Acting
William Frawley
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.
Filmography
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Film · 2016
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
Film · 2000
Safe at Home!
Film · 1962
The Lucy Show
Series · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
My Three Sons
Series · 1960
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Series · 1958
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Series · 1957
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Film · 1956
The Gale Storm Show
Series · 1956
The Dirty Look
Film · 1954
I Love Lucy: The Movie
Film · 1953
Letter to Loretta
Series · 1953
Rancho Notorious
Film · 1952
This Is Your Life
Series · 1952
The Lemon Drop Kid
Film · 1951
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Film · 1951
Rhubarb
Film · 1951
I Love Lucy
Series · 1951
Blondie's Hero
Film · 1950
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Film · 1950
Pretty Baby
Film · 1950
Kill the Umpire
Film · 1950
The Bob Hope Show
Series · 1950
Red Light
Film · 1949
The Lady Takes a Sailor
Film · 1949
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
Film · 1949
Chicken Every Sunday
Film · 1949
East Side, West Side
Film · 1949
Home in San Antone
Film · 1949
The Ed Wynn Show
Series · 1949
The Babe Ruth Story
Film · 1948
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Film · 1948
Good Sam
Film · 1948
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
Film · 1948
The Girl from Manhattan
Film · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
Blondie's Anniversary
Film · 1947
Miracle on 34th Street
Film · 1947
Mother Wore Tights
Film · 1947
My Wild Irish Rose
Film · 1947
Down to Earth
Film · 1947
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Film · 1947
Monsieur Verdoux
Film · 1947
The Inner Circle
Film · 1946
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
Film · 1946
The Virginian
Film · 1946
Rendezvous with Annie
Film · 1946
Lady on a Train
Film · 1945
Flame of Barbary Coast
Film · 1945
Hitchhike to Happiness
Film · 1945
Ziegfeld Follies
Film · 1945
The Fighting Seabees
Film · 1944
Going My Way
Film · 1944
Lake Placid Serenade
Film · 1944
Whistling in Brooklyn
Film · 1943
We've Never Been Licked
Film · 1943
Larceny with Music
Film · 1943
Gentleman Jim
Film · 1942
Roxie Hart
Film · 1942
Moonlight in Havana
Film · 1942
Wildcat
Film · 1942
Treat 'Em Rough
Film · 1942
It Happened in Flatbush
Film · 1942
Give Out, Sisters
Film · 1942
The Yankee Doodler
Film · 1942
Blondie in Society
Film · 1941
Footsteps in the Dark
Film · 1941
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Film · 1941
Cracked Nuts
Film · 1941
Gangs Of The City
Film · 1941
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Film · 1941
One Night in the Tropics
Film · 1940
Rhythm on the River
Film · 1940
Golden Gloves
Film · 1940
Dancing on a Dime
Film · 1940
Those Were the Days!
Film · 1940
The Farmer's Daughter
Film · 1940
Untamed
Film · 1940
The Quarterback
Film · 1940
Sandy Gets Her Man
Film · 1940
Opened by Mistake
Film · 1940
Rose of Washington Square
Film · 1939
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Film · 1939
Grand Jury Secrets
Film · 1939
Stop, Look and Love
Film · 1939
Ambush
Film · 1939
Persons in Hiding
Film · 1939
St. Louis Blues
Film · 1939
Night Work
Film · 1939
Ex-Champ
Film · 1939
Mad About Music
Film · 1938
Professor Beware
Film · 1938
Sons of the Legion
Film · 1938
Touchdown, Army
Film · 1938
Double or Nothing
Film · 1937
Something to Sing About
Film · 1937
Blossoms On Broadway
Film · 1937
High, Wide and Handsome
Film · 1937
The Princess Comes Across
Film · 1936
Rose Bowl
Film · 1936
Desire
Film · 1936
Strike Me Pink
Film · 1936
Three Married Men
Film · 1936
F-Man
Film · 1936
The General Died at Dawn
Film · 1936
Three Cheers for Love
Film · 1936
Roberta
Film · 1935
Welcome Home
Film · 1935
Alibi Ike
Film · 1935
College Scandal
Film · 1935
Car 99
Film · 1935
It's a Great Life
Film · 1935
Harmony Lane
Film · 1935
Hold 'Em Yale
Film · 1935
Ship Cafe
Film · 1935
Beautiful Dreamer
Film · 1935
The Crime Doctor
Film · 1934
Here Is My Heart
Film · 1934
Bolero
Film · 1934
Shoot the Works
Film · 1934
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Film · 1934
The Witching Hour
Film · 1934
The Lemon Drop Kid
Film · 1934
Moonlight and Pretzels
Film · 1933
Hell and High Water
Film · 1933
Ventriloquist
Film · 1927
Should Husbands Be Watched?
Film · 1925