William Frawley

William Frawley

Date of Birth:

Feb 25, 1887

Place of Birth:

Burlington, Iowa, USA

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.

filmography:

Hell and High Water Hell and High Water

1933

Going My Way Going My Way

1944

Untamed Untamed

1940

Gangs Of The City Gangs Of The City

1941

Grand Jury Secrets Grand Jury Secrets

1939

The Farmer's Daughter The Farmer's Daughter

1940

Rendezvous with Annie Rendezvous with Annie

1946

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

1935

Harmony Lane Harmony Lane

1935

Stop, Look and Love Stop, Look and Love

1939

It Happened in Flatbush It Happened in Flatbush

1942

Monsieur Verdoux Monsieur Verdoux

1947

Treat 'Em Rough Treat 'Em Rough

1942

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

1947

Those Were the Days! Those Were the Days!

1940

Hitchhike to Happiness Hitchhike to Happiness

1945

Wildcat Wildcat

1942

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven

1948

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

1943

Car 99 Car 99

1935

F-Man F-Man

1936

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

1941

Cracked Nuts Cracked Nuts

1941

Down to Earth Down to Earth

1947

High, Wide and Handsome High, Wide and Handsome

1937

Should Husbands Be Watched? Should Husbands Be Watched?

1925

My Wild Irish Rose My Wild Irish Rose

1947

Ambush Ambush

1939

Persons in Hiding Persons in Hiding

1939

Night Work Night Work

1939

Ex-Champ Ex-Champ

1939

The Yankee Doodler The Yankee Doodler

1942

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

1956

Sandy Gets Her Man Sandy Gets Her Man

1940

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

1948

Ziegfeld Follies Ziegfeld Follies

1945

Ship Cafe Ship Cafe

1935

The Girl from Manhattan The Girl from Manhattan

1948

I Love Lucy Christmas Special I Love Lucy Christmas Special

2016

Hold 'Em Yale Hold 'Em Yale

1935

Opened by Mistake Opened by Mistake

1940

The General Died at Dawn The General Died at Dawn

1936

The Lemon Drop Kid The Lemon Drop Kid

1934

Give Out, Sisters Give Out, Sisters

1942

Larceny with Music Larceny with Music

1943

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

1941

The Quarterback The Quarterback

1940

Touchdown, Army Touchdown, Army

1938

St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues

1939

East Side, West Side East Side, West Side

1949

Lake Placid Serenade Lake Placid Serenade

1944

Kill the Umpire Kill the Umpire

1950

Good Sam Good Sam

1948

Home in San Antone Home in San Antone

1949

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

1953

Dancing on a Dime Dancing on a Dime

1940

College Scandal College Scandal

1935

Mad About Music Mad About Music

1938

Footsteps in the Dark Footsteps in the Dark

1941

Rose of Washington Square Rose of Washington Square

1939

Gentleman Jim Gentleman Jim

1942

Rhubarb Rhubarb

1951

The Babe Ruth Story The Babe Ruth Story

1948

The Crime Doctor The Crime Doctor

1934

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

1950

Whistling in Brooklyn Whistling in Brooklyn

1943

Double or Nothing Double or Nothing

1937

Professor Beware Professor Beware

1938

Rose Bowl Rose Bowl

1936

The Inner Circle The Inner Circle

1946

One Night in the Tropics One Night in the Tropics

1940

Rancho Notorious Rancho Notorious

1952

The Fighting Seabees The Fighting Seabees

1944

Roberta Roberta

1935

Lady on a Train Lady on a Train

1945

Blondie's Hero Blondie's Hero

1950

Blondie's Anniversary Blondie's Anniversary

1947

The Princess Comes Across The Princess Comes Across

1936

The Lemon Drop Kid The Lemon Drop Kid

1951

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

1951

Flame of Barbary Coast Flame of Barbary Coast

1945

Welcome Home Welcome Home

1935

Red Light Red Light

1949

Miracle on 34th Street Miracle on 34th Street

1947

Something to Sing About Something to Sing About

1937

Roxie Hart Roxie Hart

1942

Bolero Bolero

1934

Chicken Every Sunday Chicken Every Sunday

1949

Ventriloquist Ventriloquist

1927

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

1949

Pretty Baby Pretty Baby

1950

Blossoms On Broadway Blossoms On Broadway

1937

Shoot the Works Shoot the Works

1934

The Witching Hour The Witching Hour

1934

Three Married Men Three Married Men

1936

Sons of the Legion Sons of the Legion

1938

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

1934

Moonlight in Havana Moonlight in Havana

1942

Here Is My Heart Here Is My Heart

1934

Safe at Home! Safe at Home!

1962

The Virginian The Virginian

1946

Mother Wore Tights Mother Wore Tights

1947

Desire Desire

1936

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

1939

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

1946

Moonlight and Pretzels Moonlight and Pretzels

1933

Rhythm on the River Rhythm on the River

1940

Alibi Ike Alibi Ike

1935

The Lady Takes a Sailor The Lady Takes a Sailor

1949

The Dirty Look The Dirty Look

1954

Strike Me Pink Strike Me Pink

1936

Golden Gloves Golden Gloves

1940

Blondie in Society Blondie in Society

1941

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