William Frawley
Acting
🎂 1887-02-25
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.
Cast credits(127)
Self
1962
Self
1948
Self
1950
Self
1952
Jim Comstock
1956
Trainer
1962
1958
Sam
1953
Bub O'Casey
1960
Self
1949
Fred Mertz
1951
Fred Mertz
1957
Baldy Gunder
1952
Charlie Halloran
1947
Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)
1944
Jean La Salle
1947
Det. Roberts
1951
Eddie Powers
1944
Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
1945
Wolf Wylie
1945
Benton
1936
Byers
1950
Brighton
1936
Hotel Night Clerk
1949
The 'Duke'
1939
Sheriff McGee
1941
Gloomy Willie
1951
Bartender
1935
Inspector J.L. Weber
1939
Mr. Gibson
1936
Billy Delaney
1942
Desk Sgt. Brennan
1945
Honey Wiggen
1946
Len Sickles
1951
Tom
1948
Police Lieutenant
1947
O'Malley
1942
James Smith
1934
Mike DeBaere
1934
Corcoran
1950
Det. Lt. Webb
1946
Mr. Copple
1936
Roscoe
1940
Sandy Hill
1945
John Pederson
1937
Hank Mayers
1937
Detective Rogan
1936
Les Woodbury
1940
Mr. Schneider
1947
Briney O'Brien
1935
Snoop Donlan
1938
Alec Inglis
1939
Jim Mason
1947
William Scanlon
1947
General Trent
1946
Emory Balzar
1940
Jury Foreman
1934
Bill the Bartender
1949
Major Martingale
1939
Chief of Police Magoun
1935
Mac
1937
O'Fleery
1949
Detective Ramsey
1943
Mac
1940
Bang
1941
'Soapy' Moreland
1936
Oliver Harker
1949
Jimmy O'Brien
1950
Oliver Westbrook
1942
Fred Mertz
1953
James Mitchell
1941
Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
1946
Mushy Harrington
1939
Jack Dunn
1948
Training Sgt. Barrel
1935
Cap
1935
Bruiser Brown
1939
Joe Haller
1939
Scoop Trimble
1940
Marty Greer
1950
Traveling Salesman
1943
Harry Long
1939
Agent
1948
Sharkey the Loen Shark
1947
Mr. Westlake
1940
Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
1941
Prisoner
1940
Mike Simms
1943
Waldo Pincus
1941
Mr. Bernouti
1948
Captain Murphy
1934
Larry Hale
1934
Bright Eyes
1939
Chauncey Beheegan
1941
Inspector Crane
1949
Bill Mullins
1936
Harrison
1942
Beat Cop
1925
Self (archive footage)
2000
1942
'Hotfoot'
1942
Lt. McNulty
1935
Sunshine Joe
1935
Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
1935
Jiggers
1944
Fred Mertz
1956
Francis X. Rush
1937
Bill Turner
1962
William Dunhill aka The Professor
1934
Barney Crane
1942
Jack Heffernan
1938
Sam Sloan
1942
Uncle Willie Lee
1938
Dusty Turner
1938
Matt Kingsley
1940
Mac
1933
Knobby Walsh
1948
George Kirby
1949
Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
1940
Fred Mertz
2016
Painless
1935
Fraser
1934
Coach
1940
1935
1954
Milton J. Bunsey
1933
'Hoak' salesman
1927