William "Billy" Franey was a renowned comic character actor, distinguished by his dishevelled appearance and distinctive fuzzy moustache, often portrayed in a suit a couple of sizes too large. His screen career commenced around 1913, with starring roles in the "Joker" comedy series released by Universal. Franey shared the spotlight with Louise Fazenda until her departure for Keystone in 1915, and subsequently teamed up with Gale Henry.
In 1920, Franey joined the independent company Reelcraft, where he created a series of one-reel shorts bearing his name. Unfortunately, only a few of these have survived, with notable examples including "The Plumber" (1921) and "The Bath Dub" (1921),showcasing his impressive skills in knockabout slapstick comedy.
As Reelcraft was a state company, its regional release was limited, and national publicity was scarce. Consequently, Franey's time at the pinnacle of his profession was short-lived, lasting merely a year. From 1921 onwards, he appeared in supporting roles for other comedians, including the "Blue Ribbon" series produced by Joe Rock.
Franey also ventured into straight character roles in motion pictures, with a significant number of westerns. During the final three years of his life, he played the role of "Pop," father of Vivien Oakland and father-in-law to Edgar Kennedy, in a series of 18-19 minute comedy featurettes produced by RKO. Billy Franey continued acting on screen until his untimely death from influenza in 1940.
