William Frawley

William Frawley

b. 1887 — d. 1966 (aged 79) Burlington, Iowa, USA

Actor Soundtrack

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 Princess Comes Across

The Princess Comes Across

The Bride Came C.O.D.

The Bride Came C.O.D.

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street

I Love Lucy

Filmography

Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy

Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy

Captain Blystone

Safe at Home!

My Three Sons

Michael Francis 'Bub' O'Casey

What About the '61 Chevy's?

Man who wanted to know

No Place Like Home

Lucy-Desi Westinghouse Special, the Lost Show

The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour

The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour

Lucy's Really Lost Moments

Lucy's Really Lost Moments

The Dirty Look

Better Football

1954 Self Actor

I Love Lucy

Rancho Notorious

Rancho Notorious

I Love Lucy

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

Detective Roberts

The Lemon Drop Kid

The Lemon Drop Kid

Rhubarb

Kill the Umpire

Kill the Umpire

Pretty Baby

Blondie's Hero

The Bigelow Theatre

The Bigelow Theatre

Red Light

The Lady Takes a Sailor

The Lady Takes a Sailor

Chicken Every Sunday

Chicken Every Sunday

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

Police Inspector J.D. Crane

The Ed Wynn Show

The Ed Wynn Show

Home in San Antone

Home in San Antone

The Silver Theatre

The Silver Theatre

The Babe Ruth Story

The Babe Ruth Story

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

The Girl from Manhattan

The Girl from Manhattan

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street

Charlie Halloran

Down to Earth

Police Lieutenant

Mother Wore Tights

Mother Wore Tights

My Wild Irish Rose

My Wild Irish Rose

William Scanlon

Blondie's Anniversary

Blondie's Anniversary

Sharkey, the Loan Shark

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

Hit Parade of 1947

Hit Parade of 1947

The Virginian

The Inner Circle

The Inner Circle

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

Police Inspector Harry B. Manning

Rendezvous with Annie

Rendezvous with Annie

Flame of Barbary Coast

Flame of Barbary Coast

Hitchhike to Happiness

Hitchhike to Happiness

The Fighting Seabees

The Fighting Seabees

Lake Placid Serenade

Lake Placid Serenade

Whistling in Brooklyn

Whistling in Brooklyn

Detective Ramsey

We've Never Been Licked

We've Never Been Licked

Traveling Salesman

Larceny with Music

Larceny with Music

Gentleman Jim

Roxie Hart

It Happened in Flatbush

It Happened in Flatbush

Wildcat

Oliver Westbrook

Give Out, Sisters

Give Out, Sisters

Moonlight in Havana

Moonlight in Havana

The Yankee Doodler

The Yankee Doodler

Treat 'Em Rough

Treat 'Em Rough

The Bride Came C.O.D.

The Bride Came C.O.D.

Footsteps in the Dark

Footsteps in the Dark

Blondie in Society

Blondie in Society

Cracked Nuts

Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga

Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga

Chauncey Beheegan

Public Enemies

One Night in the Tropics

One Night in the Tropics

Rhythm on the River

Rhythm on the River

The Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Daughter

Golden Gloves

Untamed

Sandy Gets Her Man

Sandy Gets Her Man

Police Chief J. A. O'Hara

Dancing on a Dime

Dancing on a Dime

The Quarterback

The Quarterback

Opened by Mistake

Opened by Mistake

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Rose of Washington Square

Rose of Washington Square

St. Louis Blues

St. Louis Blues

Maj. Martingale

Persons in Hiding

Persons in Hiding

Ambush

Inspector J.L. Weber

Night Work

Grand Jury Secrets

Grand Jury Secrets

Ex-Champ

Mushy Harrington

Stop, Look and Love

Stop, Look and Love

Mad About Music

Mad About Music

Professor Beware

Professor Beware

Sons of the Legion

Sons of the Legion

Uncle Willie Lee

Touchdown, Army

Touchdown, Army

Something to Sing About

Something to Sing About

High, Wide and Handsome

High, Wide and Handsome

Double or Nothing

Double or Nothing

Blossoms on Broadway

Blossoms on Broadway

Frances X. Rush

Desire

The General Died at Dawn

The General Died at Dawn

The Princess Comes Across

The Princess Comes Across

Strike Me Pink

F-Man

Detective Rogan

Rose Bowl

Three Cheers for Love

Three Cheers for Love

Milton Shakespeare

Three Married Men

Three Married Men

Alibi Ike

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