William Parsons (29 February 1736 – 3 February 1795) was a British actor and painter in the mid to late eighteenth century. He appeared mostly at Drury Lane and Haymarket in minor to supporting roles, but also had prominent roles in plays like Volpone and Hamlet. Early life Parsons was born to William and Elizabeth (née Latter) Parsons in 1736. His father William did carpentry work in Bow Lane, Cheapside and City of London; his mother Elizabeth was from Maidstone. Parsons attended St Paul's School where surveyor Sir Henry Cheere or Cheke was his instructor. Parsons took part in amateur entertainment with William Powell and Charles Holland. In 1756, Parsons played Kent in King Lear in Haymarket. Professional career Earlier roles Parsons's first professional role was that of Southampton in poet Henry Jones's Earl of Essex play in York. Most of his work during this time was high comedy and tragedy. Under the guidance of West Digges, Parsons acted at the Theatre Royale Edinburgh in 1757-8. More roles soon followed for Parsons such as the role of Don Felix in Wonder, Charino in Love Makes a Man, and Grigg in Beggar's Wedding. 1760s and more prominent roles In 1763, Parsons began working with David Garrick, when Parsons played Filch in The Beggar's Opera at Drury Lane. Parsons would appear in over 200 roles at Drury Lane over the years, mostly in supporting or non important roles. Parsons took on the role of the original Nicodemus in Elizabeth Griffith's play Platonick Wife in January 1765 before appearing for the first time at the Haymarket in the role of Dr. Catgut in Foote's The Commissary later that same year. Parsons would appear regularly at the Haymarket during the summers, introducing characters in new comedies. During that season, Parsons appeared in Henry IV, Part 1 as Douglas, in Hamlet as Rosencrantz, in Love Makes a Man and as Robert in All in the Wrong. Parsons took on more character driven roles in this time period, with character driven roles such as the snitch-servant Blunt in The London Merchant and as Lord Plausible in Plain Dealer to appearing as Gobbo in The Merchant of Venice and Sir William Meadows in Love in a Village. In 1767, Parsons played his most substantial role, Polonius, in Hamlet 1770s Parsons took on his first Christmas role, appearing as the original Faladel in the Christmas Tale in 1773.