Photo: KTTV, Los Angeles. This was a publicity photo for a local KTTV program. In the 1950s and 1960s, television stations, networks, studios and program sponsors often used advertising or publicity agencies to distribute promotional material. In this case, KTTV used advertising agency Young & Rubicam to send out the photos and releases. / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
William Frawley was listed as a television actor, singer and character actor. Born on February 26, 1887, William Frawley was from Burlington, Iowa, United States. Death is recorded on March 3, 1966, at the age of 79. Awards on record include star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
My Take
Frawley is one of those actors whose face you know long before you learn his name. As Fred Mertz on I Love Lucy, he turned grumbling into an art form, and his work in Miracle on 34th Street showed the same gruff warmth. What fascinates me is the long vaudeville apprenticeship behind that ease, the singing and stagecraft that made his timing look effortless. He never chased leading-man glamour, yet he anchored scenes that bigger stars floated through. To me his Walk of Fame star celebrates exactly the kind of dependable character work that holds whole shows together, and I quietly admire it.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- William Frawley
- Name (Japanese)
- ウィリアム・フローリー
- Reading
- うぃりあむ・ふろーりー
- Born
- February 26, 1887 – March 3, 1966
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Boar
- Origin
- Burlington, Iowa, United States
- Occupation
- television actor / singer / actor / character actor / screenwriter
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20Frawley
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1290248
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was William Frawley born?
Born February 26, 1887.
When did William Frawley die?
Died March 3, 1966, aged 79.
Where was William Frawley from?
William Frawley was from Burlington, Iowa, United States.
What did William Frawley do?
William Frawley worked as television actor, singer, actor, character actor, screenwriter.
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