Buzz
The Formative Years
William Clement Frawley, who became a television legend for his role as Fred Mertz in I Love Lucy, entered the world on February 26, 1887, in Burlington, Iowa. During his youth, he sang in the choir at St. Paul's Catholic Church and performed at the Burlington Opera House. His career began as a stenographer for the Union Pacific Railroad, and he later worked as a court reporter.
Rise to Stardom
Drawn to the allure of entertainment, he quickly ventured into vaudeville, performing alongside his brother Paul.
In 1914, Frawley wed Edna Louise Broedt, his sole spouse, and the duo performed together in vaudeville under the name "Frawley and Louise." Their light comedy act toured the Orpheum and Keith circuits until their separation in 1927.
With a rich, bass vocal range, Frawley also carved out a notable singing career, gracing Broadway stages and reportedly being among the first to perform "My Mammy" and "My Melancholy Baby" for live audiences.
Frawley joined Paramount Studios in 1916, marking the start of his journey in silent films. Over the next 35 years, he became a cherished character actor, appearing in over 100 films. His diverse filmography includes hits like Gentleman Jim (1942) alongside Errol Flynn, Going My Way (1944) with Bing Crosby, the holiday favorite Miracle on 34th Street (1947), and Charlie Chaplin's Monsieur Verdoux (1947). He also starred in two Abbott and Costello films—A Night in the Tropics (1940) and Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)—and one with Bob Hope, The Lemon Drop Kid (1951).
A Troubled Image
Despite his success as a prolific film actor, Frawley's career began to wane by 1951, largely due to his notoriously difficult personality. Known for being irritable, blunt, and antisocial, Frawley found fewer collaborators willing to tolerate his behavior. (As far back as 1928, he was dismissed from the Broadway production That's My Baby after punching actor Clifton Webb.)
Another factor contributing to his career decline was his well-known fondness for alcohol. When Lucille Ball approached Frawley in mid-1951 about playing Fred Mertz, the gruff landlord in her new TV comedy I Love Lucy, she and her husband Desi Arnaz were cautious. Their initial choice, Gale Gordon, was unavailable, so Arnaz set strict rules for Frawley: three strikes. A first mistake would be overlooked, a second would earn a stern warning, and a third would result in his dismissal.
At 64, Frawley, divorced and jobless, living solo in his Hollywood apartment, accepted Arnaz's conditions. He maintained professionalism throughout the show's nine-year run and its successor, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, which concluded in 1960.
I Love Lucy
Surprisingly, their mutual animosity enhanced their on-screen chemistry, making their exchanges and insults even more humorous. (After Lucy ended, a spin-off titled Fred and Ethel was proposed. Frawley was open to the idea despite his dislike for Vance, recognizing its financial potential, but Vance firmly declined to collaborate with him again.)
A devoted baseball enthusiast, Frawley secured a special clause in his I Love Lucy contract: if the New York Yankees reached the World Series, he would receive time off in October to attend. This clause was invoked seven times during the show's run, leading to his absence in two full episodes.
Frawley received five straight Emmy nominations (1953-1957) for his consistently outstanding performances. Though he never won, his portrayal of Fred Mertz remains one of television's most cherished characters.
Despite his dislike for Vance, Frawley formed one of his rare genuine friendships during I Love Lucy with Desi Arnaz. Arnaz, the show's producer, ensured Frawley was well-compensated; by the series' end, Frawley was earning $7,500 weekly—a substantial sum for the era—alongside a favorable residual agreement, a rarity in early television.
My Three Sons
By the mid-1960s, Frawley's health began to decline due to age and alcohol. He started forgetting lines, often delivering multiple flawed takes and masking his frustration with outbursts like, "Who writes this garbage?" If scenes weren't filmed in the morning, he would sometimes fall asleep during afternoon shoots. A crew member had to lie on the floor, out of sight, and tap his shoe to keep him awake during close-ups. By the show's fifth season, Frawley's health deteriorated to the point where he failed the studio's annual insurance exam and was dismissed.
The Final Chapter
William Frawley's final television appearance was alongside his former co-star Lucille Ball in a 1965 episode of The Lucy Show titled "The Traveller." In a brief cameo, as Frawley passes by, Lucy glances at him and comments, "He reminds me of someone I used to know."
On March 3, 1966, William Frawley, aged 79, suffered a heart attack and passed away while walking home from a movie. Legend has it that upon hearing of his death, Vance exclaimed, "Champagne for everyone!"
To honor Frawley, Desi Arnaz promptly placed a full-page ad in all trade publications with the message "Buenos noches, amigo." Arnaz also served as one of the pallbearers at Frawley's funeral.
Eddie Deezen has starred in more than 30 films, including Grease, WarGames, 1941, and The Polar Express. He has also appeared in numerous TV series, such as Magnum PI, The Facts of Life, and The Gong Show. Additionally, he has performed thousands of voice-overs for radio and animated shows like Dexter's Laboratory and Family Guy.
