William Frawley Biography

Fast Facts

• Began his acting career on the vaudeville stage, traveling the country and performing primarily in comic duos
• Widely credited as being the first public performer of the popular song "My Melancholy Baby," in 1912, which was later recorded by several famous artists including Ella Fitzgerald and Barbra Streisand
• Followed his younger brother Paul to the Broadway stage in 1925, landing a role in the musical comedy Merry, Merry
• Returned to his vaudeville performance roots in 1958, recording the album Bill Frawley Sings the Old Ones