Acting credits
120
Prolific
Very extensive acting filmography.
Actor
William Frawley
Acting
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
0.6
Low visibility
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Movies: 110Series: 10
TMDB ID: 34285
IMDb ID: nm0292433
Known for: Acting
Born: February 25, 1887
Died: March 3, 1966
Age: 79
Place of birth: Burlington, Iowa, USA
Gender: Male
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1925 - 2016
Years active: 92
Average TMDB rating: 6.62
Wikidata: Q1290248
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.
Movies
Movies
Movie credits linked with William Frawley.
10.0
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
as Fred Mertz
2016 Movie
4.2
Safe at Home!
as Bill Turner
1962 Movie
6.5
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
as Fred Mertz
1956 Movie
5.0
The Dirty Look
1954 Movie
7.7
I Love Lucy: The Movie
as Fred Mertz
1953 Movie
6.5
Rancho Notorious
as Baldy Gunder
1952 Movie
5.3
Rhubarb
as Len Sickles
1951 Movie
6.5
The Lemon Drop Kid
as Gloomy Willie
1951 Movie
6.3
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
as Det. Roberts
1951 Movie
6.0
Pretty Baby
as Corcoran
1950 Movie
6.9
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
as Byers
1950 Movie
6.3
Kill the Umpire
as Jimmy O'Brien
1950 Movie
6.3
Blondie's Hero
as Marty Greer
1950 Movie
6.9
East Side, West Side
as Bill the Bartender
1949 Movie
5.0
The Lady Takes a Sailor
as Oliver Harker
1949 Movie
5.8
Red Light
as Hotel Night Clerk
1949 Movie
5.0
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
as Inspector Crane
1949 Movie
Home in San Antone
as O'Fleery
1949 Movie
6.0
Chicken Every Sunday
as George Kirby
1949 Movie
5.0
The Girl from Manhattan
as Mr. Bernouti
1948 Movie
6.0
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All
as Knobby Walsh
1948 Movie
5.6
The Babe Ruth Story
as Jack Dunn
1948 Movie
6.2
Good Sam
as Tom
1948 Movie
5.3
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven
as Agent
1948 Movie
Series
Series
Series credits linked with William Frawley.
7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self • 1 eps
1962 Series
7.1
The Lucy Show
as Trainer • 1 eps
1962 Series
6.5
My Three Sons
as Bub O'Casey • 216 eps
1960 Series
5.8
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
6 eps
1958 Series
8.6
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
as Fred Mertz • 13 eps
1957 Series
6.5
Letter to Loretta
as Sam • 1 eps
1953 Series
6.4
This Is Your Life
as Self • 1 eps
1952 Series
7.9
I Love Lucy
as Fred Mertz • 180 eps
1951 Series
7.0
The Bob Hope Show
as Self • 1 eps
1950 Series
6.8
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self • 1 eps
1948 Series