
William Frawley
Born: 1887-02-25
Place of Birth: Burlington, Iowa, USA
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

Rendezvous with Annie

The Babe Ruth Story

F-Man

Rose of Washington Square

Miracle on 34th Street

Give Out, Sisters

Golden Gloves

Bolero

The Virginian

Roberta

Monsieur Verdoux

Welcome Home

Good Sam

Desire

Ambush

Night Work

Red Light

Cracked Nuts

Flame of Barbary Coast

Roxie Hart

Wildcat

Chicken Every Sunday

Car 99

Blondie in Society

Ship Cafe

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

Three Married Men

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Whistling in Brooklyn

Going My Way

Lady on a Train

Safe at Home!

College Scandal

The Fighting Seabees

It Happened in Flatbush

My Wild Irish Rose

Ziegfeld Follies

Double or Nothing

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

The Girl from Manhattan

Rancho Notorious

Moonlight and Pretzels

Sandy Gets Her Man

Lake Placid Serenade

Blondie's Anniversary

Shoot the Works

Pretty Baby

Down to Earth

Gentleman Jim

The Inner Circle

One Night in the Tropics

The Bride Came C.O.D.

The Lemon Drop Kid

Larceny with Music

Footsteps in the Dark

East Side, West Side

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

St. Louis Blues

Strike Me Pink

Here Is My Heart

Untamed

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

The Crime Doctor

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

Blondie's Hero

Mad About Music

Home in San Antone

Rhubarb

Mother Wore Tights

The General Died at Dawn

Those Were the Days!

The Witching Hour

Alibi Ike

Something to Sing About

Blossoms On Broadway

The Princess Comes Across

Professor Beware

High, Wide and Handsome

The Dirty Look

The Lemon Drop Kid

The Farmer's Daughter

Ex-Champ

Sons of the Legion

Hitchhike to Happiness

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All

Persons in Hiding

We've Never Been Licked

Rose Bowl

It's a Great Life

Opened by Mistake

Dancing on a Dime

Lucy's Really Lost Moments

Grand Jury Secrets

Harmony Lane

Rhythm on the River

Stop, Look and Love

The Lady Takes a Sailor

Kill the Umpire

Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen

The Quarterback

I Love Lucy: The Movie

Should Husbands Be Watched?

I Love Lucy Christmas Special

Hold 'Em Yale

Moonlight in Havana
