Trivia

Life partner David Lewis found him dead in Whale's Santa Monica swimming pool; he didn't disclose the suicide note until close to his own death in 1987, leaving Whale's death - up to that time - a mystery.

Personally responsible for selecting Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster.

The painful last years of his life in Hollywood, where he was one of the few celebrities to live openly acknowledging his homosexuality, were depicted by Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters (1998).

Four of his films were nominated for AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills: Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and The Man in the Iron Mask (1939). "Frankenstein" made the list at #56.

Because Whale's status as a director at Universal under the Carl Laemmle regime grew until he was given total control over his films, many of his films carry the credit "A James Whale Production", even though Whale never actually produced his films; the producing chores were always handled by someone else.

Wrote a suicide note before jumping into his pool. Its exact contents are not known, as it was withheld by the person who found it, and the full note was never shared, even after that person's death, when it's existence was revealed.

He has directed four films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Show Boat (1936).

Retired from making films in 1941, except for an Army training film (Personnel Placement in the Army (1942)) and the unreleased Hello Out There (1949).

Served as an infantry officer in the British Army during World War I where he was captured by the Germans and held as a POW. While imprisoned he became actively involved, as an actor, writer, producer and set-designer, in the amateur theatrical productions that took place in the camp, finding them "a source of great pleasure and amusement". He also developed a talent for poker, and after the war he cashed in the chits and IOUs from his fellow prisoners that he had amassed in gambling to provide himself with finances for re-entry into civilian life.

Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume One, 1890-1945". Pages 1197-1202. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1987.

An early pioneer of the horror genre, his quartet of horror films stand out as unique for the period they were made,.

Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Great Mausoleum, Columbarium of Memory, Niche #20076.

He didn't direct Son of Frankenstein (1939), as he wanted to move on from horror films.

He didn't pursue a career in filmmaking until he was 41.

He was an early pioneer of the horror genre with his quartet of horror films standing out as unique for the period in which they were made.