William Frawley
from Burlington, Iowa, USA
from 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
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
Self (archive footage)
Bill Turner
Fred Mertz
(Unknown)
Fred Mertz / Self
Baldy Gunder
Det. Roberts
Gloomy Willie
Len Sickles
Marty Greer
Jimmy O'Brien
Byers
Corcoran
George Kirby
O'Fleery
Inspector Crane
Hotel Night Clerk
Oliver Harker
Bill the Bartender
Agent
Tom
Jack Dunn
Knobby Walsh
Mr. Bernouti
Charlie Halloran
Jim Mason
Mr. Schneider
Police Lieutenant
Jean La Salle
Sharkey the Loen Shark
William Scanlon
Honey Wiggen
General Trent
Det. Lt. Webb
Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
Wolf Wylie
Sandy Hill
Desk Sgt. Brennan
Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)
Eddie Powers
Jiggers
Traveling Salesman
Mike Simms
Detective Ramsey
Treat 'Em Rough
'Hotfoot'
O'Malley
Sam Sloan
Harrison
Oliver Westbrook
Barney Crane
(Unknown)
Billy Delaney
Chauncey Beheegan
Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
James Mitchell
Sheriff McGee
Waldo Pincus
Gangs Of The City
Bang
Scoop Trimble
Matt Kingsley
Prisoner
Les Woodbury
Emory Balzar
Mr. Westlake
Coach
Mac
Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
Roscoe
Inspector J.L. Weber
Major Martingale
Alec Inglis
The 'Duke'
Harry Long
Mushy Harrington
Bright Eyes
Bruiser Brown
Joe Haller
Dusty Turner
Snoop Donlan
Jack Heffernan
Uncle Willie Lee
Mac
John Pederson
Hank Mayers
Francis X. Rush
Mr. Copple
Mr. Gibson
Detective Rogan
Benton
Bill Mullins
Brighton
'Soapy' Moreland
Training Sgt. Barrel
Bartender (uncredited)
Sunshine Joe
Cap
Chief of Police Magoun
Painless
Lt. McNulty
Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
Briney O'Brien
Beautiful Dreamer
(Unknown)
Captain Murphy
Mike DeBaere
Fraser
Jury Foreman
Larry Hale
William Dunhill aka The Professor
James Smith
Mac
Hell and High Water
Milton J. Bunsey
Ventriloquist
'Hoak' salesman
Beat Cop