bernard o'flaherty was born in 1824 at cork, ireland, to michael and mary o’flaherty. in 1831 his family immigrated to america where his father would become a new york city policeman. as a boy williams ran errands, sold newspapers, worked at a printer’s office and at some point began performing bit parts at new york’s franklin theatre. on one night in 1836 he was given the opportunity to play a speaking rôle in "the ice witch" that came available after actor alonzo williams suddenly fell ill. as a result of his performance, williams became a regular cast member of the theatre’s troupe performing under the stage name barney williams.