William Frawley

Also Known As: Bill Frawley, William Clement 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.

Department: Acting

Place of Birth: Burlington, Iowa, USA

Birthday: February 25, 1887

Deathday: March 03, 1966

Adult: No

Gender: Male

Popularity:

1.05%

Known For:

Blondie in Society
Blondie's Anniversary
Blondie's Hero
Lady on a Train
The Fighting Seabees
Roberta
The Princess Comes Across
The Lemon Drop Kid
Miracle on 34th Street
Red Light
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Welcome Home
Flame of Barbary Coast
Rancho Notorious
One Night in the Tropics
Rhubarb
The Babe Ruth Story
Gentleman Jim
Rose of Washington Square
Mad About Music
Footsteps in the Dark
The Crime Doctor
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
The Inner Circle
Rose Bowl
Professor Beware
Whistling in Brooklyn
Double or Nothing
Something to Sing About
Roxie Hart
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Desire
The Virginian
Mother Wore Tights
Moonlight and Pretzels
Rhythm on the River
Golden Gloves
Strike Me Pink
The Dirty Look
Alibi Ike
The Lady Takes a Sailor
Safe at Home!
Here Is My Heart
Pretty Baby
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
Ventriloquist
Bolero
Chicken Every Sunday
Blossoms On Broadway
Shoot the Works
Moonlight in Havana
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
Sons of the Legion
The Witching Hour
Three Married Men
College Scandal
Dancing on a Dime
We've Never Been Licked
Car 99
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
Hitchhike to Happiness
Wildcat
F-Man
The Bride Came C.O.D.
My Wild Irish Rose
Should Husbands Be Watched?
High, Wide and Handsome
Cracked Nuts
Down to Earth
Those Were the Days!
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Grand Jury Secrets
The Farmer's Daughter
Gangs Of The City
Untamed
Hell and High Water
Going My Way
Rendezvous with Annie
It's a Great Life
Treat 'Em Rough
Monsieur Verdoux
It Happened in Flatbush
Harmony Lane
Stop, Look and Love
Ambush
Persons in Hiding
Touchdown, Army
The Quarterback
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
Give Out, Sisters
Larceny with Music
St. Louis Blues
East Side, West Side
I Love Lucy: The Movie
Home in San Antone
Good Sam
Lake Placid Serenade
Kill the Umpire
The Lemon Drop Kid
The General Died at Dawn
Sandy Gets Her Man
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
The Yankee Doodler
Night Work
Ex-Champ
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
Ziegfeld Follies
Opened by Mistake
Hold 'Em Yale
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Ship Cafe
The Girl from Manhattan