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.
127 acting credits
Acting · 127
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
My Three Sons
1960
The Lucy Show
1962
I Love Lucy
1951
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
The Bob Hope Show
1950
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
This Is Your Life
1952
Letter to Loretta
1953
The Gale Storm Show
1956
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
Miracle on 34th Street
1947
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
1951
The Ed Wynn Show
1949
Going My Way
1944
Monsieur Verdoux
1947
Gentleman Jim
1942
Rancho Notorious
1952
Ship Cafe
1935
Pretty Baby
1950
Ziegfeld Follies
1945
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948
Rhubarb
1951
The Fighting Seabees
1944
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
1947
Roberta
1935
Roxie Hart
1942
One Night in the Tropics
1940
Flame of Barbary Coast
1945
The Lemon Drop Kid
1951
Desire
1936
Untamed
1940
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1939
Lady on a Train
1945
Something to Sing About
1937
The Inner Circle
1946
The Virginian
1946
The Princess Comes Across
1936
The General Died at Dawn
1936
Rhythm on the River
1940
It Happened in Flatbush
1942
Rose of Washington Square
1939
Good Sam
1948
Double or Nothing
1937
Wildcat
1942
Hitchhike to Happiness
1945
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
Down to Earth
1947
Here Is My Heart
1934
The Babe Ruth Story
1948
The Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
1950
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
Rose Bowl
1936
Ex-Champ
1939
Those Were the Days!
1940
Rendezvous with Annie
1946
Mad About Music
1938
We've Never Been Licked
1943
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
The Quarterback
1940
St. Louis Blues
1939
Red Light
1949
Blondie's Hero
1950
East Side, West Side
1949
Alibi Ike
1935
College Scandal
1935
Professor Beware
1938
My Wild Irish Rose
1947
Car 99
1935
Welcome Home
1935
High, Wide and Handsome
1937
Cracked Nuts
1941
Bolero
1934
Mother Wore Tights
1947
Dancing on a Dime
1940
Night Work
1939
Hold 'Em Yale
1935
Home in San Antone
1949
It's a Great Life
1935
The Lady Takes a Sailor
1949
Chicken Every Sunday
1949
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
Blondie in Society
1941
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
1949
Golden Gloves
1940
The Witching Hour
1934
Sons of the Legion
1938
F-Man
1936
Blondie's Anniversary
1947
Grand Jury Secrets
1939
Safe at Home!
1962
Ambush
1939
The Lemon Drop Kid
1934
Shoot the Works
1934
Sandy Gets Her Man
1940
Moonlight in Havana
1942
The Farmer's Daughter
1940
Three Married Men
1936
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
1948
Persons in Hiding
1939
Kill the Umpire
1950
Opened by Mistake
1940
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
2016
Gangs Of The City
1941
Blossoms On Broadway
1937
Lake Placid Serenade
1944
Touchdown, Army
1938
Give Out, Sisters
1942
Moonlight and Pretzels
1933
The Crime Doctor
1934
Harmony Lane
1935
The Yankee Doodler
1942
Larceny with Music
1943
Strike Me Pink
1936
Whistling in Brooklyn
1943
Hell and High Water
1933
Treat 'Em Rough
1942
The Girl from Manhattan
1948
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
1946
Beautiful Dreamer
1935
I Love Lucy: The Movie
1953
The Dirty Look
1954
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
Should Husbands Be Watched?
1925
Stop, Look and Love
1939
Ventriloquist
1927