William Frawley

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

127

Gender

Male

Birthday

1887-02-25

Day of death

1966-03-03 (79 years old)

Place of Birth

Burlington, Iowa, USA

William Frawley

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

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • I Love Lucy

    I Love Lucy

  • My Three Sons

    My Three Sons

  • Miracle on 34th Street

    Miracle on 34th Street

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • The Bob Hope Show

    The Bob Hope Show

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • This Is Your Life

    This Is Your Life

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

    Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

  • Desire

    Desire

  • Beautiful Dreamer

    Beautiful Dreamer

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • F-Man

    F-Man

  • Harmony Lane

    Harmony Lane

  • Gentleman Jim

    Gentleman Jim

  • Red Light

    Red Light

  • Bolero

    Bolero

  • Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

    Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

  • Car 99

    Car 99

  • Good Sam

    Good Sam

  • Monsieur Verdoux

    Monsieur Verdoux

  • The Gale Storm Show

    The Gale Storm Show

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

  • Going My Way

    Going My Way

  • Wildcat

    Wildcat

  • Ambush

    Ambush

  • Ship Cafe

    Ship Cafe

  • Cracked Nuts

    Cracked Nuts

  • Roberta

    Roberta

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Professor Beware

    Professor Beware

  • Golden Gloves

    Golden Gloves

  • Night Work

    Night Work

  • Ex-Champ

    Ex-Champ

  • The Lady Takes a Sailor

    The Lady Takes a Sailor

  • Welcome Home

    Welcome Home

  • Home in San Antone

    Home in San Antone

  • East Side, West Side

    East Side, West Side

  • Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

    Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

  • Chicken Every Sunday

    Chicken Every Sunday

  • The Babe Ruth Story

    The Babe Ruth Story

  • The Princess Comes Across

    The Princess Comes Across

  • The Lone Wolf and His Lady

    The Lone Wolf and His Lady

  • The Lemon Drop Kid

    The Lemon Drop Kid

  • Safe at Home!

    Safe at Home!

  • Roxie Hart

    Roxie Hart

  • One Night in the Tropics

    One Night in the Tropics

  • Treat 'Em Rough

    Treat 'Em Rough

  • My Wild Irish Rose

    My Wild Irish Rose

  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

  • Mother Wore Tights

    Mother Wore Tights

  • The Bride Came C.O.D.

    The Bride Came C.O.D.

  • Whistling in Brooklyn

    Whistling in Brooklyn

  • St. Louis Blues

    St. Louis Blues

  • Should Husbands Be Watched?

    Should Husbands Be Watched?

  • Grand Jury Secrets

    Grand Jury Secrets

  • The Farmer's Daughter

    The Farmer's Daughter

  • Lady on a Train

    Lady on a Train

  • Touchdown, Army

    Touchdown, Army

  • Flame of Barbary Coast

    Flame of Barbary Coast

  • Persons in Hiding

    Persons in Hiding

  • Moonlight and Pretzels

    Moonlight and Pretzels

  • Blossoms On Broadway

    Blossoms On Broadway

  • Down to Earth

    Down to Earth

  • Strike Me Pink

    Strike Me Pink

  • Rose of Washington Square

    Rose of Washington Square

  • Rhythm on the River

    Rhythm on the River

  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

  • Here Is My Heart

    Here Is My Heart

  • It's a Great Life

    It's a Great Life

  • Something to Sing About

    Something to Sing About

  • The Lemon Drop Kid

    The Lemon Drop Kid

  • The Girl from Manhattan

    The Girl from Manhattan

  • Give Out, Sisters

    Give Out, Sisters

  • Rendezvous with Annie

    Rendezvous with Annie

  • The Fighting Seabees

    The Fighting Seabees

  • The General Died at Dawn

    The General Died at Dawn

  • Three Married Men

    Three Married Men

  • Double or Nothing

    Double or Nothing

  • Lake Placid Serenade

    Lake Placid Serenade

  • The Inner Circle

    The Inner Circle

  • Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

    Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

  • College Scandal

    College Scandal

  • Sandy Gets Her Man

    Sandy Gets Her Man

  • Mad About Music

    Mad About Music

  • Those Were the Days!

    Those Were the Days!

  • Ziegfeld Follies

    Ziegfeld Follies

  • The Ed Wynn Show

    The Ed Wynn Show

  • Hold 'Em Yale

    Hold 'Em Yale

  • Shoot the Works

    Shoot the Works

  • The Crime Doctor

    The Crime Doctor

  • It Happened in Flatbush

    It Happened in Flatbush

  • Gangs Of The City

    Gangs Of The City

  • Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

    Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

  • Rancho Notorious

    Rancho Notorious

  • Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

    Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

  • High, Wide and Handsome

    High, Wide and Handsome

  • Rhubarb

    Rhubarb

  • Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

    Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

  • Kill the Umpire

    Kill the Umpire

  • Larceny with Music

    Larceny with Music

  • Blondie's Hero

    Blondie's Hero

  • Blondie in Society

    Blondie in Society

  • Blondie's Anniversary

    Blondie's Anniversary

  • Dancing on a Dime

    Dancing on a Dime

  • Opened by Mistake

    Opened by Mistake

  • Pretty Baby

    Pretty Baby

  • Footsteps in the Dark

    Footsteps in the Dark

  • The Witching Hour

    The Witching Hour

  • Rose Bowl

    Rose Bowl

  • I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

    I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

  • We've Never Been Licked

    We've Never Been Licked

  • Hitchhike to Happiness

    Hitchhike to Happiness

  • The Yankee Doodler

    The Yankee Doodler

  • Lucy's Really Lost Moments

    Lucy's Really Lost Moments

  • Stop, Look and Love

    Stop, Look and Love

  • Untamed

    Untamed

  • I Love Lucy Christmas Special

    I Love Lucy Christmas Special

  • I Love Lucy: The Movie

    I Love Lucy: The Movie

  • Sons of the Legion

    Sons of the Legion

  • Alibi Ike

    Alibi Ike

  • Ventriloquist

    Ventriloquist

  • The Dirty Look

    The Dirty Look

  • Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

    Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

  • Hell and High Water

    Hell and High Water

  • Moonlight in Havana

    Moonlight in Havana

  • The Quarterback

    The Quarterback