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Gale Gordon (1906-1995) |
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- William Frawley, I Love Lucy, TV, 1951-57. On the skids, Frawley actively campaigned to play Fred Mertz on learning Gordon was unavailable. Desi Arnaz liked Frawley. “But he’s a womaniser, gambler and alcoholic.” “Perfect!” said Arnaz, husband and co-star of Lucy, herself: Lucille Ball. And Frawley was - in three other Lucille Ball series and two tele-films, 1951-80. Despite hating each other, the Mertz actors were offered a 1959 spin-off. Frawley was keen - “I’m going to learn to love that bitch” - but his tele-wife Vivian Vance fled. She cried “Champagne for everyone!” when he died in 1966 - as we all should - walking along Hollywood Boulevard after seeing a movie.
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