NEED TO KNOW
There are few monsters as iconic as the Creature in Frankenstein — which is why it’s only fitting that so many actors have taken on the horrifying role.
The first adaptation of author Mary Shelley’s classic 1818 novel came in 1931, when Boris Karloff portrayed the monster in Frankenstein. Since then, several actors have portrayed the Creature, including Lon Chaney Jr. and Robert De Niro.
Now, Jacob Elordi has traded in Elvis’ blue suede shoes for Frankenstein’s monster, portraying the Creature in Guillermo del Toro’s latest adaptation of the iconic movie, which premiered in theaters before being released on Netflix on Nov. 7.
At an August 2025 press conference during the Venice International Film Festival, del Toro said his inspiration for making the movie came from “following the creature” since he was a kid, when he first saw Karloff’s portrayal of the monster, though he wanted to wait for the movie to be done “in the right conditions,” per Deadline.
While discussing how he immersed himself in the role of the monster, Elordi said that “in so many ways, the creature that’s on screen in this movie is the sort of purest form of myself. He’s more me than I am.”
From shows to movies, take a look back at eight actors who have portrayed the monster in Frankenstein.
Boris Karloff in Frankenstein
Bettmann/Getty
Karloff was the first actor to bring Frankenstein’s monster to life, portraying the character in the classic 1931 film, Frankenstein.
He reprised the role in several of the film’s sequels, including 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein and 1939’s Son of Frankenstein.
Lon Chaney Jr. in The Ghost of Frankenstein and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Universal/Getty
Chaney Jr. portrayed Frankenstein’s monster in several movies and television shows, beginning with 1942’s The Ghost of Frankenstein, which starred Bela Lugosi as Igor.
He reprised the role in the early 1950s in the anthology series, Tales of Tomorrow, followed by an episode of Route 66.
Bela Lugosi in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
Though he was widely known for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 titular film, Lugosi portrayed the Creature in 1943’s Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man.
Glenn Strange in The House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Bettmann/Getty
Glenn Strange played the Creature on several occasions, beginning with the 1944 Universal film The House of Frankenstein.
The late actor reprised the role in 1945’s House of Dracula and 1948’s Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.
Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein
20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
Peter Boyle portrayed the monster in the 1974 Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder comedy classic Young Frankenstein.
Boyle, who died in December 2006, called it “the highlight of my career.” He also met his wife, then-Rolling Stone journalist Loraine Alterman, while on set of the film.
Christopher Lee in The Curse of Frankenstein
Warner Brothers/Getty
Much like Lugosi, Christopher Lee has played both Dracula and the Creature. The late actor starred as Frankenstein’s monster in 1957’s The Curse of Frankenstein.
The film was loosely based on the 1818 novel and also starred Peter Cushing, who portrayed Victor Frankenstein.
Robert De Niro in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Tri-Star/American Zoetrope/Kobal/Shutterstock
De Niro played the monster in the 1994 film Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which starred Kenneth Branagh (who also directed the film!) as Victor Frankenstein.
Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein
Ken Woroner/Netflix
Elordi took on the Creature in del Toro’s 2025 adaptation of Frankenstein, replacing Andrew Garfield, who was originally supposed to portray the character but dropped out due to scheduling issues.
The Euphoria alum told Variety in August 2025 that playing the monster “changed me fundamentally — changed the way that I approach performance and the way that I watch movies.”
The film also stars Oliver Isaac as Victor Frankenstein, with Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer and Christoph Waltz rounding out the cast.
