William 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.
Known For
Acting
1941
asWaldo Pincus
1947
asSharkey the Loen Shark
1950
asMarty Greer
1945
asDesk Sgt. Brennan
1944
asEddie Powers
1935
asBartender
1936
asBenton
1951
asGloomy Willie
1947
asCharlie Halloran
1949
asHotel Night Clerk
1951
asDet. Roberts
1935
asPainless
1945
asWolf Wylie
1952
asBaldy Gunder
1940
asRoscoe
1951
asLen Sickles
1948
asJack Dunn
1942
asBilly Delaney
1939
asHarry Long
1938
asDusty Turner
1941
asDet. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
1934
asFraser
1950
asByers
1946
asDet. Lt. Webb
1936
as'Soapy' Moreland
1938
asSnoop Donlan
1943
asDetective Ramsey
1937
asJohn Pederson
1937
asHank Mayers
1942
asO'Malley
1946
asPolice Inspector Harry B. Manning
1939
asThe 'Duke'
1936
asMr. Gibson
1946
asHoney Wiggen
1947
asMr. Schneider
1933
asMac
1940
asMr. Westlake
1940
asEmory Balzar
1936
asMr. Copple
1954
as
1935
asCap
1949
asOliver Harker
1962
asBill Turner
1934
asJames Smith
1950
asCorcoran
1949
asInspector Crane
1927
as'Hoak' salesman
1934
asMike DeBaere
1949
asGeorge Kirby
1937
asFrancis X. Rush
1934
asLarry Hale
1942
asBarney Crane
1934
asCaptain Murphy
1938
asUncle Willie Lee
1934
asJury Foreman
1936
asBill Mullins
1935
asChief of Police Magoun
1940
asMac
1943
asTraveling Salesman
1935
asTraining Sgt. Barrel
1948
asAgent
1945
asSandy Hill
1942
asOliver Westbrook
1936
asDetective Rogan
1941
asSheriff McGee
1947
asWilliam Scanlon
1925
asBeat Cop
1937
asMac
1941
asJames Mitchell
1947
asPolice Lieutenant
1940
asPrisoner
1947
asJim Mason
1939
asBright Eyes
1940
asScoop Trimble
1941
asBang
1940
asLes Woodbury
1933
asMilton J. Bunsey
1944
asMax Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)
1946
asGeneral Trent
1935
asLt. McNulty
1942
as'Hotfoot'
1947
asJean La Salle
1942
asSam Sloan
1935
asEdwin P. 'Ed' Christy
1939
asJoe Haller
1939
asInspector J.L. Weber
1939
asAlec Inglis
1938
asJack Heffernan
1940
asCoach
1941
asChauncey Beheegan
1942
asHarrison
1943
asMike Simms
1939
asMajor Martingale
1949
asBill the Bartender
1953
asFred Mertz
1949
asO'Fleery
1948
asTom
1944
asJiggers
1950
asJimmy O'Brien
1934
asWilliam Dunhill aka The Professor
1936
asBrighton
1940
asPolice Chief J. A. O'Hara
1956
asFred Mertz
1942
as
1939
asBruiser Brown
1939
asMushy Harrington
1948
asKnobby Walsh
1945
asMartin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
1940
asMatt Kingsley
1935
asSunshine Joe
2016
asFred Mertz
1935
asBriney O'Brien
1948
asMr. Bernouti
2000
asSelf (archive footage)
1935
as
asBub O'Casey
asFred Mertz
asTrainer
asFred Mertz
as
asSelf
asSam
asSelf
asSelf
asSelf
asSelf
asJim Comstock
Production
Crew
Directing
