4
Born · February 25, 1887
Died · March 3, 1966 (79 years old)
Known For: Acting
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.
Fred Mertz · (16 episodes)
10.0
2019
10.0
2016
Trainer · (1 episode)
7.1
1962
Self · (1 episode)
7.4
1962
Bill Turner
3.3
1962
Bub O'Casey · (216 episodes)
6.5
1960
(6 episodes)
5.3
1958
Fred Mertz · (13 episodes)
8.5
1957
Jim Comstock · (1 episode)
5.5
1956
Fred Mertz
6.5
1956
0.0
1954
Sam · (1 episode)
6.2
1953
Fred Mertz
7.3
1953
Self · (1 episode)
6.6
1952
Baldy Gunder
6.5
1952
Fred Mertz · (180 episodes)
8.0
1951
Len Sickles
5.5
1951
Det. Roberts
6.4
1951
Gloomy Willie
6.6
1951
Corcoran
6.0
1950
Byers
6.7
1950
Jimmy O'Brien
6.2
1950
Self · (1 episode)
7.0
1950
Marty Greer
6.3
1950
Bill the Bartender
7.0
1949
Oliver Harker
4.3
1949
Self · (1 episode)
7.0
1949
Hotel Night Clerk
5.5
1949
Inspector Crane
4.7
1949
O'Fleery
0.0
1949
George Kirby
6.0
1949
Mr. Bernouti
5.0
1948
Knobby Walsh
6.0
1948
Jack Dunn
5.8
1948
Tom
6.0
1948
Agent
6.0
1948
Self · (1 episode)
6.6
1948
William Scanlon
6.0
1947
Sharkey the Loen Shark
5.6
1947
Jean La Salle
7.7
1947
Police Lieutenant
6.0
1947
Mr. Schneider
5.3
1947
Jim Mason
5.0
1947
Charlie Halloran
7.4
1947
Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
5.8
1946
Det. Lt. Webb
5.2
1946
General Trent
6.0
1946
Honey Wiggen
6.1
1946
Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
6.1
1945
Desk Sgt. Brennan
6.5
1945
Sandy Hill
5.0
1945
Wolf Wylie
5.6
1945
Jiggers
0.0
1944
Eddie Powers
6.2
1944
Max Dolan (Publisher) (uncredited)
6.7
1944
Detective Ramsey
6.3
1943
Mike Simms
4.0
1943
Traveling Salesman
0.0
1943
Billy Delaney
7.2
1942
5.0
1942
Barney Crane
0.0
1942
Oliver Westbrook
6.0
1942
Harrison
5.0
1942
Sam Sloan
4.8
1942
O'Malley
6.9
1942
'Hotfoot'
6.0
1942
Bang
0.0
1941
Waldo Pincus
7.4
1941
Sheriff McGee
7.1
1941
James Mitchell
0.0
1941
Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
6.9
1941
Chauncey Beheegan
5.0
1941
Roscoe
5.6
1940
Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
4.0
1940
Mac
5.0
1940
Coach
0.0
1940
Mr. Westlake
7.0
1940
Emory Balzar
5.0
1940
Les Woodbury
4.3
1940
Prisoner
0.0
1940
Matt Kingsley
0.0
1940
Scoop Trimble
5.0
1940
Joe Haller
5.0
1939
Bruiser Brown
7.0
1939
Bright Eyes
0.0
1939
Mushy Harrington
6.0
1939
Harry Long
5.7
1939
The 'Duke'
6.4
1939
Alec Inglis
3.5
1939
Major Martingale
0.0
1939
Inspector J.L. Weber
5.0
1939
Uncle Willie Lee
5.0
1938
Jack Heffernan
0.0
1938
Snoop Donlan
6.1
1938
Dusty Turner
6.9
1938
Francis X. Rush
4.0
1937
Hank Mayers
6.2
1937
John Pederson
6.6
1937
Mac
6.0
1937
'Soapy' Moreland
6.0
1936
Brighton
6.2
1936
Bill Mullins
0.0
1936
Benton
6.1
1936
Detective Rogan
0.0
1936
Mr. Gibson
6.7
1936
Mr. Copple
6.6
1936
Briney O'Brien
0.0
1935
Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
3.5
1935
Lt. McNulty
0.0
1935
Painless
0.0
1935
Chief of Police Magoun
5.2
1935
Cap
5.8
1935
Sunshine Joe
7.0
1935
Bartender
7.0
1935
Training Sgt. Barrel
5.0
1935
James Smith
6.8
1934
William Dunhill aka The Professor
5.0
1934
Larry Hale
5.0
1934
Jury Foreman
5.3
1934
Fraser
3.5
1934
Mike DeBaere
6.1
1934
Captain Murphy
5.0
1934
Milton J. Bunsey
0.0
1933
Mac
0.0
1933
'Hoak' salesman
0.0
1927
Beat Cop
6.0
1925