The Famous Players Film Company was founded in 1912 by Adolph Zukor in partnership with the Frohman brothers, the powerful New York City theatre impresarios. The company produced both short and feature-length production and between 1912 and 1919 made 140 silent films. The name derives from the studio's intent to film stage stars in versions of their plays: "Famous Players in Famous Plays" was the company slogan.

The company operated its own studios in New York City and then opened a facility in Hollywood which would eventually partner with the Jesse L. Lasky to create Famous Players-Lasky Corporation that became the parent company of Paramount Pictures.