In 1924, a newspaper said of former stage actor William V Mong (1875-1940): “That middle initial of William V. Mong’s name must indeed stand for versatility. For in his sixteen years upon the screen he has played hundreds of characters, ranging from heroes to villains of deepest dye, all nationalities.”
This does not tell half the story. As well as accumulating over 200 acting appearances on screen, Mong wrote and/or directed dozens of films in the 1910s and early 20s. In the early days, he established the first scenario department at the Selig Company (“a second-hand desk, two pencils and a pen”).
As a sideline, he had a ranch and bred pedigree pigs.
One of Mong’s many credits was as the father of the heroine in Metro’s In Gay Madrid.
