Fred Mertz
Encyclopedia
Frederick Hobart Mertz, born in 1887 (played by William Frawley
) is a fictional character in the 1950s American sitcom
I Love Lucy
, originally from Indianapolis
before his relocation to New York City
. He is a World War I
veteran and often talks about his times in the war. He is married to Ethel Mae Potter Mertz
(Vivian Vance
), and they often jokingly make fun of each other. Ethel often calls Fred a "fat old goat", and in return Fred calls Ethel the "bottomless pit" as she eats often though Fred is sometimes the one who wants to eat while Ethel is willing to wait. He is a penny-pincher and gives Ethel very little money, and he treats his friends the same way though it is the Ricardos that get the brunt of that action. The most notable example was when he bought a blue 1923 Cadillac
convertible for the quartet's trip to California
.
When he was younger, he was in show business
with his friend, Barney Kurtz, and later, his wife. Eventually, Fred and Ethel retired and bought a brownstone
apartment in New York City
. In 1942, Lucy and Ricky moved into the brownstone apartment building where Fred, Ethel, Lucy, and Ricky quickly became friends. Fred's best friend, Ricky Ricardo
, and Ricky's wife, Lucy, live in the apartment house. However, Fred guests, along with Ethel, on a show of Ricky's if asked.
When Ricky does something to upset Lucy, she plots revenge and drags Ethel into her plan, often against her will. Ethel almost always blabs to Fred, who tells Ricky, and the two come up with their own plan to get even with their wives. Once in a while, it is Ethel that is away and it is Fred that is dragged into Lucy's scheme.
The Fred Mertz character and the actor who portrayed him (William Frawley
), including some of their costumes, are memorialized in the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center
in
Jamestown, New York
(Lucy's real-life hometown).
William Frawley (Fred Mertz) and Vivian Vance
(Ethel Mertz) detested each other and when Arnaz offered them a spin-off
series when I Love Lucy
ended, Vance refused to accept it because she didn't want to have to work even more closely with Frawley.
William Frawley
William Clement "Bill" Frawley was an American stage entertainer, screen and television actor. Although Frawley acted in over 100 films, he achieved his greatest fame playing landlord Fred Mertz for the situation comedy I Love Lucy.-Early life:William was born to Michael A. Frawley and Mary E....
) is a fictional character in the 1950s American sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, originally from Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
before his relocation to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veteran and often talks about his times in the war. He is married to Ethel Mae Potter Mertz
Ethel Mertz
Ethel Roberta Louise Mae Mertz is one of the four main fictional characters in the highly popular 1950s and 1960s American television sitcom I Love Lucy, played by Vivian Vance. Ethel is the main character Lucy's middle-aged landlady - supposed to have been born about 1905, and raised in New Mexico...
(Vivian Vance
Vivian Vance
Vivian Roberta Jones was an American television and theater actress and singer. Often referred to as “TV’s most beloved second banana,” she is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy...
), and they often jokingly make fun of each other. Ethel often calls Fred a "fat old goat", and in return Fred calls Ethel the "bottomless pit" as she eats often though Fred is sometimes the one who wants to eat while Ethel is willing to wait. He is a penny-pincher and gives Ethel very little money, and he treats his friends the same way though it is the Ricardos that get the brunt of that action. The most notable example was when he bought a blue 1923 Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
convertible for the quartet's trip to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
When he was younger, he was in show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
with his friend, Barney Kurtz, and later, his wife. Eventually, Fred and Ethel retired and bought a brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
apartment in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1942, Lucy and Ricky moved into the brownstone apartment building where Fred, Ethel, Lucy, and Ricky quickly became friends. Fred's best friend, Ricky Ricardo
Ricky Ricardo
Enrique Alberto Fernando Ricardo y de Acha, III, a.k.a. Ricky Ricardo is a main character in the television show I Love Lucy, played by Desi Arnaz...
, and Ricky's wife, Lucy, live in the apartment house. However, Fred guests, along with Ethel, on a show of Ricky's if asked.
When Ricky does something to upset Lucy, she plots revenge and drags Ethel into her plan, often against her will. Ethel almost always blabs to Fred, who tells Ricky, and the two come up with their own plan to get even with their wives. Once in a while, it is Ethel that is away and it is Fred that is dragged into Lucy's scheme.
The Fred Mertz character and the actor who portrayed him (William Frawley
William Frawley
William Clement "Bill" Frawley was an American stage entertainer, screen and television actor. Although Frawley acted in over 100 films, he achieved his greatest fame playing landlord Fred Mertz for the situation comedy I Love Lucy.-Early life:William was born to Michael A. Frawley and Mary E....
), including some of their costumes, are memorialized in the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center
Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center
The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center is a museum in Jamestown, New York, dedicated to the lives and careers of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The museum officially opened in 1996 "to preserve and celebrate the legacy of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and enrich the world through the healing powers of love...
in
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
(Lucy's real-life hometown).
William Frawley (Fred Mertz) and Vivian Vance
Vivian Vance
Vivian Roberta Jones was an American television and theater actress and singer. Often referred to as “TV’s most beloved second banana,” she is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy...
(Ethel Mertz) detested each other and when Arnaz offered them a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
series when I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
ended, Vance refused to accept it because she didn't want to have to work even more closely with Frawley.