Smith Show
Program
The Kate Smith Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Jan. 4, 1946
Repeat Performance
Repeat Performance
Program
Repeat Performance
Episode
Karloff appeared with Roy Rogers and Allan Jones
Date
Feb. 3, 1946
The Jack Haley Show (aka The Village Store)
The Jack Haley Show (aka The Village Store)
Program
The Jack Haley Show (aka The Village Store)
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Feb. 14, 1946
The Bandwagon Show
The Bandwagon Show
Program
The Bandwagon Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
March 24, 1946
The Ginny Simms Show
The Ginny Simms Show
Program
The Ginny Simms Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
April 5, 1946
Show Stoppers
Show Stoppers
Program
Show Stoppers
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
May 26, 1946
That's Life
That's Life
Program
That's Life
Episode
appeared as a guest; hosted by Jay Flippen
Date
Nov. 8, 1946
The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players
The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players
Program
The Lady Esther Screen Guild Players
Episode
Karloff acted in Arsenic and Old Lace
Date
Nov. 25, 1946
The Jack Benny Show
The Jack Benny Show
Program
The Jack Benny Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Jan. 19, 1947
Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
Program
Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
March 12, 1947
Duffy's Tavern
Duffy's Tavern
Program
Duffy's Tavern
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
May 21, 1947
Lights Out
Lights Out
Program
Lights Out
Episode
"Death Robbery"
Date
16 July 1947
Lights Out
Lights Out
Program
Lights Out
Episode
"The Ring"
Date
30 July 1947
Notes
(See subsection on Karloff's "Lights Out!" radio episodes below.)
Philco Radio Time
Philco Radio Time
Program
Philco Radio Time
Episode
hosted by Bing Crosby
Date
Oct. 29, 1947
The Burl Ives Show
The Burl Ives Show
Program
The Burl Ives Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Halloween 1947
The Jimmy Durante Show
The Jimmy Durante Show
Program
The Jimmy Durante Show
Episode
appeared as a guest
Date
Dec. 10, 1947
Program
Episode
Date
Notes
California Melodies
Karloff appeared with the Hallelujah Quartet
Jan. 3, 1932
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Karloff appeared with Katharine Hepburn
Nov. 25, 1932
Hollywood on the Air (Hollywood on Parade)
Karloff appeared with Victor McLaglen
Oct. 7, 1933
California Melodies
Karloff appeared as a guest
Oct. 24, 1933
Hollywood on the Air
Karloff appeared as a guest
Jan. 27, 1934
Forty-Five Minutes in Hollywood
Karloff appeared as a guest twice
Feb. 15 & Aug. 2, 1934
The Show
Episode "Death Takes a Holiday"
Aug. 27, 1934
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Episode "Death Takes a Holiday"
Oct. 11, 1934
Shell Chateau (hosted by Al Jolson)
Episode "The Green Goddess" with George Jessel
Aug. 31, 1935
Hollywood Boulevardier
interviewed by Ben Alexander
Dec. 30, 1935
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Episode "The Bells"
Feb. 6, 1936
In Town Tonight
Karloff appeared as a guest
Feb. 22, 1936
The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Karloff appeared as a guest
Sept. 3, 1936
Camel Caravan
Episode "Death Takes a Holiday" with Benny Goodman
Dec. 8, 1936
Concert Orchestra
Karloff appeared with Dolores Del Rio
Sept. 2, 1936
The Royal Gelatin Hour (aka Vallee's Varieties)
Karloff reads "Resurrection"; co-starred Tom Mix
Nov. 11, 1937
The Chase and Sanborn Hour (aka The Charlie McCarthy Show)
Recites "The Evil Eye" ("The Tell-Tale Heart")
January 30, 1938
The Baker's Broadcast
Karloff and Bela Lugosi sang a duet on this show called "We're Horrible, Horrible Men"; co-starring Ozzie and Harriet
Mar. 13, 1938
Lights Out
Episode: "The Dream"
23 March 1938
Lights Out
Episode: "Valse Triste"
30 March 1938
Lights Out
"Cat Wife" by Arch Oboler
6 April 1938
Lights Out
Episode: "Three Matches"
13 April 1938
Lights Out
Episode: "Night on the Mountain"
20 April 1938
The Royal Gelatin Hour (hosted by Rudy Vallee)
Skit "Danse Macabre"
May 5, 1938
Hollywood (hosted by George McCall)
appeared as a guest
Oct. 27, 1938
The Eddie Cantor Show
Variety show
Jan. 16, 1939
The Royal Gelatin Hour (with Rudy Vallee)
Skit "Resurrection"
April 6, 1939
Kay Kayser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
appeared with Bela Lugosi and Peter Lorre promoting their film You'll Find Out
Sept. 25, 1940
Everyman's Theater
Episode "Cat Wife" by Arch Oboler
Oct. 18, 1940
Stars on Parade
Episode "The Big Man"
1941
Information Please
Radio Quiz show
Jan. 24, 1941
ASCAP on Parade
appeared as a guest
Feb. 8, 1941
Best Plays
Arsenic and Old Lace
1941
Kate Smith Variety
appeared as a guest
March 7, 1941
Hollywood News Girl
Karloff interviewed
Mar. 22, 1941
Inner Sanctum
Karloff acted in 21 episodes of this radio show
Mar. 16, 1941 – July 13, 1952
(See subsection on Karloff's "Inner Sanctum" radio appearances below.)
We the People
appeared as a guest
Apr. 1, 1941
The Voice of Broadway
Karloff interviewed
Apr. 19, 1941
WHN Bundles for Britain
appeared as a guest
June 14, 1941
United Press is on the Air
appeared as a guest
July 11, 1941
The Gloria Whitney Show
appeared as a guest
Aug. 13, 1941
The USO Program
appeared with Paul Lukas
Nov. 23, 1941
Time to Smile
hosted by Eddie Cantor
Dec. 7, 1941
Keep 'em Rolling
Episode "In the Fog"
Feb. 8, 1942
Information Please
Karloff appeared on this quiz show with John Carradine
Feb. 20, 1942
Information Please
TV Quiz Show
May 17, 1943
Blue Ribbon Town
hosted by Groucho Marx
July 24, 1943
The Theatre Guild on the Air
Arsenic and Old Lace
1943
Creeps By Night
30-minute suspense anthology; Karloff starred in ten episodes
Feb. 15-May 9, 1944
(See subsection on Karloff's "Creeps by Night" radio appearances below.)

References

  1. Nollen, Scott Allen. Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life. Midnight Marquee & BearManor Media.
  2. "Boris Karloff"
    https://walkoffame.com/boris-karloff/
  3. Biography Archived 1 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
    https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/312429/Boris-Karloff
  4. A commemorative plaque can be seen today on the property marking it as the place of his birth
  5. Boris Karloff: A Critical Account of his Screen, Stage, Radio, Television, and Recording Work, Scott Allen Nollen, McFar
  6. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
    https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-34251
  7. Boris Karloff: A Critical Account of his Screen, Stage, Radio, Television, and Recording Work, Scott Allen Nollen, McFar
  8. Saskatchewan History
    https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0036-4908
  9. Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life
    https://books.google.com/books?id=0p1HDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT19
  10. Boris Karloff: A Critical Account of His Screen, Stage, Radio, Television, and Recording Work
    https://books.google.com/books?id=c1iyAPhqmboC&pg=PA24
  11. Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life
  12. This Is Your Life
    https://archive.org/details/TIYL_Boris_Karloff
  13. John E. Stewardson, "Regina's Day of Wrath: The Killer Cyclone of 1912", Canada's History, April 10, 2016.
    https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/environment/regina-s-day-of-wrath-the-killer-cyclone-of-1912
  14. Regina Leader
  15. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff : the expanded story of a haunting collaboration, with a complete filmography of their films together
    https://archive.org/details/belalugosiborisk00mank
  16. Saskatchewan: A New History
  17. Karloff discussed this experience during an appearance on the CBC panel series Front Page Challenge in the 1960s.
  18. Journal of the British Columbia Historical Federation
    https://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/bchf/bch_2006_01.pdf
  19. Beverley Bare Buehrer. 'Boris Karloff: A Bio-bibliography'. Greenwood Press: Westport, Connecticut (1993), pages 5–6.
  20. Scott Allen Nollen, "Boris Karloff: A Gentleman's Life". 2018. BearManor Media. Pages 20-23.
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