William Frawley
Acting
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
Acting127
movieI Love Lucy Christmas Special
2016
Fred Mertz
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Lucy Show
1962
Trainer
movieSafe at Home!
1962
Bill Turner
tvMy Three Sons
1960
Bub O'Casey
tvThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
Fred Mertz
The Gale Storm Show
1956
Jim Comstock
movieLucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
Fred Mertz
movieI Love Lucy: The Movie
1953
Fred Mertz / Self
movieRancho Notorious
1952
Baldy Gunder
tvI Love Lucy
1951
Fred Mertz
movieRhubarb
1951
Len Sickles
movieThe Lemon Drop Kid
1951
Gloomy Willie
moviePretty Baby
1950
Corcoran
movieKill the Umpire
1950
Jimmy O'Brien
movieBlondie's Hero
1950
Marty Greer
movieEast Side, West Side
1949
Bill the Bartender
movieThe Lady Takes a Sailor
1949
Oliver Harker
movieRed Light
1949
Hotel Night Clerk
movieThe Lone Wolf and His Lady
1949
Inspector Crane
movieHome in San Antone
1949
O'Fleery
movieChicken Every Sunday
1949
George Kirby
movieThe Girl from Manhattan
1948
Mr. Bernouti
movieJoe Palooka in Winner Take All
1948
Knobby Walsh
movieThe Babe Ruth Story
1948
Jack Dunn
movieMy Wild Irish Rose
1947
William Scanlon
movieBlondie's Anniversary
1947
Sharkey the Loen Shark
movieMonsieur Verdoux
1947
Jean La Salle
movieDown to Earth
1947
Police Lieutenant
movieMother Wore Tights
1947
Mr. Schneider
movieMiracle on 34th Street
1947
Charlie Halloran
movieCrime Doctor's Man Hunt
1946
Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
movieThe Inner Circle
1946
Det. Lt. Webb
movieRendezvous with Annie
1946
General Trent
movieThe Virginian
1946
Honey Wiggen
movieZiegfeld Follies
1945
Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
movieLady on a Train
1945
Desk Sgt. Brennan
movieHitchhike to Happiness
1945
Sandy Hill
movieFlame of Barbary Coast
1945
Wolf Wylie
movieThe Fighting Seabees
1944
Eddie Powers
movieGoing My Way
1944
Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)
movieWhistling in Brooklyn
1943
Detective Ramsey
movieLarceny with Music
1943
Mike Simms
movieWe've Never Been Licked
1943
Traveling Salesman
movieGentleman Jim
1942
Billy Delaney
movieMoonlight in Havana
1942
Barney Crane
movieWildcat
1942
Oliver Westbrook
movieGive Out, Sisters
1942
Harrison
movieIt Happened in Flatbush
1942
Sam Sloan
movieRoxie Hart
1942
O'Malley
movieBlondie in Society
1941
Waldo Pincus
movieThe Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
Sheriff McGee
movieCracked Nuts
1941
James Mitchell
movieFootsteps in the Dark
1941
Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
movieSix Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
Chauncey Beheegan
movieSandy Gets Her Man
1940
Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
movieRhythm on the River
1940
Mr. Westlake
movieGolden Gloves
1940
Emory Balzar
movieUntamed
1940
Les Woodbury
movieThose Were the Days!
1940
Prisoner
movieOpened by Mistake
1940
Matt Kingsley
movieThe Farmer's Daughter
1940
Scoop Trimble
movieStop, Look and Love
1939
Joe Haller
movieNight Work
1939
Bruiser Brown
movieGrand Jury Secrets
1939
Bright Eyes
movieEx-Champ
1939
Mushy Harrington
movieRose of Washington Square
1939
Harry Long
moviePersons in Hiding
1939
Alec Inglis
movieSt. Louis Blues
1939
Major Martingale
movieAmbush
1939
Inspector J.L. Weber
movieSons of the Legion
1938
Uncle Willie Lee
movieTouchdown, Army
1938
Jack Heffernan
movieProfessor Beware
1938
Snoop Donlan
movieMad About Music
1938
Dusty Turner
movieBlossoms On Broadway
1937
Francis X. Rush
movieSomething to Sing About
1937
Hank Mayers
movieDouble or Nothing
1937
John Pederson
movieRose Bowl
1936
'Soapy' Moreland
movieThree Married Men
1936
Bill Mullins
movieF-Man
1936
Detective Rogan
movieDesire
1936
Mr. Gibson
movieStrike Me Pink
1936
Mr. Copple
movieShip Cafe
1935
Briney O'Brien
movieHarmony Lane
1935
Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
movieIt's a Great Life
1935
Lt. McNulty
movieWelcome Home
1935
Painless
movieCollege Scandal
1935
Chief of Police Magoun
movieHold 'Em Yale
1935
Sunshine Joe
movieRoberta
1935
Bartender (uncredited)
movieCar 99
1935
Training Sgt. Barrel
movieHere Is My Heart
1934
James Smith
movieThe Lemon Drop Kid
1934
William Dunhill aka The Professor
movieShoot the Works
1934
Larry Hale
movieThe Witching Hour
1934
Jury Foreman
movieBolero
1934
Mike DeBaere
movieMiss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
Captain Murphy
Hell and High Water
1933
Milton J. Bunsey
Ventriloquist
1927
'Hoak' salesman
