They say if you love something, you should set it free. Ironically enough, the best choice for Boris Karloff was to set his own monster free and continue on with his acting career.

The actor brought the monster to life in the 1931 film, Frankenstein. Years later, he reprised the role in films like The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939). But after so many years, films, and directors, Karloff found that the character had grown too distant from his original portrayal.

By the time the monster made an appearance in the 1948 film Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Karloff refused the opportunity to reprise the role. In his stead, Glenn Strange played the character.

During an interview, Karloff confessed that after all these years, he had grown attached to the character and wasn’t willing to allow the character to become a comedic piece of scenery.

“I’m too fond of the monster,” Karloff said, according to a 1948 interview with the New York Times. “I’m grateful to him for all he did for me, and I wouldn’t like to watch anybody make sport of him.”

Karloff had decided by 1939 that it was time to hang up the bolts. He held a level of respect for the character that made him a star and was sure to do right by him.

“After Son of Frankenstein, I decided the character no longer had any potentialities,” said Karloff. “The makeup did all the work. Anybody who can take that makeup every morning deserves respect.”