The son of a British diplomat, London native Boris Karloff was born William Henry Pratt on Nov. 23, 1887. He eloped at 21 and emigrated to Canada, where he found work with touring theater troupes and changed his name.Thanks to his distinctive voice, the advent of talkies and a face easily transformed by makeup, Karloff became a bona fide film star. He found his niche as a stalwart of horror classics such as Frankenstein (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Black Cat (1934), Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and The Body Snatcher (1945). The actor won the role of his signature character, Frankenstein, because Bela Lugosi turned down the part.
Karloff found a new generation of fans in the '50s as a familiar face on the small screen. After narrating the 1966 animated tale How the Grinch Stole Christmas, he spoofed himself in his last major movie, Targets (1968). Karloff died from emphysema Feb. 2, 1969.
AddThe MummyWhen British archaeologists uncover the ancient sarcophagus of a mummified Egyptian priest (Boris Karloff), they foolishly ignore its warning not to open the box, and the mummy is brought back to life. Taking the form of a modern Egyptian, he quickly begins his quest to resurrect the soul of his... Read More
AddBlack SabbathIn this 1963 trilogy of chilling tales, a beautiful woman's ex-lover terrorizes her, a father returns home a vampire, and a ghost haunts a nurse. The vampire story -- probably the most famous of the three -- stars a poignant Boris Karloff, who also plays host for the anthology. Italian horror... Read More
AddVal Lewton: Isle of the Dead / BedlamFamed RKO Radio Pictures producer Val Lewton managed to single-handedly redefine the horror genre in the 1940s, cranking out low-budget, high-volume box office hits that rarely disappointed audiences -- or studio execs. This double feature of Isle of the Dead (1945) and Bedlam (1946) -- both... Read More
AddTargetsMild-mannered Bobby Thompson collects firearms and thinks murderous thoughts, which translate into action when he becomes a deadly sniper, picking off drivers on the L.A. freeway. Meanwhile, Byron Orlok (Boris Karloff), an aging horror-film star, plans his retirement. As fate would have it, their... Read More
AddYou'll Find Out / Zombies on BroadwayIn the mystery You'll Find Out, a musician encounters dodgy characters when he performs at an eerie manor house, and in the comedy Zombies on Broadway, two hapless publicists try to recruit a Caribbean zombie for a New York nightclub appearance. David Butler and Gordon Douglas direct these... Read More
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