William Frawley

William Frawley (79)

1887-02-25 - 1966-03-03 | 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.

On Movies

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

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