Before Larry David confirmed himself as a pretty, pretty good curmudgeon on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” William Frawley’s Fred Mertz laid out the cantankerous blueprint for Mr. David. Frawley was no stranger to the world of showbiz, having starred in a plethora of films before being cast in “I Love Lucy.” However, Frawley’s casting proved to be controversial at the time. In fact, Desi Arnaz needed to bat for him, as CBS was concerned about Frawley’s reputation for being a heavy drinker.
As Arnaz explained in his autobiography “A Book,” Frawley called him to find out if he could be considered for the role of Fred. Familiar with his talents and believing him to be the right fit for the part, Arnaz took the suggestion to CBS, but the executives pushed back on the idea. However, Arnaz used his position as an executive producer on the show to hire Frawley anyway. Nonetheless, he still had a conversation with the actor where he explained how their working relationship would need to work.
“The first time you are not able to do your job, I’ll try to work around you for that day,” Arnaz told Frawley. “The second time, I’ll try to manage again. But if you do it three times, you are through, and I mean through, not only on our show, but you’ll never work in this town again as long as you live. Is that fair enough?” Frawley agreed, and the rest is history.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
