William Frawley

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

February 25, 1887

Died

March 3, 1966 (age 79)

Place of Birth

Burlington, Iowa, USA

Also Known As

Bill Frawley

William Clement Frawley

William Frawley

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

Filmography

2016FilmI Love Lucy Christmas Specialas Fred Mertz2000FilmLucille Ball: Finding Lucyas Self (archive footage)1962TVThe Lucy Showas Trainer1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self1962FilmSafe at Home!as Bill Turner1960TVMy Three Sonsas Bub O'Casey1958TVWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse1957TVThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Houras Fred Mertz1956TVThe Gale Storm Showas Jim Comstock1956FilmLucy's Really Lost Momentsas Fred Mertz1954FilmThe Dirty Look1953TVLetter to Lorettaas Sam1953FilmI Love Lucy: The Movieas Fred Mertz1952TVThis Is Your Lifeas Self1952FilmRancho Notoriousas Baldy Gunder1951TVI Love Lucyas Fred Mertz1951FilmRhubarbas Len Sickles1951FilmThe Lemon Drop Kidas Gloomy Willie1951FilmBud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Manas Det. Roberts1950FilmPretty Babyas Corcoran1950FilmKiss Tomorrow Goodbyeas Byers1950FilmKill the Umpireas Jimmy O'Brien1950TVThe Bob Hope Showas Self1950FilmBlondie's Heroas Marty Greer1949FilmEast Side, West Sideas Bill the Bartender1949FilmThe Lady Takes a Sailoras Oliver Harker1949TVThe Ed Wynn Showas Self1949FilmRed Lightas Hotel Night Clerk1949FilmThe Lone Wolf and His Ladyas Inspector Crane1949FilmHome in San Antoneas O'Fleery1949FilmChicken Every Sundayas George Kirby1948FilmThe Girl from Manhattanas Mr. Bernouti1948FilmJoe Palooka in Winner Take Allas Knobby Walsh1948FilmThe Babe Ruth Storyas Jack Dunn1948FilmGood Samas Tom1948FilmTexas, Brooklyn & Heavenas Agent1948TVThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self1947FilmMy Wild Irish Roseas William Scanlon1947FilmBlondie's Anniversaryas Sharkey the Loen Shark1947FilmMonsieur Verdouxas Jean La Salle1947FilmDown to Earthas Police Lieutenant1947FilmMother Wore Tightsas Mr. Schneider1947FilmI Wonder Who's Kissing Her Nowas Jim Mason1947FilmMiracle on 34th Streetas Charlie Halloran1946FilmCrime Doctor's Man Huntas Police Inspector Harry B. Manning1946FilmThe Inner Circleas Det. Lt. Webb1946FilmRendezvous with Annieas General Trent1946FilmThe Virginianas Honey Wiggen1945FilmZiegfeld Folliesas Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")1945FilmLady on a Trainas Desk Sgt. Brennan1945FilmHitchhike to Happinessas Sandy Hill1945FilmFlame of Barbary Coastas Wolf Wylie1944FilmLake Placid Serenadeas Jiggers1944FilmThe Fighting Seabeesas Eddie Powers1944FilmGoing My Wayas Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)1943FilmWhistling in Brooklynas Detective Ramsey1943FilmLarceny with Musicas Mike Simms1943FilmWe've Never Been Lickedas Traveling Salesman1942FilmGentleman Jimas Billy Delaney1942FilmThe Yankee Doodler1942FilmMoonlight in Havanaas Barney Crane1942FilmWildcatas Oliver Westbrook1942FilmGive Out, Sistersas Harrison1942FilmIt Happened in Flatbushas Sam Sloan1942FilmRoxie Hartas O'Malley1942FilmTreat 'Em Roughas 'Hotfoot'1941FilmGangs Of The Cityas Bang1941FilmBlondie in Societyas Waldo Pincus1941FilmThe Bride Came C.O.D.as Sheriff McGee1941FilmCracked Nutsas James Mitchell1941FilmFootsteps in the Darkas Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins1941FilmSix Lessons From Madame La Zongaas Chauncey Beheegan1940FilmOne Night in the Tropicsas Roscoe1940FilmSandy Gets Her Manas Police Chief J. A. O'Hara1940FilmDancing on a Dimeas Mac1940FilmThe Quarterbackas Coach1940FilmRhythm on the Riveras Mr. Westlake1940FilmGolden Glovesas Emory Balzar1940FilmUntamedas Les Woodbury1940FilmThose Were the Days!as Prisoner1940FilmOpened by Mistakeas Matt Kingsley1940FilmThe Farmer's Daughteras Scoop Trimble1939FilmStop, Look and Loveas Joe Haller1939FilmNight Workas Bruiser Brown1939FilmGrand Jury Secretsas Bright Eyes1939FilmEx-Champas Mushy Harrington1939FilmRose of Washington Squareas Harry Long1939FilmThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finnas The 'Duke'1939FilmPersons in Hidingas Alec Inglis1939FilmSt. Louis Bluesas Major Martingale1939FilmAmbushas Inspector J.L. Weber1938FilmSons of the Legionas Uncle Willie Lee1938FilmTouchdown, Armyas Jack Heffernan1938FilmProfessor Bewareas Snoop Donlan1938FilmMad About Musicas Dusty Turner1937FilmBlossoms On Broadwayas Francis X. Rush1937FilmSomething to Sing Aboutas Hank Mayers1937FilmDouble or Nothingas John Pederson1937FilmHigh, Wide and Handsomeas Mac1936FilmRose Bowlas 'Soapy' Moreland1936FilmThe General Died at Dawnas Brighton1936FilmThree Married Menas Bill Mullins1936FilmThe Princess Comes Acrossas Benton1936FilmF-Manas Detective Rogan1936FilmDesireas Mr. Gibson1936FilmStrike Me Pinkas Mr. Copple1935FilmBeautiful Dreamer1935FilmShip Cafeas Briney O'Brien1935FilmHarmony Laneas Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy1935FilmIt's a Great Lifeas Lt. McNulty1935FilmWelcome Homeas Painless1935FilmCollege Scandalas Chief of Police Magoun1935FilmAlibi Ikeas Cap1935FilmHold 'Em Yaleas Sunshine Joe1935FilmRobertaas Bartender (uncredited)1935FilmCar 99as Training Sgt. Barrel1934FilmHere Is My Heartas James Smith1934FilmThe Lemon Drop Kidas William Dunhill aka The Professor1934FilmShoot the Worksas Larry Hale1934FilmThe Witching Houras Jury Foreman1934FilmThe Crime Doctoras Fraser1934FilmBoleroas Mike DeBaere1934FilmMiss Fane's Baby Is Stolenas Captain Murphy1933FilmHell and High Wateras Milton J. Bunsey1933FilmMoonlight and Pretzelsas Mac1927FilmVentriloquistas 'Hoak' salesman1925FilmShould Husbands Be Watched?as Beat Cop

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