About

Known credits:
116
Birthday:
1887-02-25
Place of birth:
Burlington, Iowa, USA
Website:
N/A

William Frawley

Overview

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

Acting
2019 I Love Lucy: Colorized Collection Actor Fred Mertz 70
Good
2016 I Love Lucy Christmas Special Actor 59
Average
1962 Safe at Home! Actor Bill Turner 58
Average
1957 The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour Actor Fred Mertz 72
Good
1956 Lucy's Really Lost Moments Actor Fred Mertz 59
Average
1954 The Dirty Look Actor N/A
N/A
1953 I Love Lucy: The Movie Actor Fred Mertz 59
Average
1952 Rancho Notorious Actor Baldy Gunder 60
Fair
1951 I Love Lucy Actor Fred Mertz 77
Good
1951 Rhubarb Actor Len Sickles 59
Average
1951 Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man Actor Det. Roberts 59
Average
1951 The Lemon Drop Kid Actor Gloomy Willie 59
Average
1950 Pretty Baby Actor Corcoran 59
Average
1950 Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Actor Byers 59
Average
1950 Kill the Umpire Actor Jimmy O'Brien 59
Average
1950 Blondie's Hero Actor Marty Greer 59
Average
1949 East Side, West Side Actor Bill the Bartender 59
Average
1949 The Lady Takes a Sailor Actor Oliver Harker 58
Average
1949 Red Light Actor Hotel Night Clerk 58
Average
1949 The Lone Wolf and His Lady Actor Inspector Crane 58
Average
1949 Home in San Antone Actor O'Fleery N/A
N/A
1949 Chicken Every Sunday Actor George Kirby 59
Average
1948 The Girl from Manhattan Actor Mr. Bernouti 59
Average
1948 Joe Palooka in Winner Take All Actor Knobby Walsh 59
Average
1948 The Babe Ruth Story Actor Jack Dunn 59
Average
1948 Good Sam Actor Tom 59
Average
1948 Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven Actor Agent 59
Average
1947 My Wild Irish Rose Actor William Scanlon 58
Average
1947 Blondie's Anniversary Actor Sharkey the Loen Shark 59
Average
1947 Monsieur Verdoux Actor Jean La Salle 67
Fair
1947 Down to Earth Actor Police Lieutenant 59
Average
1947 Mother Wore Tights Actor Mr. Schneider 58
Average
1947 I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now Actor Jim Mason 59
Average
1947 Miracle on 34th Street Actor Charlie Halloran 67
Fair
1946 Crime Doctor's Man Hunt Actor Police Inspector Harry B. Manning 59
Average
1946 The Inner Circle Actor Det. Lt. Webb 58
Average
1946 Rendezvous with Annie Actor General Trent 59
Average
1946 The Virginian Actor Honey Wiggen 59
Average
1945 Ziegfeld Follies Actor Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket") 59
Average
1945 Lady on a Train Actor Desk Sgt. Brennan 59
Average
1945 Hitchhike to Happiness Actor Sandy Hill 59
Average
1945 Flame of Barbary Coast Actor Wolf Wylie 58
Average
1944 Lake Placid Serenade Actor Jiggers N/A
N/A
1944 The Fighting Seabees Actor Eddie Powers 59
Average
1944 Going My Way Actor Max Dolan (Publisher) (uncredited) 61
Fair
1943 Whistling in Brooklyn Actor Detective Ramsey 58
Average
1943 Larceny with Music Actor Mike Simms 58
Average
1943 We've Never Been Licked Actor Traveling Salesman 58
Average
1942 Gentleman Jim Actor Billy Delaney 60
Fair
1942 The Yankee Doodler Actor 59
Average
1942 Moonlight in Havana Actor Barney Crane N/A
N/A
1942 Wildcat Actor Oliver Westbrook 59
Average
1942 Give Out, Sisters Actor Harrison 58
Average
1942 It Happened in Flatbush Actor Sam Sloan 58
Average
1942 Roxie Hart Actor O'Malley 59
Average
1942 Treat 'Em Rough Actor 'Hotfoot' 59
Average
1941 Gangs Of The City Actor Bang N/A
N/A
1941 Blondie in Society Actor Waldo Pincus 59
Average
1941 The Bride Came C.O.D. Actor Sheriff McGee 59
Average
1941 Cracked Nuts Actor James Mitchell N/A
N/A
1941 Footsteps in the Dark Actor Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins 59
Average
1941 Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga Actor Chauncey Beheegan 58
Average
1940 One Night in the Tropics Actor Roscoe 58
Average
1940 Sandy Gets Her Man Actor Police Chief J. A. O'Hara 58
Average
1940 Dancing on a Dime Actor Mac 58
Average
1940 The Quarterback Actor Coach N/A
N/A
1940 Rhythm on the River Actor Mr. Westlake 59
Average
1940 Golden Gloves Actor Emory Balzar 59
Average
1940 Untamed Actor Les Woodbury 58
Average
1940 Those Were the Days! Actor Prisoner N/A
N/A
1940 Opened by Mistake Actor Matt Kingsley N/A
N/A
1940 The Farmer's Daughter Actor Scoop Trimble 58
Average
1939 Stop, Look and Love Actor Joe Haller 58
Average
1939 Night Work Actor Bruiser Brown 59
Average
1939 Grand Jury Secrets Actor Bright Eyes N/A
N/A
1939 Ex-Champ Actor Mushy Harrington 59
Average
1939 Rose of Washington Square Actor Harry Long 59
Average
1939 Persons in Hiding Actor Alec Inglis 58
Average
1939 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Actor The 'Duke' 59
Average
1939 St. Louis Blues Actor Major Martingale N/A
N/A
1939 Ambush Actor Inspector J.L. Weber 58
Average
1938 Sons of the Legion Actor Uncle Willie Lee 59
Average
1938 Touchdown, Army Actor Jack Heffernan N/A
N/A
1938 Professor Beware Actor Snoop Donlan 59
Average
1938 Mad About Music Actor Dusty Turner 59
Average
1937 Blossoms On Broadway Actor Francis X. Rush 58
Average
1937 Something to Sing About Actor Hank Mayers 59
Average
1937 Double or Nothing Actor John Pederson 59
Average
1937 High, Wide and Handsome Actor Mac 59
Average
1936 Rose Bowl Actor 'Soapy' Moreland 59
Average
1936 The General Died at Dawn Actor Brighton 59
Average
1936 Three Married Men Actor Bill Mullins N/A
N/A
1936 The Princess Comes Across Actor Benton 59
Average
1936 F-Man Actor Detective Rogan N/A
N/A
1936 Desire Actor Mr. Gibson 59
Average
1936 Strike Me Pink Actor Mr. Copple 59
Average
1935 Ship Cafe Actor Briney O'Brien N/A
N/A
1935 Harmony Lane Actor Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy 58
Average
1935 It's a Great Life Actor Lt. McNulty N/A
N/A
1935 Welcome Home Actor Painless N/A
N/A
1935 College Scandal Actor Chief of Police Magoun 59
Average
1935 Alibi Ike Actor Cap 59
Average
1935 Hold 'Em Yale Actor Sunshine Joe 59
Average
1935 Roberta Actor Bartender 59
Average
1935 Car 99 Actor Training Sgt. Barrel 59
Average
1934 Here Is My Heart Actor James Smith 59
Average
1934 The Lemon Drop Kid Actor William Dunhill aka The Professor 58
Average
1934 Shoot the Works Actor Larry Hale 59
Average
1934 The Witching Hour Actor Jury Foreman 59
Average
1934 The Crime Doctor Actor Fraser 58
Average
1934 Bolero Actor Mike DeBaere 59
Average
1934 Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen Actor Captain Murphy 59
Average
1933 Hell and High Water Actor Milton J. Bunsey N/A
N/A
1933 Moonlight and Pretzels Actor Mac N/A
N/A
1927 Ventriloquist Actor 'Hoak' salesman N/A
N/A
1925 Should Husbands Be Watched? Actor Beat Cop 59
Average