ORBITRA
William Frawley

Acting

William Frawley

Feb 25, 1887 – Mar 3, 1966127 titles 115 movies · 12 TV
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IMDb

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.

Also known as

Bill Frawley · William Clement Frawley

Born

Feb 25, 1887 – Mar 3, 1966

Burlington, Iowa, USA

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Photos

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Roles across career

Titles counted once; a person can act and direct on the same film (roles merged).

127

Acting credits

0

Directing

0

Writing

0

Other crew

Most critically rated

Highest TMDB score (min 100 votes)

Most commercially successful

Highest TMDB vote count (attention / reach proxy; not box office)

Career timeline

By release / first air year · movie & TV merged

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1925 1 title(s)

1927 1 title(s)

1933 2 title(s)

1934 7 title(s)

1935 10 title(s)

1936 7 title(s)

1937 4 title(s)

1938 4 title(s)

1939 9 title(s)

1940 10 title(s)

1941 6 title(s)

1942 8 title(s)

1943 3 title(s)

1944 3 title(s)

1945 4 title(s)

1946 4 title(s)

1947 7 title(s)

1948 6 title(s)

1949 7 title(s)

1950 5 title(s)

1951 4 title(s)

1952 2 title(s)

1953 2 title(s)

1954 1 title(s)

1956 2 title(s)

1957 1 title(s)

1958 1 title(s)

1960 1 title(s)

1962 3 title(s)

2000 1 title(s)

2016 1 title(s)