LYCOS RETRIEVER 
William Frawley: Fred Mertz
built 647 days ago
Former vaudevillian William Frawley is known worldwide as Fred Mertz, the skinflint landlord and friend of the Ricardos, on the perpetually repeated classic TV sitcom "I Love Lucy" (CBS, 1951-1956). This was but one in a long line of gruff character roles, many of whom displayed a hidden soft side, that he played in more than 150 Hollywood films from 1931-1962.
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By 1951, the 64 year-old Frawley had appeared in over one hundred films. The roles were soon drying up.... When he heard that Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball were casting a new television sitcom, he jumped at the chance to play the role of penny-pinching landlord Fred Mertz.
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It is said of William Frawley that his appearance hardly changed over the decades. In this newspaper artist's rendering from The Ghost Writer, (1933), his final Broadway appearance before signing a Paramount Pictures contract and heading for Hollywood, he looks as if he is ready to play Fred Mertz - even though he would not be cast in the role for another eighteen years. Frawley is pictured top right with Ara Gerald; the other actors are Hal Skelly and Peggy Conklin.
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The board fired Frawley in April, shortly after he was charged with driving under the influence twice in two days. He was later convicted of the charges in Fredericksburg and in Fairfax County.
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Frawley, accompanied by an attorney, made no comment during the four-minute hearing in Fredericksburg General District Court. His attorney entered an Alford plea on Frawley's behalf. The plea means that a defendant does not admit guilt but concedes sufficient evidence exists to result in a conviction.
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Frawley was arrested in Fredericksburg the next day after a witness reported seeing him driving a car without a right front tire and police attempted to pull him over. Frawley didn't stop until he reached his home, where he was arrested on suspicion of DUI and refusal to take a Breathalyzer test. Authorities dropped the breath-test refusal charge Tuesday.
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Fred Mertz