William Frawley
Known for Acting · 127 credits
- Born
- 1887-02-25
- Died
- 1966-03-03
- Place of birth
- Burlington, Iowa, USA
- Also known as
- Bill Frawley · William Clement 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
TV Shows (12)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
My Three Sons
1960
as Bub O'Casey
I Love Lucy
1951
as Fred Mertz
The Lucy Show
1962
as Trainer
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
This Is Your Life
1952
as Self
The Gale Storm Show
1956
as Jim Comstock
Letter to Loretta
1953
as Sam
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
as Fred Mertz
The Ed Wynn Show
1949
as Self
Movies (115)
The Fighting Seabees
1944
as Eddie Powers
Miracle on 34th Street
1947
as Charlie Halloran
Ship Cafe
1935
as Briney O'Brien
Monsieur Verdoux
1947
as Jean La Salle
Roberta
1935
as Bartender (uncredited)
Rose Bowl
1936
as 'Soapy' Moreland
The Virginian
1946
as Honey Wiggen
Pretty Baby
1950
as Corcoran
Rancho Notorious
1952
as Baldy Gunder
Ex-Champ
1939
as Mushy Harrington
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1939
as The 'Duke'
The Quarterback
1940
as Coach
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
1951
as Det. Roberts
Going My Way
1944
as Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)
Night Work
1939
as Bruiser Brown
Ziegfeld Follies
1945
as Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
Cracked Nuts
1941
as James Mitchell
Touchdown, Army
1938
as Jack Heffernan
Good Sam
1948
as Tom
Gentleman Jim
1942
as Billy Delaney
Desire
1936
as Mr. Gibson
Rhythm on the River
1940
as Mr. Westlake
The Inner Circle
1946
as Det. Lt. Webb
Double or Nothing
1937
as John Pederson
Rhubarb
1951
as Len Sickles
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga
1941
as Chauncey Beheegan
Down to Earth
1947
as Police Lieutenant
Blondie in Society
1941
as Waldo Pincus
Hitchhike to Happiness
1945
as Sandy Hill
Golden Gloves
1940
as Emory Balzar
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
1947
as Jim Mason
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
1948
as Agent
Something to Sing About
1937
as Hank Mayers
Flame of Barbary Coast
1945
as Wolf Wylie
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
1950
as Byers
Mad About Music
1938
as Dusty Turner
One Night in the Tropics
1940
as Roscoe
Untamed
1940
as Les Woodbury
High, Wide and Handsome
1937
as Mac
College Scandal
1935
as Chief of Police Magoun
The Bride Came C.O.D.
1941
as Sheriff McGee
The Princess Comes Across
1936
as Benton
Blondie's Hero
1950
as Marty Greer
Rose of Washington Square
1939
as Harry Long
The Lemon Drop Kid
1951
as Gloomy Willie
The General Died at Dawn
1936
as Brighton
Alibi Ike
1935
as Cap
Red Light
1949
as Hotel Night Clerk
Roxie Hart
1942
as O'Malley
Moonlight and Pretzels
1933
as Mac
It's a Great Life
1935
as Lt. McNulty
Here Is My Heart
1934
as James Smith
Opened by Mistake
1940
as Matt Kingsley
Blondie's Anniversary
1947
as Sharkey the Loen Shark
Mother Wore Tights
1947
as Mr. Schneider
Professor Beware
1938
as Snoop Donlan
Blossoms On Broadway
1937
as Francis X. Rush
East Side, West Side
1949
as Bill the Bartender
Welcome Home
1935
as Painless
Wildcat
1942
as Oliver Westbrook
Lady on a Train
1945
as Desk Sgt. Brennan
Bolero
1934
as Mike DeBaere
Persons in Hiding
1939
as Alec Inglis
The Crime Doctor
1934
as Fraser
Moonlight in Havana
1942
as Barney Crane
Those Were the Days!
1940
as Prisoner
The Lady Takes a Sailor
1949
as Oliver Harker
The Yankee Doodler
1942
The Lemon Drop Kid
1934
as William Dunhill aka The Professor
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
as Self (archive footage)
Hold 'Em Yale
1935
as Sunshine Joe
Shoot the Works
1934
as Larry Hale
Whistling in Brooklyn
1943
as Detective Ramsey
My Wild Irish Rose
1947
as William Scanlon
Harmony Lane
1935
as Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
We've Never Been Licked
1943
as Traveling Salesman
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen
1934
as Captain Murphy
Larceny with Music
1943
as Mike Simms
The Babe Ruth Story
1948
as Jack Dunn
I Love Lucy: The Movie
1953
as Fred Mertz
Three Married Men
1936
as Bill Mullins
St. Louis Blues
1939
as Major Martingale
Strike Me Pink
1936
as Mr. Copple
The Girl from Manhattan
1948
as Mr. Bernouti
Ambush
1939
as Inspector J.L. Weber
It Happened in Flatbush
1942
as Sam Sloan
Sandy Gets Her Man
1940
as Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
Hell and High Water
1933
as Milton J. Bunsey
Rendezvous with Annie
1946
as General Trent
Lake Placid Serenade
1944
as Jiggers
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
1949
as Inspector Crane
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
as Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
The Farmer's Daughter
1940
as Scoop Trimble
Car 99
1935
as Training Sgt. Barrel
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
1948
as Knobby Walsh
Grand Jury Secrets
1939
as Bright Eyes
Chicken Every Sunday
1949
as George Kirby
Kill the Umpire
1950
as Jimmy O'Brien
Sons of the Legion
1938
as Uncle Willie Lee
The Witching Hour
1934
as Jury Foreman
Home in San Antone
1949
as O'Fleery
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
2016
as Fred Mertz
Give Out, Sisters
1942
as Harrison
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
as Fred Mertz
Treat 'Em Rough
1942
as 'Hotfoot'
F-Man
1936
as Detective Rogan
Safe at Home!
1962
as Bill Turner
Should Husbands Be Watched?
1925
as Beat Cop
Stop, Look and Love
1939
as Joe Haller
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
1946
as Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
Dancing on a Dime
1940
as Mac
Beautiful Dreamer
1935
Gangs Of The City
1941
as Bang
The Dirty Look
1954
Ventriloquist
1927
as 'Hoak' salesman
About William Frawley
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 Hollyw… With 127 credits spanning from 1925 to 2016, William Frawley has appeared in 115 films and 12 TV shows.
Fans searching for William Frawley movies, William Frawley filmography, or the latest projects starring William Frawley can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular William Frawley Movies
- The Fighting Seabees (1944) — as Eddie Powers
- Miracle on 34th Street (1947) — as Charlie Halloran
- Ship Cafe (1935) — as Briney O'Brien
- Monsieur Verdoux (1947) — as Jean La Salle
- Roberta (1935) — as Bartender (uncredited)
Where to Watch William Frawley Films
Most William Frawley movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring William Frawley, check our movies catalogue and browse page.