WF
William Frawley
Actor
Born February 25, 1887Died March 3, 1966 (79 years)
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.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 2001 | I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special · as Co-Star Of 'i Love Lucy' |
| 1999 | Television: The First Fifty Years · as Fred Mertz |
| 1986 | The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts · as Fred Mertz |
| 1982 | Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter · as Actor - 'one Night In The Tropics' |
| 1964 | My Living Doll (TV Series) · as Det. Gladwin |
| 1962 | The Lucy Show (TV Series) · as Trainer |
| 1962 | Safe at Home! · as Bill Turner |
| 1960 | My Three Sons (TV Series) · as Bub O'casey |
| 1958 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1957 | The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (TV Series) · as Fred Mertz |
| 1956 | The Gale Storm Show (TV Series) · as Jim Comstock |
| 1956 | Lucy's Really Lost Moments · as Fred Mertz |
| 1955 | Damon Runyon Theater (TV Series) · as Fatso Zimpf |
| 1954 | Shower of Stars (TV Series) · as Gabby Mullins |
| 1953 | The Loretta Young Show (TV Series) · as Sam |
| 1953 | I Love Lucy · as Fred Mertz |
| 1952 | Rancho Notorious · as Baldy Gunder |
| 1951 | I Love Lucy (TV Series) · as Fred Mertz |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Show (TV Series) · as Mr. Thomas |
| 1951 | Rhubarb · as Len Sickles |
| 1951 | The Lemon Drop Kid · as Gloomy Willie |
| 1951 | Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man · as Det. Roberts |
| 1950 | The Bigelow Theatre (TV Series) · as Pinto |
| 1950 | Pretty Baby · as Corcoran |
| 1950 | Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye · as Byers |
| 1950 | Kill the Umpire · as Jimmy O'brien |
| 1950 | Blondie's Hero · as Marty Greer |
| 1949 | East Side, West Side · as Bill The Bartender |
| 1949 | The Lady Takes a Sailor · as Oliver Harker |
| 1949 | Red Light · as Hotel Night Clerk |
| 1949 | The Lone Wolf and His Lady · as Inspector Crane |
| 1949 | Chicken Every Sunday · as George Kirby |
| 1949 | Home in San Antone · as O'fleery |
| 1948 | The Girl from Manhattan · as Mr. Bernouti |
| 1948 | The Babe Ruth Story · as Jack Dunn |
| 1948 | Good Sam · as Tom |
| 1948 | Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven · as Agent |
| 1947 | My Wild Irish Rose · as William Scanlon |
| 1947 | Blondie's Anniversary · as Sharkey The Loen Shark |
| 1947 | Monsieur Verdoux · as Jean La Salle |
| 1947 | Down to Earth · as Police Lieutenant |
| 1947 | Mother Wore Tights · as Mr. Schneider |
| 1947 | I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now · as Jim Mason |
| 1947 | Miracle on 34th Street · as Charlie Halloran |
| 1946 | Crime Doctor's Man Hunt · as Police Inspector Harry B. Manning |
| 1946 | The Inner Circle · as Det. Lt. Webb |
| 1946 | Rendezvous with Annie · as General Trent |
| 1946 | The Virginian · as Honey Wiggen |
| 1945 | Ziegfeld Follies · as Martin (segment "a Sweepstakes Ticket") |
| 1945 | Lady on a Train · as Desk Sgt. Brennan |
| 1945 | Hitchhike to Happiness · as Sandy Hill |
| 1945 | Flame of Barbary Coast · as Wolf Wylie |
| 1944 | Lake Placid Serenade · as Jiggers |
| 1944 | Going My Way · as Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Fighting Seabees · as Eddie Powers |
| 1943 | Whistling in Brooklyn · as Detective Ramsey |
| 1943 | We've Never Been Licked · as Traveling Salesman |
| 1942 | Gentleman Jim · as Billy Delaney |
| 1942 | Moonlight in Havana · as Barney Crane |
| 1942 | Wildcat · as Oliver Westbrook |
| 1942 | Give Out, Sisters · as Harrison |
| 1942 | Roxie Hart · as O'malley |
| 1942 | It Happened in Flatbush · as Sam Sloan |
| 1941 | Blondie in Society · as Waldo Pincus |
| 1941 | The Bride Came C.O.D. · as Sheriff Mcgee |
| 1941 | Cracked Nuts · as James Mitchell |
| 1941 | Footsteps in the Dark · as Det. 'hoppy' Hopkins |
| 1941 | Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga · as Chauncey Beheegan |
| 1940 | One Night in the Tropics · as Roscoe |
| 1940 | Sandy Gets Her Man · as Police Chief J. A. O'hara |
| 1940 | Rhythm on the River · as Mr. Westlake |
| 1940 | Golden Gloves · as Emory Balzar |
| 1940 | Untamed · as Les Woodbury |
| 1940 | Those Were the Days! · as Prisoner |
| 1940 | The Farmer's Daughter · as Scoop Trimble |
| 1939 | Rose of Washington Square · as Harry Long |
| 1939 | The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn · as The 'duke' |
| 1939 | Persons in Hiding · as Alec Inglis |
| 1939 | St. Louis Blues · as Major Martingale |
| 1939 | Ambush · as Inspector J.l. Weber |
| 1938 | Sons of the Legion · as Uncle Willie Lee |
| 1938 | Professor Beware · as Snoop Donlan |
| 1938 | Mad About Music · as Dusty Turner |
| 1937 | Something to Sing About · as Hank Mayers |
| 1937 | Double or Nothing · as John Pederson |
| 1937 | High, Wide and Handsome · as Mac |
| 1936 | The General Died at Dawn · as Brighton |
| 1936 | The Princess Comes Across · as Benton |
| 1936 | Desire · as Mr. Gibson |
| 1936 | Strike Me Pink · as Mr. Copple |
| 1935 | Harmony Lane · as Edwin P. 'ed' Christy |
| 1935 | Alibi Ike · as Cap |
| 1935 | Roberta · as Bartender |
| 1935 | Car 99 · as Training Sgt. Barrel |
| 1934 | Here Is My Heart · as James Smith |
| 1934 | The Lemon Drop Kid · as William Dunhill Aka The Professor |
| 1934 | Shoot the Works · as Larry Hale |
| 1934 | The Witching Hour · as Jury Foreman |
| 1934 | Bolero · as Mike Debaere |
| 1934 | Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen · as Captain Murphy |
| 1933 | Moonlight and Pretzels · as Mac |