William Henry Pratt, better known as Boris Karloff, was a renowned actor, widely recognized as one of the true icons of horror cinema. He is most closely associated with the Frankenstein Monster from Mary Shelley's classic novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus".
Born on November 23, 1887, in Camberwell, London, England, UK, Karloff was the son of Edward John Pratt Jr., the Deputy Commissioner of Customs Salt and Opium, Northern Division, Indian Salt Revenue Service, and his third wife, Eliza Sarah Millard. He was educated at London University, anticipating a diplomatic career, but instead emigrated to Canada in 1909 and adopted the stage name "Boris Karloff".
Karloff's early career involved touring across the US in low-budget theater shows, eventually leading him to Hollywood, where he worked as a truck driver to supplement his acting income. His big break came with the role of the Frankenstein Monster in the Universal production of "Frankenstein" (1931),directed by James Whale.
Karloff's iconic status was solidified with his portrayal of the monster in "Bride of Frankenstein" (1935) and "Son of Frankenstein" (1939). He went on to appear in a wide range of films, including "Scarface" (1932),"The Mummy" (1932),"The Ghoul" (1933),and "The Ape" (1940).
Karloff's career experienced a resurgence in the 1960s, thanks to hosting the TV anthology series "Thriller" and collaborating with independent film director Roger Corman on films such as "The Raven" (1963) and "Black Sabbath" (1963).
Karloff's final great film role was as Byron Orlok in "Targets" (1968),before his death on February 2, 1969, from pneumonia. He is remembered as a refined, kind, and warm-hearted gentleman with a sincere affection for children and their welfare.
