Born on January 2, 1863, in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts,[1] William Humphrey was a well-known member of the early stock company of Vitagraph Studios.

Without the romantic looks to become a real star, he nevertheless played leads in Shakespeare and other important studio productions of the day.

He also directed or co-directed eighty films between 1911 and 1927, including comedian Mabel Normand in the 1918 propaganda drama entitled Joan of Plattsburg.

[citation needed] In the late silent era, Humphrey, with other original Vitagraph actors such as Florence Turner, Maurice Costello, and Flora Finch, was kept on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer payroll for expert playing of character roles.

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