William Frawley
William Frawley
Born 25/02/1887 in 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.

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.

External links

IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0292433

Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1290248

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Filmography (Movies)

I Love Lucy Christmas Special

I Love Lucy Christmas Special

Character:Fred Mertz

Release Date:02/12/2016

Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

Character:Self (archive footage)

Release Date:03/12/2000

Safe at Home!

Safe at Home!

Character:Bill Turner

Release Date:13/04/1962

Lucy's Really Lost Moments

Lucy's Really Lost Moments

Character:Fred Mertz

Release Date:01/01/1956

The Dirty Look

The Dirty Look

Character:

Release Date:01/01/1954

I Love Lucy: The Movie

I Love Lucy: The Movie

Character:Fred Mertz

Release Date:01/01/1953

Rancho Notorious

Rancho Notorious

Character:Baldy Gunder

Release Date:10/04/1952

Rhubarb

Rhubarb

Character:Len Sickles

Release Date:29/08/1951

The Lemon Drop Kid

The Lemon Drop Kid

Character:Gloomy Willie

Release Date:02/04/1951

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

Character:Det. Roberts

Release Date:14/03/1951

Pretty Baby

Pretty Baby

Character:Corcoran

Release Date:16/09/1950

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Character:Byers

Release Date:19/08/1950

Kill the Umpire

Kill the Umpire

Character:Jimmy O'Brien

Release Date:27/04/1950

Blondie's Hero

Blondie's Hero

Character:Marty Greer

Release Date:09/03/1950

East Side, West Side

East Side, West Side

Character:Bill the Bartender

Release Date:22/12/1949

The Lady Takes a Sailor

The Lady Takes a Sailor

Character:Oliver Harker

Release Date:16/12/1949

Red Light

Red Light

Character:Hotel Night Clerk

Release Date:30/09/1949

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

Character:Inspector Crane

Release Date:11/08/1949

Home in San Antone

Home in San Antone

Character:O'Fleery

Release Date:14/04/1949

Chicken Every Sunday

Chicken Every Sunday

Character:George Kirby

Release Date:18/01/1949

The Girl from Manhattan

The Girl from Manhattan

Character:Mr. Bernouti

Release Date:01/10/1948

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

Character:Knobby Walsh

Release Date:19/09/1948

The Babe Ruth Story

The Babe Ruth Story

Character:Jack Dunn

Release Date:16/09/1948

Good Sam

Good Sam

Character:Tom

Release Date:01/09/1948

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Character:Agent

Release Date:16/07/1948

My Wild Irish Rose

My Wild Irish Rose

Character:William Scanlon

Release Date:24/12/1947

Blondie's Anniversary

Blondie's Anniversary

Character:Sharkey the Loen Shark

Release Date:18/12/1947

Monsieur Verdoux

Monsieur Verdoux

Character:Jean La Salle

Release Date:26/09/1947

Down to Earth

Down to Earth

Character:Police Lieutenant

Release Date:21/08/1947

Mother Wore Tights

Mother Wore Tights

Character:Mr. Schneider

Release Date:20/08/1947

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

Character:Jim Mason

Release Date:31/07/1947

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street

Character:Charlie Halloran

Release Date:04/06/1947

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

Character:Police Inspector Harry B. Manning

Release Date:24/10/1946

The Inner Circle

The Inner Circle

Character:Det. Lt. Webb

Release Date:07/08/1946

Rendezvous with Annie

Rendezvous with Annie

Character:General Trent

Release Date:22/07/1946

The Virginian

The Virginian

Character:Honey Wiggen

Release Date:05/05/1946

Ziegfeld Follies

Ziegfeld Follies

Character:Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")

Release Date:26/08/1945

Lady on a Train

Lady on a Train

Character:Desk Sgt. Brennan

Release Date:03/08/1945

Hitchhike to Happiness

Hitchhike to Happiness

Character:Sandy Hill

Release Date:16/07/1945

Flame of Barbary Coast

Flame of Barbary Coast

Character:Wolf Wylie

Release Date:28/05/1945

Lake Placid Serenade

Lake Placid Serenade

Character:Jiggers

Release Date:23/12/1944

The Fighting Seabees

The Fighting Seabees

Character:Eddie Powers

Release Date:27/01/1944

Going My Way

Going My Way

Character:Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)

Release Date:01/01/1944

Whistling in Brooklyn

Whistling in Brooklyn

Character:Detective Ramsey

Release Date:01/12/1943

Larceny with Music

Larceny with Music

Character:Mike Simms

Release Date:10/09/1943

We've Never Been Licked

We've Never Been Licked

Character:Traveling Salesman

Release Date:29/07/1943

Gentleman Jim

Gentleman Jim

Character:Billy Delaney

Release Date:14/11/1942

The Yankee Doodler

The Yankee Doodler

Character:

Release Date:08/11/1942

Moonlight in Havana

Moonlight in Havana

Character:Barney Crane

Release Date:16/10/1942

Wildcat

Wildcat

Character:Oliver Westbrook

Release Date:03/09/1942

Give Out, Sisters

Give Out, Sisters

Character:Harrison

Release Date:01/09/1942

It Happened in Flatbush

It Happened in Flatbush

Character:Sam Sloan

Release Date:28/05/1942

Roxie Hart

Roxie Hart

Character:O'Malley

Release Date:20/02/1942

Treat 'Em Rough

Treat 'Em Rough

Character:'Hotfoot'

Release Date:30/01/1942

Gangs Of The City

Gangs Of The City

Character:Bang

Release Date:30/10/1941

Blondie in Society

Blondie in Society

Character:Waldo Pincus

Release Date:17/07/1941

The Bride Came C.O.D.

The Bride Came C.O.D.

Character:Sheriff McGee

Release Date:12/07/1941

Cracked Nuts

Cracked Nuts

Character:James Mitchell

Release Date:02/07/1941

Footsteps in the Dark

Footsteps in the Dark

Character:Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins

Release Date:08/03/1941

Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

Character:Chauncey Beheegan

Release Date:17/01/1941

One Night in the Tropics

One Night in the Tropics

Character:Roscoe

Release Date:15/11/1940

Sandy Gets Her Man

Sandy Gets Her Man

Character:Police Chief J. A. O'Hara

Release Date:08/11/1940

Dancing on a Dime

Dancing on a Dime

Character:Mac

Release Date:01/11/1940

The Quarterback

The Quarterback

Character:Coach

Release Date:15/10/1940

Rhythm on the River

Rhythm on the River

Character:Mr. Westlake

Release Date:28/08/1940

Golden Gloves

Golden Gloves

Character:Emory Balzar

Release Date:02/08/1940

Untamed

Untamed

Character:Les Woodbury

Release Date:24/07/1940

Those Were the Days!

Those Were the Days!

Character:Prisoner

Release Date:14/07/1940

Opened by Mistake

Opened by Mistake

Character:Matt Kingsley

Release Date:10/05/1940

The Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Daughter

Character:Scoop Trimble

Release Date:29/03/1940

Stop, Look and Love

Stop, Look and Love

Character:Joe Haller

Release Date:22/09/1939

Night Work

Night Work

Character:Bruiser Brown

Release Date:04/08/1939

Grand Jury Secrets

Grand Jury Secrets

Character:Bright Eyes

Release Date:23/06/1939

Ex-Champ

Ex-Champ

Character:Mushy Harrington

Release Date:11/05/1939

Rose of Washington Square

Rose of Washington Square

Character:Harry Long

Release Date:05/05/1939

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Character:The 'Duke'

Release Date:10/02/1939

Persons in Hiding

Persons in Hiding

Character:Alec Inglis

Release Date:10/02/1939

St. Louis Blues

St. Louis Blues

Character:Major Martingale

Release Date:03/02/1939

Ambush

Ambush

Character:Inspector J.L. Weber

Release Date:20/01/1939

Sons of the Legion

Sons of the Legion

Character:Uncle Willie Lee

Release Date:18/09/1938

Touchdown, Army

Touchdown, Army

Character:Jack Heffernan

Release Date:04/08/1938

Professor Beware

Professor Beware

Character:Snoop Donlan

Release Date:29/07/1938

Mad About Music

Mad About Music

Character:Dusty Turner

Release Date:27/02/1938

Blossoms On Broadway

Blossoms On Broadway

Character:Francis X. Rush

Release Date:19/11/1937

Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About

Character:Hank Mayers

Release Date:30/09/1937

Double or Nothing

Double or Nothing

Character:John Pederson

Release Date:17/09/1937

High, Wide and Handsome

High, Wide and Handsome

Character:Mac

Release Date:21/07/1937

Rose Bowl

Rose Bowl

Character:'Soapy' Moreland

Release Date:30/11/1936

The General Died at Dawn

The General Died at Dawn

Character:Brighton

Release Date:17/11/1936

Three Married Men

Three Married Men

Character:Bill Mullins

Release Date:24/09/1936

The Princess Comes Across

The Princess Comes Across

Character:Benton

Release Date:22/05/1936

F-Man

F-Man

Character:Detective Rogan

Release Date:02/05/1936

Desire

Desire

Character:Mr. Gibson

Release Date:11/04/1936

Strike Me Pink

Strike Me Pink

Character:Mr. Copple

Release Date:24/01/1936

Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful Dreamer

Character:

Release Date:12/12/1935

Ship Cafe

Ship Cafe

Character:Briney O'Brien

Release Date:09/11/1935

Harmony Lane

Harmony Lane

Character:Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy

Release Date:22/10/1935

It's a Great Life

It's a Great Life

Character:Lt. McNulty

Release Date:04/10/1935

Welcome Home

Welcome Home

Character:Painless

Release Date:09/08/1935

College Scandal

College Scandal

Character:Chief of Police Magoun

Release Date:21/06/1935

Alibi Ike

Alibi Ike

Character:Cap

Release Date:15/06/1935

Hold 'Em Yale

Hold 'Em Yale

Character:Sunshine Joe

Release Date:27/04/1935

Roberta

Roberta

Character:Bartender (uncredited)

Release Date:07/03/1935

Car 99

Car 99

Character:Training Sgt. Barrel

Release Date:02/03/1935

Here Is My Heart

Here Is My Heart

Character:James Smith

Release Date:28/12/1934

The Lemon Drop Kid

The Lemon Drop Kid

Character:William Dunhill aka The Professor

Release Date:27/09/1934

Shoot the Works

Shoot the Works

Character:Larry Hale

Release Date:18/07/1934

The Witching Hour

The Witching Hour

Character:Jury Foreman

Release Date:26/04/1934

The Crime Doctor

The Crime Doctor

Character:Fraser

Release Date:14/03/1934

Bolero

Bolero

Character:Mike DeBaere

Release Date:23/02/1934

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

Character:Captain Murphy

Release Date:12/01/1934

Hell and High Water

Hell and High Water

Character:Milton J. Bunsey

Release Date:16/12/1933

Moonlight and Pretzels

Moonlight and Pretzels

Character:Mac

Release Date:01/08/1933

Ventriloquist

Ventriloquist

Character:'Hoak' salesman

Release Date:01/01/1927

Should Husbands Be Watched?

Should Husbands Be Watched?

Character:Beat Cop

Release Date:14/03/1925

Television Appearances

Images

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