William Frawley was born in Burlington, Iowa. As a boy he sang at St. Pauls 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.
Waldo Pincus
Filme 1941
Sharkey the Loen Shark
Filme 1947
Marty Greer
Filme 1950
Desk Sgt. Brennan
Filme 1945
Bartender
Filme 1935
Gloomy Willie
Filme 1951
Charlie Halloran
Filme 1947
Painless
Filme 1935
Wolf Wylie
Filme 1945
Baldy Gunder
Filme 1952
Len Sickles
Filme 1951
Jack Dunn
Filme 1948
Dusty Turner
Filme 1938
Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
Filme 1941
Fraser
Filme 1934
Det. Lt. Webb
Filme 1946
Snoop Donlan
Filme 1938
Detective Ramsey
Filme 1943
John Pederson
Filme 1937
Hank Mayers
Filme 1937
O'Malley
Filme 1942
Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
Filme 1946
The 'Duke'
Filme 1939
Mr. Gibson
Filme 1936
Honey Wiggen
Filme 1946
Mac
Filme 1933
Mr. Westlake
Filme 1940
Emory Balzar
Filme 1940
Mr. Copple
Filme 1936
Filme 1954
Cap
Filme 1935
Oliver Harker
Filme 1949
Bill Turner
Filme 1962
James Smith
Filme 1934
Corcoran
Filme 1950
'Hoak' salesman
Filme 1927
George Kirby
Filme 1949
Francis X. Rush
Filme 1937
Larry Hale
Filme 1934
Barney Crane
Filme 1942
Captain Murphy
Filme 1934
Uncle Willie Lee
Filme 1938
Bill Mullins
Filme 1936
Chief of Police Magoun
Filme 1935
Mac
Filme 1940
Traveling Salesman
Filme 1943
Training Sgt. Barrel
Filme 1935
Agent
Filme 1948
Sandy Hill
Filme 1945
Oliver Westbrook
Filme 1942
Detective Rogan
Filme 1936
Sheriff McGee
Filme 1941
William Scanlon
Filme 1947
Beat Cop
Filme 1925
Mac
Filme 1937
Police Lieutenant
Filme 1947
Prisoner
Filme 1940
Jim Mason
Filme 1947
Bright Eyes
Filme 1939
Bang
Filme 1941
Les Woodbury
Filme 1940
Milton J. Bunsey
Filme 1933
Max Dolan (Publisher) (uncredited)
Filme 1944
General Trent
Filme 1946
Lt. McNulty
Filme 1935
'Hotfoot'
Filme 1942
Jean La Salle
Filme 1947
Sam Sloan
Filme 1942
Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
Filme 1935
Joe Haller
Filme 1939
Inspector J.L. Weber
Filme 1939
Alec Inglis
Filme 1939
Jack Heffernan
Filme 1938
Coach
Filme 1940
Chauncey Beheegan
Filme 1941
Mike Simms
Filme 1943
Major Martingale
Filme 1939
Fred Mertz
Filme 1953
O'Fleery
Filme 1949
Jiggers
Filme 1944
Jimmy O'Brien
Filme 1950
William Dunhill aka The Professor
Filme 1934
Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
Filme 1940
Fred Mertz
Filme 1956
Filme 1942
Mushy Harrington
Filme 1939
Knobby Walsh
Filme 1948
Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
Filme 1945
Matt Kingsley
Filme 1940
Sunshine Joe
Filme 1935
Filme 2016
Briney O'Brien
Filme 1935
Mr. Bernouti
Filme 1948
Bub O'Casey
Tv 1960
Tv 1958
Self
Tv 1952
Self
Tv 1949
Self
Tv 1950
Self
Tv 1948
Self
Tv 1962
Jim Comstock
Tv 1956