William Frawley
Biography
William Frawley was born in Burlington, Iowa. As a boy he sang at St. Paul's Catholic Church and played at the Burlington Opera House. His first job was as a stenographer for the Union Pacific Railroad. He did vaudeville with his brother Paul, then joined pianist Franz Rath in an act they took to San Francisco in 1910. Four years later he formed a light comedy act with his new wife Edna Louise Broedt, "Frawley and Louise", touring the Orpheum and Keith circuits until they divorced in 1927. He next moved to Broadway and then, in 1932, to Hollywood with Paramount. By 1951, when he contacted Lucille Ball about a part in her TV show I Love Lucy (1951), he had performed in over 100 films. His Fred Mertz role lasted until the show ended in 1960, after which he did a five-year stint on My Three Sons (1960). Poor health forced his retirement. He collapsed of a heart attack on March 3, 1966, aged 79, walking along Hollywood Boulevard after seeing a movie. He is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (38)
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
as Fred Mertz
2016
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
as Self (archive footage)
2000
Safe at Home!
as Bill Turner
1962
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
as Fred Mertz
1956
The Dirty Look
1954
I Love Lucy: The Movie
as Fred Mertz
1953
Rancho Notorious
as Baldy Gunder
1952
Rhubarb
as Len Sickles
1951
The Lemon Drop Kid
as Gloomy Willie
1951
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
as Det. Roberts
1951
Pretty Baby
as Corcoran
1950
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
as Byers
1950
Kill the Umpire
as Jimmy O'Brien
1950
Blondie's Hero
as Marty Greer
1950
East Side, West Side
as Bill the Bartender
1949
The Lady Takes a Sailor
as Oliver Harker
1949
Red Light
as Hotel Night Clerk
1949
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
as Inspector Crane
1949
Home in San Antone
as O'Fleery
1949
Chicken Every Sunday
as George Kirby
1949
The Girl from Manhattan
as Mr. Bernouti
1948
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
as Knobby Walsh
1948
The Babe Ruth Story
as Jack Dunn
1948
Good Sam
as Tom
1948
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
as Agent
1948
My Wild Irish Rose
as William Scanlon
1947
Blondie's Anniversary
as Sharkey the Loen Shark
1947
Monsieur Verdoux
as Jean La Salle
1947
Down to Earth
as Police Lieutenant
1947
Mother Wore Tights
as Mr. Schneider
1947
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
as Jim Mason
1947
Miracle on 34th Street
as Charlie Halloran
1947
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
as Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
1946
The Inner Circle
as Det. Lt. Webb
1946
Rendezvous with Annie
as General Trent
1946
The Virginian
as Honey Wiggen
1946
Ziegfeld Follies
as Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
1945
Lady on a Train
as Desk Sgt. Brennan
1945
TV Shows (12)
The Lucy Show
as Trainer
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
My Three Sons
as Bub O'Casey
1960
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
as Fred Mertz
1957
The Gale Storm Show
as Jim Comstock
1956
Letter to Loretta
as Sam
1953
This Is Your Life
as Self
1952
I Love Lucy
as Fred Mertz
1951
The Bob Hope Show
as Self
1950
The Ed Wynn Show
as Self
1949
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1948