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

  • My Three Sons

    My Three Sons

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • I Love Lucy

    I Love Lucy

  • The Bob Hope Show

    The Bob Hope Show

  • This Is Your Life

    This Is Your Life

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

    Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

  • The Gale Storm Show

    The Gale Storm Show

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

  • Going My Way

    Going My Way

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Lone Wolf and His Lady

    The Lone Wolf and His Lady

  • F-Man

    F-Man

  • Letter to Loretta

    Letter to Loretta

  • Whistling in Brooklyn

    Whistling in Brooklyn

  • My Wild Irish Rose

    My Wild Irish Rose

  • Strike Me Pink

    Strike Me Pink

  • Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

    Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

  • Ziegfeld Follies

    Ziegfeld Follies

  • Rhythm on the River

    Rhythm on the River

  • Harmony Lane

    Harmony Lane

  • Persons in Hiding

    Persons in Hiding

  • Flame of Barbary Coast

    Flame of Barbary Coast

  • Rancho Notorious

    Rancho Notorious

  • Rose of Washington Square

    Rose of Washington Square

  • Desire

    Desire

  • It Happened in Flatbush

    It Happened in Flatbush

  • Alibi Ike

    Alibi Ike

  • East Side, West Side

    East Side, West Side

  • I Love Lucy: The Movie

    I Love Lucy: The Movie

  • Moonlight and Pretzels

    Moonlight and Pretzels

  • Roberta

    Roberta

  • Three Married Men

    Three Married Men

  • The Lady Takes a Sailor

    The Lady Takes a Sailor

  • Professor Beware

    Professor Beware

  • Those Were the Days!

    Those Were the Days!

  • Give Out, Sisters

    Give Out, Sisters

  • The Inner Circle

    The Inner Circle

  • Beautiful Dreamer

    Beautiful Dreamer

  • Pretty Baby

    Pretty Baby

  • Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

    Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

  • Treat 'Em Rough

    Treat 'Em Rough

  • The Babe Ruth Story

    The Babe Ruth Story

  • Grand Jury Secrets

    Grand Jury Secrets

  • Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

    Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

  • Miracle on 34th Street

    Miracle on 34th Street

  • St. Louis Blues

    St. Louis Blues

  • The Girl from Manhattan

    The Girl from Manhattan

  • Bolero

    Bolero

  • Ambush

    Ambush

  • Safe at Home!

    Safe at Home!

  • Shoot the Works

    Shoot the Works

  • College Scandal

    College Scandal

  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

    The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

  • Red Light

    Red Light

  • Welcome Home

    Welcome Home

  • The Ed Wynn Show

    The Ed Wynn Show

  • Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

    Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

  • Touchdown, Army

    Touchdown, Army

  • Mother Wore Tights

    Mother Wore Tights

  • Lady on a Train

    Lady on a Train

  • Blossoms On Broadway

    Blossoms On Broadway

  • Night Work

    Night Work

  • Car 99

    Car 99

  • Chicken Every Sunday

    Chicken Every Sunday

  • Here Is My Heart

    Here Is My Heart

  • Monsieur Verdoux

    Monsieur Verdoux

  • Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

    Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

  • Lake Placid Serenade

    Lake Placid Serenade

  • The Fighting Seabees

    The Fighting Seabees

  • Wildcat

    Wildcat

  • Good Sam

    Good Sam

  • The Princess Comes Across

    The Princess Comes Across

  • Ship Cafe

    Ship Cafe

  • The Lemon Drop Kid

    The Lemon Drop Kid

  • Mad About Music

    Mad About Music

  • Rendezvous with Annie

    Rendezvous with Annie

  • Hold 'Em Yale

    Hold 'Em Yale

  • The Lemon Drop Kid

    The Lemon Drop Kid

  • Dancing on a Dime

    Dancing on a Dime

  • Rhubarb

    Rhubarb

  • Cracked Nuts

    Cracked Nuts

  • Gentleman Jim

    Gentleman Jim

  • The Farmer's Daughter

    The Farmer's Daughter

  • Down to Earth

    Down to Earth

  • The Crime Doctor

    The Crime Doctor

  • Should Husbands Be Watched?

    Should Husbands Be Watched?

  • Untamed

    Untamed

  • Home in San Antone

    Home in San Antone

  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

  • Golden Gloves

    Golden Gloves

  • Ex-Champ

    Ex-Champ

  • Roxie Hart

    Roxie Hart

  • Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

    Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

  • Sandy Gets Her Man

    Sandy Gets Her Man

  • Double or Nothing

    Double or Nothing

  • Blondie's Hero

    Blondie's Hero

  • The General Died at Dawn

    The General Died at Dawn

  • Blondie in Society

    Blondie in Society

  • I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

    I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

  • High, Wide and Handsome

    High, Wide and Handsome

  • Gangs Of The City

    Gangs Of The City

  • Lucy's Really Lost Moments

    Lucy's Really Lost Moments

  • Footsteps in the Dark

    Footsteps in the Dark

  • The Bride Came C.O.D.

    The Bride Came C.O.D.

  • Larceny with Music

    Larceny with Music

  • Kill the Umpire

    Kill the Umpire

  • It's a Great Life

    It's a Great Life

  • Blondie's Anniversary

    Blondie's Anniversary

  • Something to Sing About

    Something to Sing About

  • Hitchhike to Happiness

    Hitchhike to Happiness

  • The Witching Hour

    The Witching Hour

  • One Night in the Tropics

    One Night in the Tropics

  • We've Never Been Licked

    We've Never Been Licked

  • Opened by Mistake

    Opened by Mistake

  • Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

    Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

  • Hell and High Water

    Hell and High Water

  • Sons of the Legion

    Sons of the Legion

  • I Love Lucy Christmas Special

    I Love Lucy Christmas Special

  • Stop, Look and Love

    Stop, Look and Love

  • The Quarterback

    The Quarterback

  • Rose Bowl

    Rose Bowl

  • The Yankee Doodler

    The Yankee Doodler

  • The Dirty Look

    The Dirty Look

  • Moonlight in Havana

    Moonlight in Havana

  • Ventriloquist

    Ventriloquist