Parfrey was born Sydney Woodrow Parfrey on October 5, 1922, in New York City. He was orphaned as a teenager.
Parfrey acted almost entirely on Broadway or regional stage in the late 1940s and 1950s, turning to television and film substantially in the 1960s. Though usually a supporting player, he played many focal television guest-star roles, mainly in the late 1960s when fantasy and spy shows relied heavily on distinctive guest players. He appeared five times on The Man From U.N.C.L.E., more than any other guest star except Jill Ireland, who also appeared five times. In 1962 he played the part of George Pickson in Perry Mason - The Case of the Bogus Books. In 1963, he played the part of George Moffgat in Perry Mason - "The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito." In 1967 he appeared as Brock in the 4th season of the science fiction TV show Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea in the episode named "Fatal Cargo." He is often remembered as "one of TV's great slimeball villains". He later appeared in The Moneychangers (1976), Backstairs at the White House (1979) and the short-lived 1979 CBS series Time Express.
On February 18, 1950, Parfrey married Rosa Ellovich and trained under acting Teacher Erwin Piscator at the New School for Social Research.
Parfrey also scored a few big A-movie parts, most notably as a prisoner in Papillon (1973). Parfrey's frequent association with that film's Director, Franklin Schaffner, also included a bit as Maximus, one of the three "See No Evil" orangutan judges in Planet of the Apes (1968). His many film credits include parts in Cattle King (1963), The War Lord (1965), The King's Pirate (1967), How to Save a Marriage and Ruin Your Life (1968), Madigan (1968), Sam Whiskey (1969), Cold Turkey (1971), Dirty Harry (1971), Oklahoma Crude (1973), Charley Varrick (1973), Stay Hungry (1976), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel (1979), Carny (1980), Bronco Billy (1980), Used Cars (1980), The Seduction (1982), Frances (1982) and Jinxed (1982).
Parfrey died of a heart attack on July 29, 1984, aged 61, in Los Angeles. His son is "underground" publisher Adam Parfrey.
