poster movie

William Frawley

1887-02-25

The 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.

William Frawley in

Movies

poster movie

Miracle on 34th Street

7.4 average rating
poster movie

Rancho Notorious

6.5 average rating
poster movie

Monsieur Verdoux

7.7 average rating
poster movie

Going My Way

6.7 average rating
poster movie

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

6.4 average rating
poster movie

Roberta

6.976 average rating
poster movie

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

6.412 average rating
poster movie

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

6.7 average rating
poster movie

Gentleman Jim

7.2 average rating
poster movie

Kill the Umpire

6.2 average rating
poster movie

Lady on a Train

6.5 average rating
poster movie

Mother Wore Tights

5.3 average rating
poster movie

The Fighting Seabees

6.2 average rating
poster movie

One Night in the Tropics

5.6 average rating
poster movie

Flame of Barbary Coast

5.6 average rating
poster movie

Good Sam

6 average rating
poster movie

The Babe Ruth Story

5.8 average rating
poster movie

High, Wide and Handsome

6 average rating
poster movie

Desire

6.7 average rating
poster movie

The Virginian

6.1 average rating