There are some who like to say that Lucille Ball wasn’t an easy woman to get along with. While there are few who would argue that she wasn’t a tough businesswoman and driven to succeed as an entertainer, I am going to cry foul on the idea that she was difficult to get along with; from everything that I’ve read throughout Lucy’s career, she demonstrated repeatedly a strong sense of loyalty to those people that she worked with on screen.
This was definitely true of her relationship with Vivian Vance. Although Vivian wasn’t Lucy’s first choice for the character of Ethel, it goes without saying that after she got the role, it didn’t take long for Lucy to understand what a tremendous comedic talent they’d found for the show.
And then, there’s William Frawley, and how Lucy helped engineer his final appearance on television.
From what I understand, during the 1964 fall season, Bill, who was then playing ‘Bub’ O’Casey on My Three Sons, was declared too ill to work by Desilu Studios. This was heartbreaking for both Bill and the studio because of Lucy’s long relationship with Bill.
Unfortunately, the company had found out that continuing to insure this actor was just going to be too costly because of his waning health. So, Bill continued in the role until a suitable replacement could be found at mid-season. Upon leaving that show, it would seem that his final scene on My Three Sons would’ve been his very last onscreen TV appearance.
But then, just a few months later, something interesting happened. Bill and Vivian Vance had had an icy relationship when they worked together; let’s just say that Vivian didn’t love the fact that she was paired with an actor who was quite a bit older than her. With Vivian’s departure from The Lucy Show, Lucy saw an opportunity to invite Bill back — without the friction from her co-star — to make a cameo appearance. It’s a brief scene, lasting just a couple of minutes. However, in it, Bill demonstrates all of the comedic skills that made him a legend in the industry.
If Bill had struggled in any way, this brief moment would’ve fallen flat, but he was spot on and really delivered the goods. Sure, he moved a bit slower than before, but the scene is a ton of fun and a great way for Bill to say “so long” to all of his fans with the help of Lucille Ball. Without a doubt, Bill appreciated the opportunity; Lucy and those involved with the show even gave him a special end credit calling him “Our Own Bill Frawley.”
The episode with Bill’s cameo aired on CBS on October 25th, 1965, and sadly, it was just a few months later, on March 3rd, 1966, that Bill would pass away. Among Bill’s pallbearers were Fred MacMurray and Desi Arnaz.
