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

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • I Love Lucy

    I Love Lucy

  • The Bob Hope Show

    The Bob Hope Show

  • My Three Sons

    My Three Sons

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Monsieur Verdoux

    Monsieur Verdoux

  • Roberta

    Roberta

  • Red Light

    Red Light

  • Beautiful Dreamer

    Beautiful Dreamer

  • Lady on a Train

    Lady on a Train

  • Welcome Home

    Welcome Home

  • This Is Your Life

    This Is Your Life

  • Wildcat

    Wildcat

  • Mad About Music

    Mad About Music

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

    Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

  • Good Sam

    Good Sam

  • Down to Earth

    Down to Earth

  • College Scandal

    College Scandal

  • Roxie Hart

    Roxie Hart

  • Touchdown, Army

    Touchdown, Army

  • Cracked Nuts

    Cracked Nuts

  • One Night in the Tropics

    One Night in the Tropics

  • Desire

    Desire

  • St. Louis Blues

    St. Louis Blues

  • The Fighting Seabees

    The Fighting Seabees

  • The Crime Doctor

    The Crime Doctor

  • The Gale Storm Show

    The Gale Storm Show

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

  • Strike Me Pink

    Strike Me Pink

  • Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

    Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

  • Double or Nothing

    Double or Nothing

  • Shoot the Works

    Shoot the Works

  • Blondie's Hero

    Blondie's Hero

  • Ship Cafe

    Ship Cafe

  • The Ed Wynn Show

    The Ed Wynn Show

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • My Wild Irish Rose

    My Wild Irish Rose

  • Ambush

    Ambush

  • Miracle on 34th Street

    Miracle on 34th Street

  • Night Work

    Night Work

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Car 99

    Car 99

  • It's a Great Life

    It's a Great Life

  • Blondie in Society

    Blondie in Society

  • Blondie's Anniversary

    Blondie's Anniversary

  • Going My Way

    Going My Way

  • Bolero

    Bolero

  • I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

    I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

  • The Inner Circle

    The Inner Circle

  • Gangs Of The City

    Gangs Of The City

  • Rancho Notorious

    Rancho Notorious

  • Gentleman Jim

    Gentleman Jim

  • Blossoms On Broadway

    Blossoms On Broadway

  • Flame of Barbary Coast

    Flame of Barbary Coast

  • Ziegfeld Follies

    Ziegfeld Follies

  • I Love Lucy Christmas Special

    I Love Lucy Christmas Special

  • Pretty Baby

    Pretty Baby

  • The Princess Comes Across

    The Princess Comes Across

  • Mother Wore Tights

    Mother Wore Tights

  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

  • Opened by Mistake

    Opened by Mistake

  • Professor Beware

    Professor Beware

  • The Bride Came C.O.D.

    The Bride Came C.O.D.

  • The Lady Takes a Sailor

    The Lady Takes a Sailor

  • Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

    Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

  • The Lemon Drop Kid

    The Lemon Drop Kid

  • Rhythm on the River

    Rhythm on the River

  • Larceny with Music

    Larceny with Music

  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

  • Rhubarb

    Rhubarb

  • Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

    Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

  • Rose of Washington Square

    Rose of Washington Square

  • It Happened in Flatbush

    It Happened in Flatbush

  • Rendezvous with Annie

    Rendezvous with Annie

  • Untamed

    Untamed

  • Those Were the Days!

    Those Were the Days!

  • Here Is My Heart

    Here Is My Heart

  • Kill the Umpire

    Kill the Umpire

  • Persons in Hiding

    Persons in Hiding

  • Give Out, Sisters

    Give Out, Sisters

  • Ex-Champ

    Ex-Champ

  • The Farmer's Daughter

    The Farmer's Daughter

  • Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

    Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

  • The Yankee Doodler

    The Yankee Doodler

  • The Lemon Drop Kid

    The Lemon Drop Kid

  • The Babe Ruth Story

    The Babe Ruth Story

  • East Side, West Side

    East Side, West Side

  • Hold 'Em Yale

    Hold 'Em Yale

  • Safe at Home!

    Safe at Home!

  • F-Man

    F-Man

  • Something to Sing About

    Something to Sing About

  • Footsteps in the Dark

    Footsteps in the Dark

  • The Girl from Manhattan

    The Girl from Manhattan

  • We've Never Been Licked

    We've Never Been Licked

  • The General Died at Dawn

    The General Died at Dawn

  • Moonlight and Pretzels

    Moonlight and Pretzels

  • The Witching Hour

    The Witching Hour

  • Rose Bowl

    Rose Bowl

  • Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

    Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

  • Grand Jury Secrets

    Grand Jury Secrets

  • Chicken Every Sunday

    Chicken Every Sunday

  • Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

    Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

  • Golden Gloves

    Golden Gloves

  • The Lone Wolf and His Lady

    The Lone Wolf and His Lady

  • Alibi Ike

    Alibi Ike

  • High, Wide and Handsome

    High, Wide and Handsome

  • Sandy Gets Her Man

    Sandy Gets Her Man

  • Lucy's Really Lost Moments

    Lucy's Really Lost Moments

  • Whistling in Brooklyn

    Whistling in Brooklyn

  • Treat 'Em Rough

    Treat 'Em Rough

  • Moonlight in Havana

    Moonlight in Havana

  • Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

    Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

  • Hell and High Water

    Hell and High Water

  • Hitchhike to Happiness

    Hitchhike to Happiness

  • Dancing on a Dime

    Dancing on a Dime

  • I Love Lucy: The Movie

    I Love Lucy: The Movie

  • Stop, Look and Love

    Stop, Look and Love

  • Three Married Men

    Three Married Men

  • The Quarterback

    The Quarterback

  • Sons of the Legion

    Sons of the Legion

  • The Dirty Look

    The Dirty Look

  • Should Husbands Be Watched?

    Should Husbands Be Watched?

  • Home in San Antone

    Home in San Antone

  • Harmony Lane

    Harmony Lane

  • Lake Placid Serenade

    Lake Placid Serenade

  • Ventriloquist

    Ventriloquist