beatnic - just wondering

This isn’t a comment, I just wanted to say he’s my (dead) grandpa’s uncle.

I’m trying to track down a local story that Boris Karloff (William Pratt)once worked for the B.C. Electric Railway in Vancouver B.C. Canada. Have left a message with the website maintained by the family, but no response so far. Does anyone know for sure?

My father-in-law Maurice Cecil Pratt was Boris Karloff’s cousin.He was born in 1906.His grandfather and great-grandfather are buried in the churchyard of Henley Church. He looked just like Boris Karloff and he had his lisp. I have a family tree dating back to 1790,and would like to know if this is really true.

With Williams and Henrys recurring in my hard-to-trace family tree, I’m intrigued to find out if Boris’line is connected. Any contact will be welcome.

I stimbled upon this link during a Yahoo search. This is really interesting. I’m the author of “Boris Karloff: The Man Remembered” (2004), and any new bits of information about Boris’ family history are always appreciated. I’ll have to check the family tree listed in an earlier biography. Good luck. And thank you for the pictures of Boris’ birthplace. I’ll have to make the pilgrimage (since I have been to the church where his ashes are buried.)

My family name was also Pratt and researching my family tree I keep geting to William Henry Pratt born some time round 1886 or 7 ish. His father was also WIlliam Henry and had a connection with the Equestrian Tavern Southwark. He had 5 brothers and Sisters. My Uncle William went to the USA and the family lost touch. Does this tie in with anyone else.

We are tracing our family tree at the moment on my mother’s side. There was an old family story about William Henry Pratt being my grandad’s cousin. Grandad’s surname was Bright. Anybody know of the connection?

I have a query that might strike some as idiosyncratically American but since Karloff made his way to stardom in the USA, I think it merited.

I was quite the fan of Karloff when I was a child and felt it keenly when he died. I recall that there was something of an “official” story put about in film fan publications back in the day in order to explain the obscurity, at that time, of Karloff’s family background.

It seems that Karloff was very reticent on the subject, giving the impression that there had been little if any contact between himself and his family since he’d left Britain. The only other references to be gleened from him were that he had foresaken an expected career in foreign service, which was family tradition, in favor of acting.

In retrospect it was a pretty romantic tale, with the added virtue of having all the specific bits be factual.

It was not until many years later that I learned about Karloff’s putative east Indian ancestry. It was quite a surprise since in all my years of reading anything with Karloff’s name attached I’d never come across so much as a suggestion that he was anything other than a pure bred Englishman with perhaps some distant Russian connection. Of course, considering the state of US society in the thirties, it’s hardly a shock that Hollywood might edit out that part of the story.

I tucked the information about Karloff’s antecedents away in a corner of my mind, taking it out occasionaly to ponder over. A few years ago I happened upon a class photo of young Willam Henry and his public school mates. There amid a sea of dark uniforms and pale faces, the future Karloff stood out in sharp relief as unmistakably anglo-indian. This image tapped into a latent memory of the deep bronze verging on mahogoney tan that Karloff had sported off and on during his later years.

At that moment it broke on me that, contra his public image in the states, Karloff had grown up as a mixed race child of the empire in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain.

Now I’m not competent to judge what the consequences of this would have been for him in the Britain of that time. I do have some notion of what they would have been had he been born in the US though.

My query is: Are there any sources available for inquiring into this aspect of Karloff’s early life? I’m not looking for horror stories you understand. I’m interested in what role, if any, his family background played in making him the man, the actor and yes, the artist that he was to become.

Further on my previous comment in September. On researching my family treel I have found that my uncle William Henry Pratt was rhw Second Child of William Henry Pratt and Clara Harris. It is the Haris connection which brought William Henry to London. They had 6 children The first son William Henry joined the Army at the time of the WWI. His mother bought him out of the Army against his wishes. So he rejoined. Some time after WWII william went to the USA he had no contact with the family. At some point the date I have yet to discover an AUnt contacted the US Army as it was believed thet WIlliam had joined the US Army. The reply was that William was aliv and well and had been told of the family wanting to contact him No response was ever received from him.
Does this tie in with anything any one else has and does it tie in with Boris Karlof. It does look as though the Pratt family has quite a few branches which may lead to the same area of London.
I might be a help if those researching the same area could get into closer contact.
Any one got any ideas.

Boris karloff’s family is an enigma.My grandmother was Bessie Maude Pratt, born in 1888 in Camberwell.She was my grandfather’s 2nd wife and my father David Elman Macer Wright, and Philip Harry Macer Wright my uncle had many stories about Bessie Pratt’s family connections.One of the most enduring was that she was related to Boris Karloff. Only yesterday evening, before finding this site, my father assured me his mother would not have made this up and my uncle who dismissed much of our family’s legend, was certain of the authenticity of his mother’s kinship to Boris. My father who is now 88yrs old, said yesterday that he only knew Boris Karloff was a Pratt from his mother telling him and that as far as he is aware no-one knew Boris Karloff was Billy Pratt.I can find no link at all in my grandmother’s ancestry to Boris’ family, which is’nt helped by an apparant blank in his father and grandfather’s family, both of whom we are told were only childrenPamela Pratt’s entry above therefore throws open the whole plot. I would dearly like to get to the bottom of it.There are few things more frustrating than telling your children their ancestor was related to the great man, when asked how you can’t prove it!
I believe my father’s mother was descended from Walter Pratt of Baldock, Hertfordshire, born 1390 Mildenhall, Suffolk and her family tree traces her ancestry to that date. I would be very keen to join in trying to resolve the Karloff ancestry and would appreciate any direct contact on the matter to donny@stillstoked.co.uk

i am also tracing my family tree and have come across that i was a very distant relative of william henry pratt, my father is kevin james pratt and my nanna is gladdis pratt anyone with any helpfull information would be a real big help thankyou x

I am also a Pratt and found this site. I found this very interesting, My Family settled in Indiana. My Great gradfather was William O Pratt nick name was DOC his sisters name was Maude, he had I think 13 Brothers and sisters, I have not reseached our family tree yet.

I am also tracing family and have William henry my grandfather born 1866 porchester hants. son of james henry pratt and mary matthews.

There are certainly an awful lot of Pratts out there!. My great grandfather was born William Robert Pratt in c.1839 in Shoreditch. He had 5 sons.Although they were born Pratts, they married and died with the surname Freds!Why, I know not. My Grandfather Charles Freds Pratt was a Karloff lookalike with a swarthy complexion but apart from family rumour, I can find no link.

Boris Karlof is a direct, if not distant cousin of mine,a second cousin I am told,of my Grandfather,Robert Charles Pratt, my fathers Dad. this is,as I am told, and have to hand, in the form of a family tree,which was obtained through Charmaine Bradbury Pratt, a cousin of this branch of family, you must forgive the wide spread, loose connections, but we do seem a profilic lot,(Of which I am very proud, I might add)the family tree runs thus,Edward John Pratt, married Margaret Shoals, July 20,1818,she died,November 8 1834, he then married an unidentified Indian Woman, no date of marriage, who gave birth to Edward John Pratt,Jnr, on October 15 1827, who died Paris,after 1895, but before this he had married,four different woman,which runs thus,first wife! Julienna Campbell,married April 10 1849, died December 1850,they had two children,Emma Caroline Pratt born Jan 12 1850 and Edward Pratt 111,born Dec 13 185o died Dec 14 1850, he then married, or went with Charlotte, thats all we know of her, who gave birth to Ellen Julia Pratt born Aug 18 1855, but died as a child, he the married, or went with another unidentified woman, no children, he then married Eliza Sarah Millard, who was born Jun 3 1848 married to him Oct 27 1884 she died 1893, but she gave birth to the following children Edward Milard,( Ted ) Pratt born 29 aug 1865 then George Marlow Pratt birn 13 April 1867 then Frederick Grenville (F. G ) Pratt, then David Cameron Pratt born early 1870s, then Julia Honoria Pratt born 1874, then JOhn Thomas Pratt born 13 Jan 1875( what a name for the historical fact),then Richard Septimus Pratt born 10 Nov 1882 then the link,William Henry Pratt (Boris Karloff) born Nov 23 1887 London England died Feb 2 1969 at Midhurst England hethen married the following women,Olive de Wilton, no children from this marriage, that was 1913, then “Montana” Laurona Williams born 1896 in New Mexico, married July 1920 no children then Helena Vivian (Polly) Soule born 1900 Maine married Feb 3 1934,again no children, then Dorothy Stine born Charlotte Michigan married her on April 12 1930 divorced April 10 1946 she died 1991 he then married Evelyn Hope,I believe this is Hestnora!) but cannot be sure,who was born 1904 in Putney England, they were married April 11 1946,we again believe in America,(she died June 1 1993,) she gave birth to the following children, Sara Jane Karloff Pratt born 23 0f Nov 1938 Hollywood, who married Richard Cotton in Jan 1958 they were Divorced in 1972,they had the following children Michael Cotton born 1960 who married and had a daughter called Kaoay!(no further leads here) and another son David Cotton born 1961 who married,dont know who, and he had a son Kyle and a daughter,Mackenzie, she Sara, went on to marry a Derry Brodsack,no children, they must have split up, she then married William J (Sparky) Sparkman who was born Feb 10 1930, they were married March 14 1992,that as far as we have reached, at this point in history, hope it will fill in a few gaps.

Regards to all members of the Great Clan, we numbered Two million and six hundren thoudsand at the last rough count,as our forbears seemed to do, just keep moving, (In an up and down motion)!

Stan.

I am also tracing the PRATT side of my family tree. A William Pratt came to Australia prior to 1864 from Chichester England (That is all I know). On the 1st February 1864 William Pratt married Frances Boyle (widow) in a small New South Wales town of Wee Waa.
There has always been rumour in the family that
Boris Karlof was a cousin or uncle somewhere along the line, weither this is true or not I am not sure. Is there anyone who can help me find my William Pratt line?.
Regards
Anita

There is more here than I can read at the moment but to comment on the Indian side of Granpa Bill (known to few), his mother was Indian. This I have been told since I was a young child. I have been separated from my Mother’s side of the family (Pratt) for most of my life but I have always known that Granpa Bill died about a year after I was born. He attended my baptism (Stillwater, Oklahoma). That is all I know. I have wanted to get together a family tree for years but my Mother’s (Pratt) side of the family is so messy, scattered, and uncooperative that it is very difficult. I have come to understand that William’s Father was married (unsure if they were all legal marriages), to at least three differrent woman in his life, Fathering MANY children. At least two woman were of Indian decent. It is actually quite possible that he was related to many, many people since he had so many brothers and some sisters. I THINK if it is traced properly, my Mother’s (Lois Irene Pratt) Father’s (Rev. John Pratt), Father (Rev. Sidney Pratt) was WHP’s nephew?? Hope this might help anyone interested. I also know a little Family tidbit that much of my Mother’s side of the Family was very “well to do and quite important”, politicaly, in Canada. Having family in “acting” in the USA was NOT seen as proper in Canada OR England (trust me, I heard it my whole young life from my “proper” Grandmother, (Mary Pratt- mother of 5 Pratt girls). John and Mary moved to the USA from Canada sometime around 1960. I’m sure there are people out there that know alot more than I and any response or lead in the right direction for me (I have little to no money to spend on the search), would be of great appreciation. Kimberly S Moore… bka: Kye

This PRATT family discussion is interesting.

I can only add a little more information, concerning two of “Boris’s” brothers, David Cameron PRATT and Charles Rary PRATT; namely that the former at some time seems to have married Bertha Regina IMMISCH, daughter of the noted electrical engineer of the 1880s-90s. They were still in London in 1911, when Gwendoline B Pratt, David’s daughter was born.

Charles Rary PRATT certainly moved abroad to Pernambuco in Brazil at some point as he was a witness at the marriage there of Bertha’s brother Moritz August IMMISCH in 1914.

I have nted that Karloff biographical information states Charles Rary was employed by a French cable company, and given that Moritz A. IMMISCH was the Deputy Superintendent of telegraphic company which was bought by the French in 1916, I suspct he may have helped him get a job (or vice versa - M.A. IMMISCH moved to Pernambuco in 1889).

I’d love to hear from anyone who knows whathapened to David Cameron Pratt, his daughter Gwendoline or any of the other Pratts as far as the IMMISCH connection goes.

I am the son of Maud Beatrice Roberts (Pratt),
She was born round about 1924 and she died in 1982.
I think her fathers name was William Pratt.
She married a Robert Roberts and had 5 children,
I am the youngest.
Does anyone know if they are connected with me from my mothers side ?

Does anyone know anything about his 2nd wife dorothy. Is she alive? I think she was married to my grandmas brother. Rupert.

Some of my Pratt ancestors were also in the acting profession- there was John Pratt born abt. 1854 in Inverness and was I thin employed in music halls etc. His son William Alexander Pratt was by all accounts a famous actor/impressario but I do not know his stage name - after his mother died in 1890, he was taken in by a travelling preacher so he might haven taken the name of his foster parents. Daughter Rebecca Annie (married Ernest F. Wilmot in abt 1910) was an amateur actress of some repute - other daughters Caroline Jane (Bevan) and Mabel Rose were also on the stage at various times. Rebecca Annie Wilmot lived at Aberdeen Park, Highbury.

Anyone recognise this lot?

Thanks
Fiona

My Mom always claimed we were related to Boris Karloff aka Pratt. My Pratt family’s origin for as much as I know begins in Ontario, Canada. My Grandfather b.1861 in Can. was William Henry also. His father was Addison and grandfather, George, g-Grandfather, Ebenezer. I learned that some Canadian Inuits came to Osceola Co., Michigan a few years back seeking info about Pratt’s that were Indians. The cousin they talked to wasn’t interested nor did he know anything and never obtained info for anyone to contact them. My Pratt’s stayed around the Leeds, Ontario area. Would love to work with anyone interested in the mystery of the Pratt’s. Sharon2u4ever@hotmail.com

I also grew up with the story that Boris Karloff was related to my father. In fact a photo of Boris towards the end of his life and one of my father at about the same age, are virtually identical. However, I cannot find a “link” to Boris’s family. Someone did tell me the other day that Boris’s mother’s sister was “Anna” as in “Anna and the King of Siam”….now that is also very amazing…!

Hello everyone Hi to Lyndsay. I have a family tree of Boris (William Henry Pratt) that I printed from the website
http://www.karloff.com/Family_Tree_raster.htm
Boris’s maternal grandmother Eliza Crawford married James Millard in 1845
her sister ANNA CRAWFORD married Thomas Leonowens on Dec 25th 1849 their first two children died at birth, 3rd was an unamed daughter and the 4th was Louis who was born in 1855. This is the ANNA of “The King and I” and “Anna and the King of Siam”
All information is in the book entitled “Dear Boris” by Cynthia LIndsay,
I was also led to believe that my fathers family are related to William Henry Pratt, and like Lyndsay my grandfather Harold born 1894 and his father William Pratt 1842 also bear a strong resemblance to Boris.
My search is based in Denmead (also referred to as Barn Green) and Hambledon, in Hants, but as yet have found no connection to London. If any one can add to my family tree I will be grateful.

Dear All,

My name is Stephen Jacobs and for several years I have been researching and writing a new biography called ‘More Than a Monster: The Life and Work of Boris Karloff’. I have done extensive research on Karloff’s family and ancestry and have found out much that is new, and often surprising. The facts that have so far been printed are inaccurate.

As a consequence (and I hate to let everyone down) it’s unlikely that anyone here is related to Karloff unless they can claim direct descendency from one of Karloff’s siblings. His father, Edward Pratt, (born in Bombay) was the only son of an only son so you’d have to have a connection going back to the late 1700’s.

I had been told by my late grandfather Earl Pratt that he was the nephew of William Pratt.
Now it does seem that a lot of people have laid this claim. My grandfather was born in Montreal (I think) and his father owned I a cannery in Montreal after moving to Canada from England. All I know is if you looked at a photo of my grandfather he had a very strong resemblance to William Pratt. I will have to do more research on this matter.

My original question about William Pratt was answered in a round-about way by a posting on the “official” Boris Karloff website. Yes, William Pratt did work for the BC Electric Railway–heavy, grinding 10 or 12 hour shifts on the track gang. Hard to imagine how he might have had time for theatre work in Vancouver and New Westminster. As the story goes, he received a telegram from a Hollywood agent while laying track somewhere up toward Chilliwack. Pratt “downed tools” and resigned on the spot, and took a train south from Vancouver a couple of hours later.

William pratt?

He is my great great great uncle? think thats how it works.. I do not know too much about him as a person as all the people who knew him have possibly passed away now, but i would like to know about who and what he was really like, you can send me an e-mail on rodger06@hotmail.com

Thanks in advance

There seems to be much confusion regarding Boris and the Pratts in general.

Boris was aware that many of the Pratt’s suffered from a hereditory ailment similar to that of a Psychopath. This may explain some of his oddities but, in all probability, accounts more for some if his decendants peculiarities.

The Bradbury, who comes into the familiy tree later, was a “close and dear friend” of Tom Pratts wife.

The unfortunate mental disorders associated with the Pratts seem to be most exagerated by those males over 6′.0” tall and, especially, females over 5′8″ tall.

Family legend has long supposed that Boris was my fathers cousin. Oh dear - just found out that my Grandfather lived in the same street as Boris when a child - and looking at the mutual ages it seems that it is probable that with the same last name they were no more than play mates. No connection made other than this so that’s a family legend blown apart.My lot seem to be based around the Caterham area (England).

Just reading Roger Pratt’s comments regarding his uncle William who went to America. My great grandfather is Willian Nathanial Jackson. He was the cousin of Boris Karloff. From what I was told his mother and William Henry Pratt’s mother were sisters. Both sisters named their sons after there father William. My Great Grandfather died in 1970. I was 16 at the time. I can get more info from my mother and my Aunt. I was wondering if this was your Uncle William?

As most male and female Pratts are tall, over 6.0″ for males and 5′8 for women any comment regarding psychopathic traits would benefit from further clarification

Boris Karloff (William Pratt) was my grandfather’s youngest brother. My grandfather, David Cameron Pratt, and his wife Bertha (nee Immisch) had three children - Gwen (known as Bunny), David (his twin Aubrey died of pyloric stenosis at a very young age) and Doreen (known as Donna), my mother.

My uncle David looked and sounded very much like Boris Karloff. I still have some correspondence between them.

i remember from years ago round at the family get togethers my grandad telling me about his cousin who was in the movies
my dad was named william and then my brother has the name of henry as his middle name
my mother is now doing the family history

responding to Angela Plant

-I’d love to get in touch with you regarding your family - especially D.C. Pratt and particularly the Immisch connection, of which I have further information.

could you contact me at the following address (written to avoid spam):

aguafiestas25 (at) hot mail (dot) com

It would be great to hear from you!

Chris

Chris, I’ve passed your message on to Angela Plant. Cheers

I have a Sarah Joanna Pratt in my family tree born around 1850s (a guess). Does anyone have this Pratt in their line. If you do I’d really appreciate an email or a reply comment. Thanks, Marcelle

I too was brought up in the belief that William Henry Pratt was a relation to my grandfather,John William Pratt but although there are several Williams and Henrys in my ancestry,”Boris” doesn`t seem to be one of them.Anyway reading some of the comments i would like to point to the “Wikipedia” website that has an excellent piece on the person who must be related to half the popoulation of England

I want to see any art available that was created by Boris Karloff. Thank you for any help you can offer.
Sherry

Trying to find the link between Boris Karloff (AKA Pratt) to the Taplin line.

Hi all

Does anyone have a Sarah Joanna Pratt in their family tree? This is supposedly the name of my gr. gr. maternal grandmother born in 1850’s in UK I think. She also supposedly married a Joseph Drury/Watson/Farmer and had a daughter Ellen Ruth in about 1876-79. I just hope someone is able to connect. Thanks all.

hi im chris pratt 26 from foulridge, lancs england. I have a brother michael 28. my father is stuart he has 2 brothers martyn and nicholas and my grand-father is stanley who has a sister mbe mildred. is anyone out there connected? the family married someone with graham as a last name somewhere. coz most the family’s middle names are graham (i.e stanley graham pratt.)

My gr gr grandfather was William PRATT born 1823 in Scotland As anyone come across the PRATT family in Scotland?

As anyone come across a William PRATT born 1823 in Scotland possibly in either Fife or Aberdeen?

FAO: Angela Plant

Dear Angela, I’d be grateful if you could get in touch re: your grandfather, David Cameron Pratt. My new biography about Karloff is to be published next year by Tomahawk Press and I’d be interested in sharing info on your grandfather and his family. Regards, Stephen