William 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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: February 25, 1887

Deathday: March 03, 1966

Popularity:

6.471

Known For

Blondie in Society
Blondie in Society

1941-07-17

Blondie's Anniversary
Blondie's Anniversary

1947-12-18

Blondie's Hero
Blondie's Hero

1950-03-09

Lady on a Train
Lady on a Train

1945-08-03

The Fighting Seabees
The Fighting Seabees

1944-01-27

Roberta
Roberta

1935-03-07

The Princess Comes Across
The Princess Comes Across

1936-05-22

The Lemon Drop Kid
The Lemon Drop Kid

1951-04-02

Miracle on 34th Street
Miracle on 34th Street

1947-06-04

Red Light
Red Light

1949-09-30

Welcome Home
Welcome Home

1935-08-09

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

1951-04-12

Flame of Barbary Coast
Flame of Barbary Coast

1945-05-28

Rancho Notorious
Rancho Notorious

1952-03-06

One Night in the Tropics
One Night in the Tropics

1940-11-15

Rhubarb
Rhubarb

1951-08-29

The Babe Ruth Story
The Babe Ruth Story

1948-09-16

Gentleman Jim
Gentleman Jim

1942-11-14

Rose of Washington Square
Rose of Washington Square

1939-05-05

Mad About Music
Mad About Music

1938-02-27

Footsteps in the Dark
Footsteps in the Dark

1941-03-08

The Crime Doctor
The Crime Doctor

1934-03-14

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

1950-08-19

The Inner Circle
The Inner Circle

1946-08-07

Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl

1936-11-30

Professor Beware
Professor Beware

1938-07-29

Whistling in Brooklyn
Whistling in Brooklyn

1943-12-01

Double or Nothing
Double or Nothing

1937-09-17

Something to Sing About
Something to Sing About

1937-09-30

Roxie Hart
Roxie Hart

1942-02-20

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

1946-10-24

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

1939-02-10

Desire
Desire

1936-04-11

The Virginian
The Virginian

1946-05-05

Mother Wore Tights
Mother Wore Tights

1947-08-20

Moonlight and Pretzels
Moonlight and Pretzels

1933-08-01

Rhythm on the River
Rhythm on the River

1940-08-28

Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves

1940-08-02

Strike Me Pink
Strike Me Pink

1936-01-24

The Dirty Look
The Dirty Look

1954-01-01

Alibi Ike
Alibi Ike

1935-06-15

The Lady Takes a Sailor
The Lady Takes a Sailor

1949-12-16

Safe at Home!
Safe at Home!

1962-04-13

Here Is My Heart
Here Is My Heart

1934-12-28

Pretty Baby
Pretty Baby

1950-09-16

The Lone Wolf and His Lady
The Lone Wolf and His Lady

1949-08-11

Ventriloquist
Ventriloquist

1927-01-01

Bolero
Bolero

1934-02-23

Chicken Every Sunday
Chicken Every Sunday

1949-01-18

Blossoms On Broadway
Blossoms On Broadway

1937-11-19

Shoot the Works
Shoot the Works

1934-07-18

Moonlight in Havana
Moonlight in Havana

1942-10-16

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

1934-01-12

Sons of the Legion
Sons of the Legion

1938-09-18

The Witching Hour
The Witching Hour

1934-04-26

Three Married Men
Three Married Men

1936-09-24

College Scandal
College Scandal

1935-06-21

Dancing on a Dime
Dancing on a Dime

1940-11-01

Car 99
Car 99

1935-03-02

We've Never Been Licked
We've Never Been Licked

1943-07-29

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

1948-07-16

Hitchhike to Happiness
Hitchhike to Happiness

1945-07-16

Wildcat
Wildcat

1942-09-03

F-Man
F-Man

1936-05-02

The Bride Came C.O.D.
The Bride Came C.O.D.

1941-07-12

My Wild Irish Rose
My Wild Irish Rose

1947-12-24

Should Husbands Be Watched?
Should Husbands Be Watched?

1925-03-14

High, Wide and Handsome
High, Wide and Handsome

1937-07-21

Cracked Nuts
Cracked Nuts

1941-07-02

Down to Earth
Down to Earth

1947-08-21

Those Were the Days!
Those Were the Days!

1940-07-14

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

1947-07-31

Grand Jury Secrets
Grand Jury Secrets

1939-06-23

The Farmer's Daughter
The Farmer's Daughter

1940-03-29

Gangs Of The City
Gangs Of The City

1941-10-30

Untamed
Untamed

1940-07-24

Hell and High Water
Hell and High Water

1933-12-16

Going My Way
Going My Way

1944-01-01

Rendezvous with Annie
Rendezvous with Annie

1946-07-22

It's a Great Life
It's a Great Life

1935-10-04

Treat 'Em Rough
Treat 'Em Rough

1942-01-30

Monsieur Verdoux
Monsieur Verdoux

1947-09-26

It Happened in Flatbush
It Happened in Flatbush

1942-05-28

Harmony Lane
Harmony Lane

1935-10-22

Stop, Look and Love
Stop, Look and Love

1939-09-22

Ambush
Ambush

1939-01-20

Persons in Hiding
Persons in Hiding

1939-02-10

Touchdown, Army
Touchdown, Army

1938-08-04

The Quarterback
The Quarterback

1940-10-15

Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

1941-01-17

Give Out, Sisters
Give Out, Sisters

1942-09-01

Larceny with Music
Larceny with Music

1943-09-10

St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues

1939-02-03

East Side, West Side
East Side, West Side

1949-12-22

I Love Lucy: The Movie
I Love Lucy: The Movie

1953-01-01

Home in San Antone
Home in San Antone

1949-04-14

Good Sam
Good Sam

1948-09-01

Lake Placid Serenade
Lake Placid Serenade

1944-12-23

Kill the Umpire
Kill the Umpire

1950-04-27

The Lemon Drop Kid
The Lemon Drop Kid

1934-09-27

The General Died at Dawn
The General Died at Dawn

1936-11-17

Sandy Gets Her Man
Sandy Gets Her Man

1940-11-08

Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Lucy's Really Lost Moments

1956-01-01

The Yankee Doodler
The Yankee Doodler

1942-11-08

Night Work
Night Work

1939-08-04

Ex-Champ
Ex-Champ

1939-05-11

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

1948-09-19

Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies

1945-08-26

Opened by Mistake
Opened by Mistake

1940-05-10

Hold 'Em Yale
Hold 'Em Yale

1935-04-27

I Love Lucy Christmas Special
I Love Lucy Christmas Special

2016-12-02

Ship Cafe
Ship Cafe

1935-11-09

The Girl from Manhattan
The Girl from Manhattan

1948-10-01