Edna Frawley was the first and only wife of William Frawley, the actor who played Fred Mertz on the iconic sitcom I Love Lucy. The couple had a tumultuous marriage that ended in divorce in 1927, after 13 years of being together. Edna was also an actress and a vaudeville performer, but she never achieved the fame and success that her ex-husband did. She died on November 11, 1987, in San Diego, California, at the age of 94. But what was the cause of her death, and why did she and William Frawley hate each other so much?
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A Vaudeville Romance Gone Wrong
Edna Louise Broedt was born on June 28, 1893, in Chicago, Illinois. She started her career as a vaudeville performer and actress, and met William Frawley in 1914, when they were both working on the same stage. They soon became a comedy duo, and got married on November 1, 1914. They performed together on various stages across the U.S., and even appeared in some silent films, such as Realization (1916), Persistent Percival (1916), and A Gay Blade’s Last Scrape (1916) .
However, their marriage was not a happy one, as William was a heavy drinker and a womanizer, and Edna was a jealous and controlling wife. They often fought and argued, and their relationship deteriorated over the years. They finally divorced in 1927, and never had any children together. Edna remarried in 1932, to a man named Edwin Alfred Mueller, but they also divorced in 1937 .
William Frawley’s Rise to Fame and Fall to Illness
William Frawley continued to pursue his acting career after his divorce from Edna, and appeared in hundreds of films, mostly in supporting roles. He also worked on radio and Broadway, and became a well-known song and dance man. He introduced the songs “Carolina in the Morning” and “My Melancholy Baby” to the public .
His big break came in 1951, when he was cast as Fred Mertz, the landlord and friend of Ricky and Lucy Ricardo, on the hit sitcom I Love Lucy. He starred alongside Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and Vivian Vance, who played his on-screen wife, Ethel Mertz. The show was a huge success, and ran for six seasons, from 1951 to 1957. William Frawley became a household name, and earned five Emmy nominations for his role .
However, behind the scenes, William Frawley was not a happy man. He had a bitter feud with Vivian Vance, who disliked him for his age, appearance, and personality. He also detested her, and they often exchanged insults and snubs on and off the set. He also had a strained relationship with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who were the producers of the show. He was unhappy with his salary and his contract, and felt that he was not given enough recognition and respect for his work .
In the mid-1960s, William Frawley’s age and alcohol took a toll on him, and he began forgetting his lines and falling asleep during takes. He was also suffering from various health problems, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, and prostate cancer. He was let go from his next show, My Three Sons, due to his deteriorating health, which showed in the studio’s annual health insurance exam .
William Frawley died on March 3, 1966, at the age of 79, after suffering a heart attack while walking on Hollywood Boulevard. He collapsed on the sidewalk, and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He left behind a legacy that impacted the entertainment world, and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .
Edna Frawley’s Mysterious Death and Reunion with William Frawley
Edna Frawley lived a quiet and secluded life after her divorce from William Frawley. She never remarried, and had no children or close relatives. She moved to San Diego, California, where she spent her last years. She died on November 11, 1987, at the age of 94, in a nursing home. The cause of her death was not disclosed, and her obituary was not published in any newspaper. She was buried in an unmarked grave in Greenwood Memorial Park, in San Diego .
The only time Edna Frawley and William Frawley met again after their divorce was in 1961, when William Frawley was featured on an episode of This is Your Life, a TV show that brought together people that he had worked with and known during his career. Edna Frawley was one of the surprise guests, and William Frawley was shocked and furious to see her. He cursed and yelled at her, and refused to acknowledge her. He was not happy to see her, and all it did was revive very bad memories .
Edna Frawley and William Frawley were once a couple who shared a passion for performing and entertaining. They had a tumultuous marriage that ended in divorce, and they never reconciled. They both died alone, and without much fanfare. Their cause of death remains a mystery, and their graves are unmarked. They are remembered for their roles on I Love Lucy, but their personal lives are largely forgotten. Edna Frawley cause of death is one of the many secrets that they took with them to the grave.
