During the 1881 Census the 19 year old Willis was lodging at an address in his native Reading giving his occupation as "Dramatic Artist" - or actor. A Freemason, in 1885 he joined King Harold Lodge No. 1327 giving his profession as "Dramatic Artist" and joined the actors' Lodge of Asaph No. 1319 in November 1896 giving his profession as an actor at the Duke of York's Theatre. In 1892 he married his actress wife Annie and with her had a daughter Winifred who also became an actress. In 1901 Willis was living with his family in York Road in Lambeth in London. Willis appeared in the copyright performance of William Gillette's play Sherlock Holmes in an unknown role. He played Planchette and Lavrille in Never Again at the Vaudeville Theatre opposite Allan Aynesworth; Captain Welsh opposite Robert Taber in Bonnie Dundee at the Adelphi Theatre ; Brother Jerome in The Sacrament of Judas at the Comedy Theatre ; Rushey Platt, MP in Love in Idleness at Terry's Theatre ; Dick Snaresby in Brown at Brighton at the Avenue Theatre ; Mullins in the original stage production of Peter Pan at the Duke of York's Theatre opposite Gerald du Maurier as Captain Hook/Mr. Darling and Nina Boucicault as Peter Pan; Jenkins in Castles in Spain at the Royalty Theatre ; Dubois in The Hon'ble Phil opposite G. P. Huntley at Hicks Theatre ; Mr. Curry in The Test at the Court Theatre. and Village Handyman in The Man with his Back to the East at the Court Theatre.
Willis made his first film appearance as Shelton in the silent filmThe House of Temperley, an adaptation of Rodney Stone by Arthur Conan Doyle. Between 1921 and 1923 he played Dr. Watson in 44 short films and one full length film opposite Eille Norwood as Sherlock Holmes including The Hound of the Baskervilles and in three series of 15 episodes each in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ; in The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and in The Last Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. In the episode The Sign of Four Willis was replaced by Arthur Cullin as Dr. Watson. Willis lived at 39 Marlborough Crescent in Bedford Park in London. He died in December 1933 and left £4,105 1s 4d in his will. Hubert Willis was buried in Acton Cemetery in London.
