John Carradine
Biography
John Carradine, born Richmond Reed Carradine on February 5, 1906, was an American actor. Known also by the name John Peter, he was a member of Cecil B. DeMille's stock company and later John Ford's company. He was recognized for his work in horror films, Westerns, and Shakespearean theatre. Throughout his career, he appeared in both low-budget B-movies and higher-profile productions. He accumulated a large number of acting credits, with sources listing either 351 or 353 film and television credits, making him one of the most prolific English-speaking actors in history. He was married four times, fathered five children, and served as the patriarch of the Carradine family. He passed away on November 27, 1988, at the age of 82.
Career overview
John Carradine was an American actor born on February 5, 1906, whose given name was Richmond Reed Carradine. Recognized as one of the greatest character actors in American cinema, he was a member of Cecil B. DeMille's stock company and later joined John Ford's company. Throughout his career, he became best known for his roles in horror films, Westerns, and Shakespearean theatre.
In the later decades of his career, Carradine starred mostly in low-profile, low-budget B-movies, though he continued to appear in higher-profile fare as well. With a vast body of work across film and television, he holds hundreds of credits, cementing his status as one of the most prolific English-speaking actors of all time.
Carradine was married four times, had five children, and served as the patriarch of the Carradine family. His life and career spanned decades until his death on November 27, 1988, at the age of 82.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about John Carradine.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- La Lucha Invade el Cine Mexicano (2024) as Nazi leader
- Hollywood in the Atomic Age: Monsters! Martians! Mad Scientists! (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Lugosi: The Forgotten King of Horror (2016) as Self
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Lord Elijah Grisbane (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Blood of 1000 Virgins (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- The Trail of Dracula (2013) as Self (Archival Footage)
- The Complete Bob Wilkins Creature Features (2012)
- Boogeyman II: Redux (2003) as Dr. Warren
- Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999) as Self (archive footage)
- The Wolfman's Cure (1998) as Count Dracula
- Jack-O (1995) as Walter Machen
- Bikini Drive-In (1995)
- Dracula in the Movies (1992) as (archive footage)
- Legends of the West (1992) as Jeff Blair in 'Cheyenne Autumn' (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991) as Count Dracula (archive footage)
- Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook (1991) as Count Dracula (archive footage)
- The Alien Within (1990) as Dr. Emil Zeitman (archive footage)
- Buried Alive (1989) as Jacob Julian
- Evil Spawn (1987) as Dr. Emil Zeitman
- Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) as Leo
- Monster in the Closet (1986) as Old Joe Shempter
- Lugosi: The Forgotten King (1986) as Himself
- Haunted Hollywood (1986) as Host
- The Tomb (1986) as Andoheb
- Star Slammer (1986) as The Justice
- Hollywood Ghost Stories (1986) as Narrator / Host
- Revenge (1986) as Sen. Martin Bradford
- The Twilight Zone (1985) as (segment "Still Life")
- Evils of the Night (1985) as Dr. Kozmar
- Frankenstein's Brain (1985)
- Reel Horror (1985) as Alcoholic Reporter (archive footage)
- The Ice Pirates (1984) as Supreme Commander
- Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) as (archive footage)
- House of the Long Shadows (1983) as Elijah Grisbane
- Antony and Cleopatra (1983) as Soothsayer
- Imps* (1983) as Gentleman
- The Horror of It All (1983) as Self
- A Rose for Emily (1983) as Col. Sartoris
- Boogeyman II (1983) as Dr. Warren (archive footage)
- Fame (1982) as Danny Amatullo
- The Secret of NIMH (1982) as Great Owl (voice)
- Satan's Mistress (1982) as Father Stratten
- The Best of Sex and Violence (1982) as Self - Host
- The Vals (1982) as Mr. Stanton (Head of the Orphanage)
- The Scarecrow (1982) as Hubert Salter
- The Howling (1981) as Erle Kenton
- Goliath Awaits (1981) as Ronald Bentley
- The Monster Club (1981) as R.Chetwynd-Hayes, Writer
- The Nesting (1981) as Col. LeBrun
- Frankenstein Island (1981) as Dr. Frankenstein
- The Reluctant Dragon (1981) as Narrator
- Monstroid (1980) as Priest
- The Boogey Man (1980) as Dr. Warren
- A Tribute to Dr. Shock (1980) as Self (archive footage)
- The Littlest Hobo (1979) as Chief Justice Hamilton
- Americathon (1979) as Uncle Sam
- The Seekers (1979) as Avery Mills
- Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident (1979) as Professor Nikolaeff
- Nocturna (1979) as Count Dracula
- The Horror Show (1979) as (archive footage)
- Vega$ (1978)
- Flying High (1978)
- Vampire Hookers (1978) as Richmond Reed
- The Bees (1978) as Dr. Sigmund Hummel
- Doctor Dracula (1978) as Radcliff
- Salem and the Scarlet Letter (1978) as Narrator
- Old Friends... New Friends (1978) as Self
- Sunset Cove (1978) as Judge Harley Winslow
- Shock Waves (1977) as Captain
- The White Buffalo (1977) as Amos Briggs
- The Sentinel (1977) as Fr. Francis Matthew Halloran
- Tail Gunner Joe (1977) as Wisconsin Farmer
- The Mouse and His Child (1977) as The Tramp (voice)
- Satan's Cheerleaders (1977) as The Bum
- Golden Rendezvous (1977) as Fairweather
- Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. (1977) as Grampa Sullivan
- The Lady and the Lynchings (1977)
- Captains and the Kings (1976) as Father Hale
- The Shootist (1976) as Beckum
- The Last Tycoon (1976) as Tour Guide
- The Killer Inside Me (1976) as Dr. Smith
- Crash! (1976) as Dr. Welsey Edwards
- Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) as Drunk
- Death at Love House (1976) as Conan Carroll
- Starsky & Hutch (1975) as The Professor
- Wonder Woman (1975) as Harlow Gault
- Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975) as The Man
- Journey Into the Beyond (1975) as Narrator (English Version)
- Stowaway to the Moon (1975) as Jacob Avril
- Westwind (1975)
- The Cowboys (1974) as Oscar Schmidt
- Moonchild (1974) as Mr. Walker
- The House of Seven Corpses (1974) as Edgar Price
- The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute (1974) as Self
- The Lady's Not for Burning (1974) as Old Skips
- Shadow House (1973) as Uncle
- Bad Charleston Charlie (1973) as Alcoholic Reporter
- The Night Strangler (1973) as Llewellyn Crossbinder
- Terror in the Wax Museum (1973) as Claude Dupree
- The Cat Creature (1973) as The Hotel Clerk
- Superchick (1973) as Igor Smith
- 1,000,000 A.D. Promo Reel (1973) as The Sage
- Emergency! (1972)
- The Rookies (1972)
- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask (1972) as Dr. Bernardo
- Boxcar Bertha (1972) as H. Buckram Sartoris
- Richard (1972) as Plastic Surgeon
- Kung Fu (1972) as Rev. Serenity Johnson
- Night of the Dark Full Moon (1972) as Charlie Towman
- Demented Death Farm Massacre (1972) as The Judge Of Hell
- Portnoy's Complaint (1972) as Judge (voice) (uncredited)
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1972) as Narrator (voice)
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- The Seven Minutes (1971) as Sean O'Flanagan
- The Gatling Gun (1971) as Rev. Harper
- Threshold (1971) as Old-fashioned Undertaker
- Blood Legacy (1971) as Christopher Dean
- Decisions! Decisions! (1971) as Railroad Ticket Clerk
- McCloud (1970)
- Night Gallery (1970)
- Myra Breckinridge (1970) as Surgeon
- The McMasters (1970) as Preacher
- Cain's Cutthroats (1970) as Preacher Simms
- Horror of the Blood Monsters (1970) as Dr. Rynning
- Crowhaven Farm (1970) as Nate Cheever
- Hell's Bloody Devils (1970) as Pet Shop Owner
- Bigfoot (1970) as Jasper B. Hawks
- Shinbone Alley (1970) as Tyrone T. Tattersall (voice)
- Blood of the Iron Maiden (1970) as Dr. Goolie
- Love, American Style (1969) as Old George Pomerantz
- Pact with the Devil (1969) as Dr. Halback
- The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969) as Ticker
- The Trouble with Girls (1969) as Mr. Drewcolt
- Blood of Dracula's Castle (1969) as George
- The Mummy and the Curse of the Jackals (1969) as Professor Cummings
- Five Bloody Graves (1969) as Boone Hawkins
- Daughter of the Mind (1969) as Mr. Bosch
- Secret of Death (1969) as Polito the Clown
- Madame Death (1969) as Dr. Favel
- The Vampire Girls (1969) as Count Branos Alucard
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Land of the Giants (1968) as Egor Crull
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- The Helicopter Spies (1968) as Third-Way Priest
- The Mummy's Ghost (1968) as The Egyptian Priest
- Autopsy of a Ghost (1968) as Satán
- The Astro-Zombies (1968) as Dr. DeMarco
- They Ran for Their Lives (1968) as Laslo
- Chewing Gum (1968) as Roberto Sánchez
- Ironside (1967)
- Hondo (1967)
- Dr. Terror's Gallery of Horrors (1967) as Narrator / Tristram Halbin
- Blood of Ghastly Horror (1967) as Dr. Howard Vanard
- The Hostage (1967) as Otis Lovelace
- Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967) as Dr. Himmel
- The Fiend with the Electronic Brain (1967) as Dr. Howard Vanard
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) as Prof. Boris Budge
- The Green Hornet (1966) as James Rancourt / The Scarf
- Doom of Dracula (1966) as Count Dracula (archive footage)
- Munster, Go Home! (1966) as Cruikshank
- Billy the Kid Versus Dracula (1966) as Count Dracula
- Red Zone Cuba (1966) as Mr. Wilson
- The Emperor's New Clothes (1966) as King Luvimself
- The Big Valley (1965) as Elias Brown
- Lost in Space (1965) as Arcon
- Laredo (1965) as Prof. Paracelsus Smythe
- Branded (1965)
- Branded (1965) as General Joshua McCord
- The Legend of Jesse James (1965) as Noah
- Broken Sabre (1965) as General Josh McCord
- Something for Mrs. Gibbs (1965)
- House of the Black Death (1965) as Andre Desard
- The Wizard of Mars (1965) as The Wizard of Mars
- Curse of the Stone Hand (1965) as The Old Drunk
- Daniel Boone (1964) as Zack Pike
- The Munsters (1964)
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Old Man - Third-Way Priest
- Cheyenne Autumn (1964) as Jeff Blair
- The Patsy (1964) as Bruce Alden
- Genesis (1964) as Narrator
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Gavin Revere
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Guzman
- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) as Cassius Starbuckle
- Thriller (1960) as Jed Carta
- Thriller (1960) as Jason Longfellow
- Harrigan and Son (1960)
- Tarzan the Magnificent (1960) as Abel Banton
- Sex Kittens Go to College (1960) as Prof. Watts
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960) as Slave Catcher
- Bonanza (1959) as Jedediah Milbank
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Brother Jerome
- The Rebel (1959) as Elmer Dodson
- Lock-Up (1959)
- Johnny Ringo (1959) as The Rain Man
- Bourbon Street Beat (1959)
- The Oregon Trail (1959) as Zachariah Garrison
- Terror in the Midnight Sun (1959) as Narrator (US Re-Edit)
- The Incredible Petrified World (1959) as Prof. Millard Wyman
- Invisible Invaders (1959) as Dr. Karol Noymann
- The Cosmic Man (1959) as Cosmic Man
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Lawman (1958) as Geoffrey Hendon
- Bat Masterson (1958) as Sheriff Vince Morgan
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Amos McKenna
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958)
- The Proud Rebel (1958) as Traveling Salesman
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Amos Force
- Showdown at Boot Hill (1958) as Doc Weber
- Wagon Train (1957) as Park Cleatus
- Maverick (1957)
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957)
- Suspicion (1957) as Raphael
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Mathew McDavitt
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) as John Canty
- Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman (1957) as Dr. John Rayburn
- The True Story of Jesse James (1957) as Rev. Jethro Bailey
- Hell Ship Mutiny (1957) as Malone
- The Unearthly (1957) as Dr. Charles Conway
- Snowshoes: A Comedy of People and Horses (1957) as Felix the Great
- The Story of Mankind (1957) as Khufu
- Telephone Time (1956)
- The Ten Commandments (1956) as Aaron
- Around the World in 80 Days (1956) as Proctor Stamp
- Dr. Fu Manchu (1956)
- Dracula (1956) as Dracula
- Dark Venture (1956) as Gideon
- The Black Sleep (1956) as Bohemund
- Hidden Guns (1956) as Snipe Harding
- Female Jungle (1956) as Claude Almstead
- Matinee Theater (1955)
- Cheyenne (1955)
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Ephraim Hunt
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Kader
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) as Don Ignacio Vasquez
- The Millionaire (1955) as Karl Miller AKA Count Karl Millevich
- Navy Log (1955)
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self
- MGM Parade (1955) as self
- The Court Jester (1955) as Giacomo
- The Kentuckian (1955) as Ziby Fletcher
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1955) as The Duke
- Stranger on Horseback (1955) as Col. Buck Streeter
- Desert Sands (1955) as Jala
- Climax! (1954) as John Evan
- Climax! (1954) as The Duke
- Climax! (1954) as Colonel Archer
- Johnny Guitar (1954) as Old Tom
- Casanova's Big Night (1954) as Foressi
- The Egyptian (1954) as Grave Robber
- Thunder Pass (1954) as Bergstrom
- The Hound Of Heaven (1953) as Hyder Simpson
- Gang Busters (1952)
- The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Lights Out (1949)
- Suspense (1949)
- C-Man (1949) as Doc Spencer
- Studio One (1948) as Mr. Wadleigh
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Malvolio
- The Private Affairs of Bel Ami (1947) as Charles Forestier
- Fish Story (1947) as John Carradine
- The Face of Marble (1946) as Dr. Charles Randolph
- Down Missouri Way (1946) as Thorndyke 'Thorny' P. Dunning
- House of Dracula (1945) as Count Dracula
- Fallen Angel (1945) as Professor Madley
- Captain Kidd (1945) as Orange Povey
- It's in the Bag! (1945) as Jefferson T. Pike
- Alaska (1944) as John Reagan
- House of Frankenstein (1944) as Dracula (aka Baron Latos)
- The Invisible Man's Revenge (1944) as Dr. Peter Drury
- The Mummy's Ghost (1944) as Yousef Bey
- The Adventures of Mark Twain (1944) as Bret Harte
- Jungle Woman (1944) as Dr. Sigmund Walters (archive footage / uncredited)
- Return of the Ape Man (1944) as Prof. John Gilmore
- Barbary Coast Gent (1944) as Duke Cleat
- The Black Parachute (1944) as General von Bodenbach
- Waterfront (1944) as Victor Marlow
- Bluebeard (1944) as Gaston Morrell
- Voodoo Man (1944) as Toby
- Hitler's Madman (1943) as Reinhardt Heydrich
- Captive Wild Woman (1943) as Dr. Sigmund Walters
- Isle of Forgotten Sins (1943) as Mike Clancy
- Revenge of the Zombies (1943) as Dr. Max Heinrich von Altermann
- Silver Spurs (1943) as Lucky Miller
- Gangway for Tomorrow (1943) as Mr. Wellington
- I Escaped from the Gestapo (1943) as Martin
- Reunion in France (1942) as Ulrich Windler, Head of Paris Gestapo
- Whispering Ghosts (1942) as Norbert
- Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942) as Caleb Green
- Northwest Rangers (1942) as Martin Caswell
- Western Union (1941) as Doc Murdoch
- Man Hunt (1941) as Mr. Jones
- Swamp Water (1941) as Jesse Wick
- Blood and Sand (1941) as Nacional
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as Casy
- The Return of Frank James (1940) as Bob Ford
- Brigham Young (1940) as Porter Rockwell
- Chad Hanna (1940) as B. D. Bisbee
- Stagecoach (1939) as Hatfield
- Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) as Caldwell
- Jesse James (1939) as Bob Ford
- The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) as Barryman
- The Three Musketeers (1939) as Naveau
- Five Came Back (1939) as Mr. Crimp
- Land of Liberty (1939) as (archive footage)
- Mr. Moto's Last Warning (1939) as Danforth / Richard Burke
- Frontier Marshal (1939) as Ben Carter
- Captain Fury (1939) as Coughy
- Four Men and a Prayer (1938) as General Sebastian
- Of Human Hearts (1938) as President Lincoln
- International Settlement (1938) as Murdock
- Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) as Speakeasy Doorman
- Submarine Patrol (1938) as McAllison
- Kentucky Moonshine (1938) as Reef Hatfield
- I'll Give a Million (1938) as Kopelpeck
- Gateway (1938) as Leader of Refugees
- Kidnapped (1938) as Gordon
- Ali Baba Goes to Town (1937) as Ishak
- The Last Gangster (1937) as Casper
- Danger – Love at Work (1937) as Herbert Pemberton
- The Hurricane (1937) as Guard Captain
- Captains Courageous (1937) as Long Jack
- This Is My Affair (1937) as Ed
- Thank You, Mr. Moto (1937) as Pereira
- Love Under Fire (1937) as Capt. Delmar
- Nancy Steele Is Missing! (1937) as Harry Wilkins
- The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936) as Sergeant Rankin
- Mary of Scotland (1936) as Rizzio
- The Garden of Allah (1936) as Sand Diviner
- Under Two Flags (1936) as Cafard
- Ramona (1936) as Jim Farrar
- Winterset (1936) as Bartolomio Romagna
- Daniel Boone (1936) as Simon Girty
- Half Angel (1936) as Sanatorium Inmate (voice) (uncredited)
- Dimples (1936) as Richards
- Laughing at Trouble (1936) as Deputy Sheriff Alec Brady
- White Fang (1936) as Beauty Smith
- Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as Lost Hunter at Hermit's Cottage (uncredited)
- Les Misérables (1935) as Enjolras
- Clive of India (1935) as Drunken-Faced Clerk
- Alias Mary Dow (1935) as Griffe - Nightclub Drunk (uncredited)
- Cardinal Richelieu (1935) as Agitator
- The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo (1935) as Despondent Casino Gambler (uncredited)
- Bad Boy (1935) as Angry Saxophone Player - Tenant
- The Black Cat (1934) as Cult Organist
- Cleopatra (1934) as Roman Citizen/Party Guest/Soldier (uncredited) (voice)
- The Meanest Gal in Town (1934) as Stranded Actor (uncredited)