William Frawley
Acting
Born February 25, 1887 · Burlington, Iowa, USA
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.
Films (115)
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
2016
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
Safe at Home!
1962
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
The Dirty Look
1954
I Love Lucy: The Movie
1953
Rancho Notorious
1952
Rhubarb
1951
The Lemon Drop Kid
1951
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
1951
Pretty Baby
1950
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
1950
Kill the Umpire
1950
Blondie's Hero
1950
East Side, West Side
1949
The Lady Takes a Sailor
1949
Red Light
1949
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
1949
Home in San Antone
1949
Chicken Every Sunday
1949
The Girl from Manhattan
1948
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
1948
The Babe Ruth Story
1948
Good Sam
1948
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948
My Wild Irish Rose
1947
Blondie's Anniversary
1947
Monsieur Verdoux
1947
Down to Earth
1947
Mother Wore Tights
1947
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
1947
Miracle on 34th Street
1947
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
1946
The Inner Circle
1946
Rendezvous with Annie
1946
The Virginian
1946
Ziegfeld Follies
1945
Lady on a Train
1945
Hitchhike to Happiness
1945
Flame of Barbary Coast
1945
Lake Placid Serenade
1944
The Fighting Seabees
1944
Going My Way
1944
Whistling in Brooklyn
1943
Larceny with Music
1943
We've Never Been Licked
1943
Gentleman Jim
1942
The Yankee Doodler
1942
Moonlight in Havana
1942
Wildcat
1942
Give Out, Sisters
1942
It Happened in Flatbush
1942
Roxie Hart
1942
Treat 'Em Rough
1942
Gangs Of The City
1941
Blondie in Society
1941
The Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
Cracked Nuts
1941
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
One Night in the Tropics
1940
Sandy Gets Her Man
1940
Dancing on a Dime
1940
The Quarterback
1940
Rhythm on the River
1940
Golden Gloves
1940
Untamed
1940
Those Were the Days!
1940
Opened by Mistake
1940
The Farmer's Daughter
1940
Stop, Look and Love
1939
Night Work
1939
Grand Jury Secrets
1939
Ex-Champ
1939
Rose of Washington Square
1939
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1939
Persons in Hiding
1939
St. Louis Blues
1939
Ambush
1939
Sons of the Legion
1938
Touchdown, Army
1938
Professor Beware
1938
Mad About Music
1938
Blossoms On Broadway
1937
Something to Sing About
1937
Double or Nothing
1937
High, Wide and Handsome
1937
Rose Bowl
1936
The General Died at Dawn
1936
Three Married Men
1936
The Princess Comes Across
1936
F-Man
1936
Desire
1936
Strike Me Pink
1936
Beautiful Dreamer
1935
Ship Cafe
1935
Harmony Lane
1935
It's a Great Life
1935
Welcome Home
1935
College Scandal
1935
Alibi Ike
1935
Hold 'Em Yale
1935
Roberta
1935
Car 99
1935
Here Is My Heart
1934
The Lemon Drop Kid
1934
Shoot the Works
1934
The Witching Hour
1934
The Crime Doctor
1934
Bolero
1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
Hell and High Water
1933
Moonlight and Pretzels
1933
Ventriloquist
1927
Should Husbands Be Watched?
1925