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
Blondie in Society Waldo Pincus
Blondie's Anniversary Sharkey the Loen Shark
Blondie's Hero Marty Greer
Lady on a Train Desk Sgt. Brennan
The Fighting Seabees Eddie Powers
Roberta Bartender
The Princess Comes Across Benton
The Lemon Drop Kid Gloomy Willie
Miracle on 34th Street Charlie Halloran
Red Light Hotel Night Clerk
Welcome Home Painless
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man Det. Roberts
Flame of Barbary Coast Wolf Wylie
Rancho Notorious Baldy Gunder
One Night in the Tropics Roscoe
Rhubarb Len Sickles
The Babe Ruth Story Jack Dunn
Gentleman Jim Billy Delaney
Rose of Washington Square Harry Long
Mad About Music Dusty Turner
Footsteps in the Dark Det. 'Hoppy' Hopkins
The Crime Doctor Fraser
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Byers
The Inner Circle Det. Lt. Webb
Rose Bowl 'Soapy' Moreland
Professor Beware Snoop Donlan
Whistling in Brooklyn Detective Ramsey
Double or Nothing John Pederson
Something to Sing About Hank Mayers
Roxie Hart O'Malley
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt Police Inspector Harry B. Manning
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The 'Duke'
Desire Mr. Gibson
The Virginian Honey Wiggen
Mother Wore Tights Mr. Schneider
Moonlight and Pretzels Mac
Rhythm on the River Mr. Westlake
Golden Gloves Emory Balzar
Strike Me Pink Mr. Copple
The Dirty Look
Alibi Ike Cap
The Lady Takes a Sailor Oliver Harker
Safe at Home! Bill Turner
Here Is My Heart James Smith
Pretty Baby Corcoran
The Lone Wolf and His Lady Inspector Crane
Ventriloquist 'Hoak' salesman
Bolero Mike DeBaere
Chicken Every Sunday George Kirby
Blossoms On Broadway Francis X. Rush
Shoot the Works Larry Hale
Moonlight in Havana Barney Crane
Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen Captain Murphy
Sons of the Legion Uncle Willie Lee
The Witching Hour Jury Foreman
Three Married Men Bill Mullins
College Scandal Chief of Police Magoun
Dancing on a Dime Mac
Car 99 Training Sgt. Barrel
We've Never Been Licked Traveling Salesman
Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven Agent
Hitchhike to Happiness Sandy Hill
Wildcat Oliver Westbrook
F-Man Detective Rogan
The Bride Came C.O.D. Sheriff McGee
My Wild Irish Rose William Scanlon
Should Husbands Be Watched? Beat Cop
High, Wide and Handsome Mac
Cracked Nuts James Mitchell
Down to Earth Police Lieutenant
Those Were the Days! Prisoner
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now Jim Mason
Grand Jury Secrets Bright Eyes
The Farmer's Daughter Scoop Trimble
Gangs Of The City Bang
Untamed Les Woodbury
Hell and High Water Milton J. Bunsey
Going My Way Max Dolan (Publisher) (uncredited)
Rendezvous with Annie General Trent
It's a Great Life Lt. McNulty
Treat 'Em Rough 'Hotfoot'
Monsieur Verdoux Jean La Salle
It Happened in Flatbush Sam Sloan
Harmony Lane Edwin P. 'Ed' Christy
Stop, Look and Love Joe Haller
Ambush Inspector J.L. Weber
Persons in Hiding Alec Inglis
Touchdown, Army Jack Heffernan
The Quarterback Coach
Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga Chauncey Beheegan
Give Out, Sisters Harrison
Larceny with Music Mike Simms
St. Louis Blues Major Martingale
East Side, West Side Bill the Bartender
I Love Lucy: The Movie Fred Mertz
Home in San Antone O'Fleery
Good Sam Tom
Lake Placid Serenade Jiggers
Kill the Umpire Jimmy O'Brien
The Lemon Drop Kid William Dunhill aka The Professor
The General Died at Dawn Brighton
Sandy Gets Her Man Police Chief J. A. O'Hara
Lucy's Really Lost Moments Fred Mertz
The Yankee Doodler
Night Work Bruiser Brown
Ex-Champ Mushy Harrington
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All Knobby Walsh
Ziegfeld Follies Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
Opened by Mistake Matt Kingsley
Hold 'Em Yale Sunshine Joe
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Ship Cafe Briney O'Brien
The Girl from Manhattan Mr. Bernouti
Shows
My Three Sons Bub O'Casey
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour Fred Mertz
The Lucy Show Trainer
I Love Lucy Fred Mertz
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
This Is Your Life Self
Letter to Loretta Sam
The Ed Wynn Show Self
The Bob Hope Show Self
The Ed Sullivan Show Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Self
The Gale Storm Show Jim Comstock
I Love Lucy: Colorized Collection Fred Mertz
