William Frawley

Biography

William Frawley was an American actor and vaudevillian who started out in vaudeville in 1914 and later appeared on Broadway, including in Merry, Merry in 1925 and Twentieth Century in 1932. Born in Burlington, Iowa, he signed with Paramount Studios in 1916 and went on to work in more than a hundred movies across some 35 years, finding steady employment as a character actor. His credits included Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Something to Sing About (1937) and Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). In 1951 he took the part of the cantankerous, miserly landlord Fred Mertz on the sitcom I Love Lucy, which ran six years; his work brought him Emmy nominations five years in a row, from 1953 to 1957, for supporting work in a comedy series. From 1960 he played Bub O'Casey, a grandfather and housekeeper, on My Three Sons. He died in 1966.

79years old at death

Born February 26, 1887Burlington
Died March 3, 1966Hollywood
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Also credited as William Clement Frawley

Movie Career

Films: 24
Career span: 17 years1935 to 1952

Genres

Comedy58%, 14 films
Romance50%, 12 films
Drama33%, 8 films
Crime17%, 4 films
Thriller17%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Frawley had a clause written into his I Love Lucy contract excusing him from work during the World Series whenever the New York Yankees were playing, and he missed two episodes because of it.
First role
In 1932 Frawley took his first dramatic part, playing Owen O'Malley, a press agent, in the original staging of Twentieth Century, the play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.
Beyond film
Frawley helped popularize the songs "My Mammy", "My Melancholy Baby" and "Carolina in the Morning" during his vaudeville career, and in 1958 recorded an LP of his old stage songs titled Bill Frawley Sings the Old Ones.

William Frawley movies on Netflix

Rancho Notorious1952IMDb rating 6.8as Baldy Gunder
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6as Det. Roberts
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye1950IMDb rating 7.1as Byers
East Side, West Side1949IMDb rating 6.9as Bill the Bartender
Red Light1949IMDb rating 6.4as Hotel Night Clerk
Good Sam1948IMDb rating 6.3as Tom
Down to Earth1947IMDb rating 6.1as Police Lieutenant
Miracle on 34th Street1947IMDb rating 7.9as Charlie Halloran
The Virginian1946IMDb rating 6.4as Honey Wiggen
Flame of Barbary Coast1945IMDb rating 6.2as Wolf Wylie
Lady on a Train1945IMDb rating 6.7as Desk Sgt. Brennan
Ziegfeld Follies1945IMDb rating 6.4as Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
Going My Way1944IMDb rating 7.0as Max Dolan, Publisher
The Fighting Seabees1944IMDb rating 6.4as Eddie Powers
Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5as Billy Delaney
It Happened in Flatbush1942IMDb rating 6.0as Sam Sloan
Roxie Hart1942IMDb rating 6.9as O'Malley
The Bride Came C.O.D.1941IMDb rating 6.9as Sheriff McGee
Rhythm on the River1940IMDb rating 6.8as Mr. Westlake
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1939IMDb rating 6.8as The 'Duke'
Something to Sing About1937IMDb rating 6.2as Hank Mayers
Desire1936IMDb rating 7.1as Mr. Gibson
The General Died at Dawn1936IMDb rating 6.5as Brighton
Roberta1935IMDb rating 7.0as Bartender

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Miracle on 34th Street1947 Comedy, Drama, Familyas Charlie Halloran
IMDb rating 7.960K votes
Rancho Notorious1952 Westernas Baldy Gunder
IMDb rating 6.86.2K votes
The Fighting Seabees1944as Eddie Powers
IMDb rating 6.44.3K votes
Desire1936as Mr. Gibson
IMDb rating 7.13.4K votes
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951as Det. Roberts
IMDb rating 6.66.8K votes
Gentleman Jim1942as Billy Delaney
IMDb rating 7.54.6K votes
Flame of Barbary Coast1945as Wolf Wylie
IMDb rating 6.21.8K votes
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1939as The 'Duke'
IMDb rating 6.81.6K votes

Most often with

Leo McCarey directed two of these films, Roy Del Ruth two and Victor Schertzinger two. Gene Lockhart appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Gene Lockhart

Gary Cooper

James Cagney

Porter Hall

John Wayne

Irving Bacon

Leo McCareyDirector, 2 films Roy Del RuthDirector, 2 films Victor SchertzingerDirector, 2 films

Films together

Gene Lockhart4 films together, 1937 to 1949
Gene Lockhart's page
- Red Light1949IMDb rating 6.4Frawley as Hotel Night ClerkLockhart as Warni Hazard
- Miracle on 34th Street1947IMDb rating 7.9Frawley as Charlie HalloranLockhart as Judge Harper
- Going My Way1944IMDb rating 7.0Frawley as Max Dolan, PublisherLockhart as Ted Haines Sr.
- Something to Sing About1937IMDb rating 6.2Frawley as Hank MayersLockhart as Bennett O. Regan
Gary Cooper3 films together, 1936 to 1948
Gary Cooper's page
- Good Sam1948IMDb rating 6.3Frawley as TomCooper as Sam Clayton
- Desire1936IMDb rating 7.1Frawley as Mr. GibsonCooper as Tom Bradley
- The General Died at Dawn1936IMDb rating 6.5Frawley as BrightonCooper as O'Hara
James Cagney3 films together, 1937 to 1950
James Cagney's page
- Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye1950IMDb rating 7.1Frawley as ByersCagney as Ralph Cotter
- The Bride Came C.O.D.1941IMDb rating 6.9Frawley as Sheriff McGeeCagney as Steve Collins
- Something to Sing About1937IMDb rating 6.2Frawley as Hank MayersCagney as Terry Rooney
Porter Hall3 films together, 1936 to 1947
Porter Hall's page
- Miracle on 34th Street1947IMDb rating 7.9Frawley as Charlie HalloranHall as Granville Sawyer
- Going My Way1944IMDb rating 7.0Frawley as Max Dolan, PublisherHall as Mr. Belknap
- The General Died at Dawn1936IMDb rating 6.5Frawley as BrightonHall as Peter Perrie
John Wayne2 films together, 1944 to 1945
John Wayne's page
- Flame of Barbary Coast1945IMDb rating 6.2Frawley as Wolf WylieWayne as Duke Fergus
- The Fighting Seabees1944IMDb rating 6.4Frawley as Eddie PowersWayne as Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan
Irving Bacon2 films together, 1939 to 1948
Irving Bacon's page
- Good Sam1948IMDb rating 6.3Frawley as TomBacon as Tramp
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1939IMDb rating 6.8Frawley as The 'Duke'Bacon as Tad
Leo McCareyDirector, 2 films, 1944 to 1948
All films by Leo McCarey
- Good Sam1948IMDb rating 6.3Frawley as Tom
- Going My Way1944IMDb rating 7.0Frawley as Max Dolan, Publisher
Roy Del RuthDirector, 2 films, 1945 to 1949
All films by Roy Del Ruth
- Red Light1949IMDb rating 6.4Frawley as Hotel Night Clerk
- Ziegfeld Follies1945IMDb rating 6.4Frawley as Martin (segment "A Sweepstakes Ticket")
Victor SchertzingerDirector, 2 films, 1937 to 1940
All films by Victor Schertzinger
- Rhythm on the River1940IMDb rating 6.8Frawley as Mr. Westlake
- Something to Sing About1937IMDb rating 6.2Frawley as Hank Mayers
Also two films together33 more actors
- Ward BondKiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) and Gentleman Jim (1942)
- Paul FixFlame of Barbary Coast (1945) and The Fighting Seabees (1944)
- Marc LawrenceThe Virginian (1946) and Flame of Barbary Coast (1945)
- Fred AstaireZiegfeld Follies (1945) and Roberta (1935)
- Barton MacLaneKiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) and Red Light (1949)
- Stanley AndrewsThe Virginian (1946) and Desire (1936)
- Russell HicksFlame of Barbary Coast (1945) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Bing CrosbyGoing My Way (1944) and Rhythm on the River (1940)
- Akim TamiroffDesire (1936) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Jack CarsonGentleman Jim (1942) and The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941)
- Ginger RogersRoxie Hart (1942) and Roberta (1935)
- Rhys WilliamsKiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950) and Gentleman Jim (1942)
- Lucille BallZiegfeld Follies (1945) and Roberta (1935)
- George DavisThe Bride Came C.O.D. (1941) and Desire (1936)
- James BurkeDown to Earth (1947) and It Happened in Flatbush (1942)
- Edward Everett HortonDown to Earth (1947) and Lady on a Train (1945)
- Minor WatsonGentleman Jim (1942) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939)
- Philip AhnSomething to Sing About (1937) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Arthur ShieldsRed Light (1949) and Gentleman Jim (1942)
- J.M. KerriganThe Fighting Seabees (1944) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Marlene DietrichRancho Notorious (1952) and Desire (1936)
- Sara AllgoodIt Happened in Flatbush (1942) and Roxie Hart (1942)
- Charles D. BrownThe Fighting Seabees (1944) and Roxie Hart (1942)
- Cyd CharisseEast Side, West Side (1949) and Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
- William ForrestMiracle on 34th Street (1947) and The Fighting Seabees (1944)
- Harry AntrimMiracle on 34th Street (1947) and Desire (1936)
- William HaadeRancho Notorious (1952) and Down to Earth (1947)
- Arthur FranzAbbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) and Red Light (1949)
- Pat FlahertyGentleman Jim (1942) and It Happened in Flatbush (1942)
- Adele JergensAbbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951) and Down to Earth (1947)
- Leonid KinskeyThe Fighting Seabees (1944) and The General Died at Dawn (1936)
- Harry BarrisRhythm on the River (1940) and Something to Sing About (1937)
- Stanley ClementsRed Light (1949) and Going My Way (1944)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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William Frawley's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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