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Colin Clive

Acting Born Jan 20, 1900 Saint-Malo, Brittany, France 24 credits

Biography

Colin Clive (January 20 1900 - June 25, 1937) was a French-born British actor known for playing tumultuous characters which often mirrored his personal life. He is most famous for his role as Dr. Henry Frankenstein in the 1931 film Frankenstein and its 1935 sequel, Bride of Frankenstein.

Clive entered the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, making his debut in 1919 as 'Claude' in The Eclipse. After almost ten years of touring, he was chosen for the role of 'Stanhope' in the war play Journey's End, replacing Laurence Olivier who had another commitment. He died from complications of tuberculosis originating from his severe alcoholism at only the youthful age of 37.

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Known for

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

as Henry Frankenstein
Film

Bride of Frankenstein

as Henry Frankenstein

Full filmography

  • Frankenstein (1931) as Henry Frankenstein
  • Jane Eyre (1934) as Edward Rochester
  • Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as Henry Frankenstein
  • Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991) as Dr. Henry Frankenstein (archive footage)
  • Mad Love (1935) as Stephen Orlac
  • Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies (2025) as Self - (archive footage)
  • Clive of India (1935) as Capt. Johnstone
  • The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) as Dr. Henry Frankenstein (flashback) (uncredited)
  • The Key (1934) as Capt. Andrew 'Andy' Kerr
  • Report (1967) as Henry Frankenstein (archive footage - Bride of Frankenstein (1935))
  • One More River (1934) as Sir Gerald Corven
  • Lancer Spy (1937) as Col. Fenwick (rehearsed only) (uncredited)
  • History Is Made at Night (1937) as Bruce Vail
  • Christopher Strong (1933) as Sir Christopher Strong
  • Journey's End (1930) as Denis Stanhope
  • Universal Horror (1998) as (archive footage)
  • The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935) as Bertrand Berkeley
  • Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman (2007) as Self (archive footage)
  • Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film (2014) as Henry Frankenstein (archive footage)
  • Looking Forward (1933) as Geoffrey Fielding
  • The Girl from 10th Avenue (1935) as John Marland
  • The Widow from Monte Carlo (1935) as Eric Reynolds
  • The Woman I Love (1937) as Capt. Thelis
  • The Right to Live (1935) as Maurice Trent