William Frawley
Acting
- Born:
- 1887-02-25
- Died:
- 1966-03-03
- Place of birth:
- Burlington, Iowa, USA
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.
Known For
Filmography
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
The Lucy Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Safe at Home!
My Three Sons
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
The Gale Storm Show
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
The Dirty Look
Letter to Loretta
I Love Lucy: The Movie
This Is Your Life
Rancho Notorious
I Love Lucy
Rhubarb
The Lemon Drop Kid
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Pretty Baby
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Kill the Umpire
The Bob Hope Show
Blondie's Hero
East Side, West Side
The Lady Takes a Sailor
The Ed Wynn Show
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
The Ed Sullivan Show
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
Three Cheers for Love
The Princess Comes Across
F-Man
Desire
Strike Me Pink
Beautiful Dreamer
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
Moonlight and Pretzels
Ventriloquist
Should Husbands Be Watched?