Search movies and TV series
Acting
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.

I Love Lucy Christmas Special
as Fred Mertz
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
as Self (archive footage)

The Lucy Show
as Trainer

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self

Safe at Home!
as Bill Turner

My Three Sons
as Bub O'Casey

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
as Fred Mertz
The Gale Storm Show
as Jim Comstock

Lucy's Really Lost Moments
as Fred Mertz

The Dirty Look

Letter to Loretta
as Sam

I Love Lucy: The Movie
as Fred Mertz

This Is Your Life
as Self

Rancho Notorious
as Baldy Gunder

I Love Lucy
as Fred Mertz

Rhubarb
as Len Sickles

The Lemon Drop Kid
as Gloomy Willie

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
as Det. Roberts

Pretty Baby
as Corcoran

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
as Byers

Kill the Umpire
as Jimmy O'Brien

The Bob Hope Show
as Self

Blondie's Hero
as Marty Greer

East Side, West Side
as Bill the Bartender

The Lady Takes a Sailor
as Oliver Harker
The Ed Wynn Show
as Self

Red Light
as Hotel Night Clerk

The Lone Wolf and His Lady
as Inspector Crane

Home in San Antone
as O'Fleery

Chicken Every Sunday
as George Kirby

The Girl from Manhattan
as Mr. Bernouti

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
as Knobby Walsh

The Babe Ruth Story
as Jack Dunn

Good Sam
as Tom

Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
as Agent

The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self

My Wild Irish Rose
as William Scanlon

Blondie's Anniversary
as Sharkey the Loen Shark

Monsieur Verdoux
as Jean La Salle

Down to Earth
as Police Lieutenant

Mother Wore Tights
as Mr. Schneider

I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
as Jim Mason

Miracle on 34th Street
as Charlie Halloran

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt
as Police Inspector Harry B. Manning

The Inner Circle
as Det. Lt. Webb

Rendezvous with Annie
as General Trent

The Virginian
as Honey Wiggen

Ziegfeld Follies
as Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")

Lady on a Train
as Desk Sgt. Brennan

Hitchhike to Happiness
as Sandy Hill

Flame of Barbary Coast
as Wolf Wylie

Lake Placid Serenade
as Jiggers

The Fighting Seabees
as Eddie Powers

Going My Way
as Max Dolan, Publisher (uncredited)

Whistling in Brooklyn
as Detective Ramsey

Larceny with Music
as Mike Simms

We've Never Been Licked
as Traveling Salesman

Gentleman Jim
as Billy Delaney

The Yankee Doodler