
William Frawley
AKA: Bill FrawleyBirthday: 1887-02-25
Died: 1966-03-03
Birthplace: Burlington, Iowa, USA
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.
Filmography
Blondie in Society
Character: Waldo PincusBlondie's Anniversary
Character: Sharkey the Loen SharkBlondie's Hero
Character: Marty GreerLady on a Train
Character: Desk Sgt. BrennanThe Fighting Seabees
Character: Eddie PowersRoberta
Character: BartenderThe Princess Comes Across
Character: BentonThe Lemon Drop Kid
Character: Gloomy WillieMiracle on 34th Street
Character: Charlie HalloranRed Light
Character: Hotel Night ClerkWelcome Home
Character: PainlessBud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Character: Det. RobertsFlame of Barbary Coast
Character: Wolf WylieRancho Notorious
Character: Baldy GunderOne Night in the Tropics
Character: RoscoeRhubarb
Character: Len SicklesThe Babe Ruth Story
Character: Jack DunnGentleman Jim
Character: Billy DelaneyRose of Washington Square
Character: Harry LongMad About Music
Character: Dusty TurnerFootsteps in the Dark
Character: Det. 'Hoppy' HopkinsThe Crime Doctor
Character: FraserKiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Character: ByersThe Inner Circle
Character: Det. Lt. WebbRose Bowl
Character: 'Soapy' MorelandProfessor Beware
Character: Snoop DonlanWhistling in Brooklyn
Character: Detective RamseyDouble or Nothing
Character: John PedersonSomething to Sing About
Character: Hank MayersRoxie Hart
Character: O'MalleyCrime Doctor's Man Hunt
Character: Police Inspector Harry B. ManningThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Character: The 'Duke'Desire
Character: Mr. GibsonThe Virginian
Character: Honey WiggenMother Wore Tights
Character: Mr. SchneiderMoonlight and Pretzels
Character: MacRhythm on the River
Character: Mr. WestlakeGolden Gloves
Character: Emory BalzarStrike Me Pink
Character: Mr. Copple$rowCount++; } // end for loop // crew // $rowCount=0; for($x=0;$x
Alibi Ike
Character: CapThe Lady Takes a Sailor
Character: Oliver HarkerSafe at Home!
Character: Bill TurnerHere Is My Heart
Character: James SmithPretty Baby
Character: CorcoranThe Lone Wolf and His Lady
Character: Inspector CraneVentriloquist
Character: 'Hoak' salesmanBolero
Character: Mike DeBaereChicken Every Sunday
Character: George KirbyBlossoms On Broadway
Character: Francis X. RushShoot the Works
Character: Larry HaleMoonlight in Havana
Character: Barney CraneMiss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Character: Captain MurphySons of the Legion
Character: Uncle Willie LeeThe Witching Hour
Character: Jury ForemanThree Married Men
Character: Bill MullinsCollege Scandal
Character: Chief of Police MagounDancing on a Dime
Character: MacCar 99
Character: Training Sgt. BarrelWe've Never Been Licked
Character: Traveling SalesmanTexas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Character: AgentHitchhike to Happiness
Character: Sandy HillWildcat
Character: Oliver WestbrookF-Man
Character: Detective RoganThe Bride Came C.O.D.
Character: Sheriff McGeeMy Wild Irish Rose
Character: William ScanlonShould Husbands Be Watched?
Character: Beat CopHigh, Wide and Handsome
Character: MacCracked Nuts
Character: James MitchellDown to Earth
Character: Police LieutenantThose Were the Days!
Character: PrisonerI Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Character: Jim MasonGrand Jury Secrets
Character: Bright EyesThe Farmer's Daughter
Character: Scoop TrimbleGangs Of The City
Character: BangUntamed
Character: Les WoodburyHell and High Water
Character: Milton J. BunseyGoing My Way
Character: Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)Rendezvous with Annie
Character: General TrentIt's a Great Life
Character: Lt. McNultyTreat 'Em Rough
Character: 'Hotfoot'Monsieur Verdoux
Character: Jean La SalleIt Happened in Flatbush
Character: Sam SloanHarmony Lane
Character: Edwin P. 'Ed' ChristyStop, Look and Love
Character: Joe HallerAmbush
Character: Inspector J.L. WeberPersons in Hiding
Character: Alec InglisTouchdown, Army
Character: Jack HeffernanThe Quarterback
Character: CoachSix Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Character: Chauncey BeheeganGive Out, Sisters
Character: HarrisonLarceny with Music
Character: Mike SimmsSt. Louis Blues
Character: Major MartingaleEast Side, West Side
Character: Bill the BartenderI Love Lucy: The Movie
Character: Fred MertzHome in San Antone
Character: O'FleeryGood Sam
Character: TomLake Placid Serenade
Character: JiggersKill the Umpire
Character: Jimmy O'BrienThe Lemon Drop Kid
Character: William Dunhill aka The ProfessorThe General Died at Dawn
Character: BrightonSandy Gets Her Man
Character: Police Chief J. A. O'HaraLucy's Really Lost Moments
Character: Fred MertzNight Work
Character: Bruiser BrownEx-Champ
Character: Mushy HarringtonJoe Palooka in Winner Take All
Character: Knobby WalshZiegfeld Follies
Character: Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")Opened by Mistake
Character: Matt KingsleyHold 'Em Yale
Character: Sunshine JoeI Love Lucy Christmas Special
Character: Fred MertzShip Cafe
Character: Briney O'BrienThe Girl from Manhattan
Character: Mr. BernoutiLucille Ball: Finding Lucy
Character: Self (archive footage)$rowCount++; } // end for loop // crew // $rowCount=0; for($x=0;$x