William Frawley (Actor)

Headshot of American actor William Frawley, circa 1935 (Photo: Paramount Pictures / Getty Images)

About William Frawley

American actor William Frawley had hopes of becoming a newspaperman but was sidetracked by a series of meat-and-potatoes jobs. At 21, he found himself in the chorus of a musical comedy in Chicago; his mother forced him to quit, but Frawley had already gotten greasepaint in his veins. Forming a vaudeville act with his brother Paul, Frawley hit the show-business trail; several partners later (including his wife Louise), Frawley was a headliner and in later years laid claim to having introduced the beer-hall chestnut "Melancholy Baby." Entering films in the early 1930s (he'd made a few desultory silent-movie appearances), Frawley became typecast as irascible, pugnacious Irishmen, not much of a stretch from his off-camera personality.

Though he worked steadily into the late 1940s, Frawley's drinking got the better of him, and by 1951 most producers found him virtually unemployable. Not so Desi Arnaz, who cast Frawley as neighbor Fred Mertz on the I Love Lucy TV series when Gale Gordon proved unavailable. Frawley promised to stay away from the booze during filming, and in turn Arnaz promised to give Frawley time off whenever the New York Yankees were in the World Series (a rabid baseball fan, Frawley not only appeared in a half dozen baseball films, but also was one of the investors of the minor-league Hollywood Stars ball team). Frawley played Fred Mertz until the last I Love Lucy episode was filmed in 1960, then moved on to a five-year assignment as Bub, chief cook and bottle-washer to son-in-law Fred MacMurray's all male household on My Three Sons. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Notes

A rabid New York Yankees baseball fan, Frawley had written into his "I Love Lucy" contract that he did not have work during The World Series if the Yankees were playing. Considering the 1950s New York Yankees were in eight of the 10 series during the decade, this did cause Desilu a few problems and Frawley does not appear in two "I Love Lucy" episodes due to this clause.

Frawley is said to have put himself in contention for the role of Fred Mertz on "I Love Lucy" by telephoning Lucille Ball and saying "Red. I hear you gotta TV series coming on. You got a part for me?"

Frawley was always happiest when he could sing on an "I Love Lucy" episode. Although Vivian Vance had also been a singer in musical comedy, Frawley insisted she could not carry a tune. It was one of the off-stage elements of friction between Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mertz.

Some say it was because of his drinking, but Frawley did not drive. Luckily, he lived in the El Royale apartments on Rossmore, in walking distance of all three locations where "I Love Lucy" was filmed during its run. Frawley's favorite watering hole was Nickodell's restaurant and bar, which was only a few yards away from the Paramount main gate.