William Frawley
Acting
Born: February 25, 1887 · Burlington, Iowa, USA
Died: March 3, 1966 (aged 79)
Highest Rated
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
Miracle on 34th Street
1947
Monsieur Verdoux
1947
I Love Lucy
1951
Going My Way
1944
Rancho Notorious
1952
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
1951
Gentleman Jim
1942
Ziegfeld Follies
1945
The Fighting Seabees
1944
Lady on a Train
1945
Desire
1936
The Lucy Show
1962
Photos (1)
Movies (108)
Miracle on 34th Street
Charlie Halloran
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Det. Roberts
Monsieur Verdoux
Jean La Salle
Ambush
Inspector J.L. Weber
Rancho Notorious
Baldy Gunder
Flame of Barbary Coast
Wolf Wylie
Desire
Mr. Gibson
Going My Way
Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)
The Virginian
Honey Wiggen
The Farmer's Daughter
Scoop Trimble
The Lemon Drop Kid
Gloomy Willie
Lady on a Train
Desk Sgt. Brennan
The General Died at Dawn
Brighton
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The 'Duke'
Roxie Hart
O'Malley
One Night in the Tropics
Roscoe
East Side, West Side
Bill the Bartender
Footsteps in the Dark
Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
The Fighting Seabees
Eddie Powers
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Jim Mason
Ziegfeld Follies
Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
The Princess Comes Across
Benton
Down to Earth
Police Lieutenant
Rose of Washington Square
Harry Long
The Bride Came C.O.D.
Sheriff McGee
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Byers
Good Sam
Tom
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Captain Murphy
It Happened in Flatbush
Sam Sloan
Those Were the Days!
Prisoner
Gentleman Jim
Billy Delaney
The Lady Takes a Sailor
Oliver Harker
Double or Nothing
John Pederson
We've Never Been Licked
Traveling Salesman
Here Is My Heart
James Smith
The Girl from Manhattan
Mr. Bernouti
Touchdown, Army
Jack Heffernan
Rhythm on the River
Mr. Westlake
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Fred Mertz
Roberta
Bartender (uncredited)
High, Wide and Handsome
Mac
Sons of the Legion
Uncle Willie Lee
It's a Great Life
Lt. McNulty
Pretty Baby
Corcoran
Something to Sing About
Hank Mayers
Lake Placid Serenade
Jiggers
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
Knobby Walsh
My Wild Irish Rose
William Scanlon
Dancing on a Dime
Mac
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
Inspector Crane
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Chauncey Beheegan
Whistling in Brooklyn
Detective Ramsey
Home in San Antone
O'Fleery
The Babe Ruth Story
Jack Dunn
Kill the Umpire
Jimmy O'Brien
Mother Wore Tights
Mr. Schneider
Hitchhike to Happiness
Sandy Hill
Give Out, Sisters
Harrison
Sandy Gets Her Man
Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
Stop, Look and Love
Joe Haller
College Scandal
Chief of Police Magoun
Larceny with Music
Mike Simms
The Lemon Drop Kid
William Dunhill aka The Professor
Red Light
Hotel Night Clerk
Mad About Music
Dusty Turner
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
Ship Cafe
Briney O'Brien
Should Husbands Be Watched?
Beat Cop
Rhubarb
Len Sickles
The Inner Circle
Det. Lt. Webb
Strike Me Pink
Mr. Copple
Untamed
Les Woodbury
Car 99
Training Sgt. Barrel
Blondie's Anniversary
Sharkey the Loen Shark
Professor Beware
Snoop Donlan
Blondie's Hero
Marty Greer
Ex-Champ
Mushy Harrington
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Agent
Blondie in Society
Waldo Pincus
Wildcat
Oliver Westbrook
Rose Bowl
'Soapy' Moreland
Hold 'Em Yale
Sunshine Joe
Shoot the Works
Larry Hale
Opened by Mistake
Matt Kingsley
Bolero
Mike DeBaere
Rendezvous with Annie
General Trent
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Fred Mertz
Safe at Home!
Bill Turner
The Crime Doctor
Fraser
Harmony Lane
Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
St. Louis Blues
Major Martingale
Alibi Ike
Cap
Golden Gloves
Emory Balzar
Grand Jury Secrets
Bright Eyes
Chicken Every Sunday
George Kirby
Cracked Nuts
James Mitchell
Blossoms On Broadway
Francis X. Rush
F-Man
Detective Rogan
The Witching Hour
Jury Foreman
Persons in Hiding
Alec Inglis
Three Married Men
Bill Mullins
The Quarterback
Coach
Night Work
Bruiser Brown
The Dirty Look
1954
Moonlight in Havana
Barney Crane
Welcome Home
Painless
Moonlight and Pretzels
Mac
The Yankee Doodler
1942
TV Shows (7)
My Three Sons
Bub O'Casey · 184 eps
I Love Lucy
Fred Mertz · 180 eps
The Lucy Show
Trainer · 1 eps
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
6 eps
The Gale Storm Show
Jim Comstock · 1 eps
Letter to Loretta
Sam · 1 eps
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Fred Mertz · 13 eps
