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Boris Karloff
I have been a fan of Boris Karloff for a long time. My favorite movies are the Mr. Wong series, The Raven, Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer and Charlie Chan At The Opera.
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William Henry Pratt
23 November 1887, Camberwell, London, England, UK
2 February 1969, Midhurst, Sussex, England, UK
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Boris Karloff Trivia
He was the original inspiration for the first illustrations of the Incredible Hulk
In contrast to the image he presented in most of his films, the private Karloff was, by every account, a quiet, bookish man off- screen. A true gentleman, he had many friends, both in and out of show business, and he was particularly fond of children. For the latter, among other things, he recorded many successful albums of children's stories.
Often thought of as a very large man, he was in reality a slim man of medium height. He wore huge lifts and much padding to give him the massive look as Frankenstein's monster.
Raised rare Bedlington Terriers while he lived in Brentwood, CA. One day he was walking them with his four-year old daughter Sara Karloff when they broke free and they ran up to an inebriated man stumbling down the street. The drunk begged Karloff for a ride to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, claiming he "just saw three sheep bark!" Karloff obliged.
In 1931, Boris Karloff took out insurance against premature aging from his fright make-up.
The 1931 Frankenstein 6-sheet movie poster, featuring Karloff as the monster, is considered to be the most valuable movie poster in the world. There is only 1 copy of the poster known to exist.
Despite his great performances in many classic horror movies, there's reason to think he never took such roles seriously. He once said, "My wife is a woman of very great taste. That's why she's never seen any of my films."
In the 1940's, Karloff was frequently on the radio program "Information Please", which showed his incredible knowledge for facts and trivia, as well as his pleasant personality, something never seen in his films.
Karloff was bow-legged, had a lisp and stuttered as a young boy. He conquered his stutter, but not his lisp, which is noticeable all through his career. Due to the years of difficult manual labor in Canada and the U.S. while trying to establish his acting career, he suffered back problems all of his later life.
Beginning in 1940, Karloff dressed up as Santa Claus every Christmas to hand out presents to crippled children in a Baltimore hospital.
Boris Karloff was a truck driver, asphalt spreader, and farm hand before making it big.
Boris Karloff Quotes
[on whether he resented being typed as a "horror star"] One always hears of actors complaining of being typed - if he's young, he's typed as a juvenile; if he's handsome, he's typed as a leading man. I was lucky. Whereas bootmakers have to spend millions to establish a trademark, I was handed a trademark free of charge. When an actor gets in a position to select his own roles, he's in big trouble, for he never knows what he can do best. I'm sure I'd be damn good as little Lord Fauntleroy, but who would pay ten cents to see it?
When I was nine I played the demon king in Cinderella and it launched me on a long and happy life of being a monster.
[in 1936, on his appeal to children, who empathized with the monster] I don't really scare them any more than do Jungle Jim, Dan Dunn, Tarzan, and the other heroes of the comic sections.
You could heave a brick out of the window and hit ten actors who could play my parts. I just happened to be on the right corner at the right time.
The monster was the best friend I ever had.
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Mary Shelley completed her writing in May 1817, and Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus was first published on 1 January 1818 by the small London publishing house of Harding, Mavor & Jones. It was issued anonymously, with a preface written for Mary by Percy Bysshe Shelley and with a dedication to philosopher William Godwin, her father. It was published in an edition of just 500 copies in three volumes, the standard "triple-decker" format for 19th century first editions. The novel had been previously rejected by Percy Bysshe Shelley's publisher, Charles Ollier and by Byron's publisher John Murray.
My wife has good taste. She has seen very few of my movies.
Boris Karloff
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