Boris Karloff

thumb William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969) better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor. __TOC__ Quotes 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. As quoted in "All He Needed Was a Good Scare" by Samuel Grafton, Good Housekeeping (August 1951), p. 136 It was a family name on my mother's side, and I thought my own name Pratt, if I ever got known in the theatre might be unfortunate. This is Your Life: Boris Karloff (1957) The Monster was the best friend I ever had. I'd been in Hollywood for ten years and no one had heard of me except my creditors. Then in 1931 I played the monster and a career was born. I'm truly indebted to the old Ghoul. As quoted in "Boris Karloff Comes Into His Own for Halloween" by Vernon Scott (U.P. Hollywood correspondent), Contra Costa Gazette (October 31, 1957), p. 6 Quotes about Boris Karloff My father was such a private and modest man. He did not really bring his career home or talk about other actors, and he lived a very conservative, circumspect life. He did not live the life of a movie star. He was a typical English gentleman. I really was not aware. I mean I knew what he did, but I was not aware of the magnitude of his stardom. Sara Karloff, Interview – Sara Karloff – Reflections on Boris Karloff (September 16, 2015) I adored making The Man Who Changed His Mind with dear Boris Karloff. He refused to do his own stunts, the mark of a true Hollywood star. Anna Lee, speaking with James Bawden, c. 1980s; as quoted in Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era (2016) by Bawden and Ron Miller, p. 208 He was a lovely man. We used to have great fun reciting poetry to each other. Anna Lee, speaking with James Bawden, c. 1980s; as quoted in Conversations with Classic Film Stars: Interviews from Hollywood's Golden Era (2016) by Bawden and Ron Miller, p. 215 I remember Boris Karloff saying to me, find something that nobody else can do or will do, even if it is a type of role, and you'll be the only one, and there's nothing wrong with that. Christopher Lee, A 1990 Interview With Actor Christopher Lee (1990) Very grand, but so withdrawn. But he was always polite. A gentleman. David Manners, Interview with David Manners Scarlet Street #26 (1997) Boris Karloff's face has always fascinated me, and I made drawings of his head, added sharp, bony ridges where I imagined the skull might be joined. His physique was weaker than I could wish, but that queer, penetrating personality of his I felt was more important than his shape, which could easily be altered. James Whale, in "James Whale and Frankenstein", The New York Times (December 20, 1931), Sec. 8, p. 4 On preparing for Frankenstein (1931) which had been released on November 21. External links http://www.karloff.com Category:1887 births Category:1969 deaths Category:Actors from England Category:Anglicans from the United Kingdom Category:People from London