View Full Version : Was There Really Tension Between William Frawley & William Demarest Due to My 3 Sons?


Brian Damage
09-06-2010, 01:45 AM
I read that on a website but haven't had any solid proof of that. It stated that Frawley resented Demarest for replacing him on the sitcom. It got so bad, apparently Frawley was banned from the set of My Three Sons. Is this actually true?

Marvo301
09-06-2010, 02:00 AM
The reason William Frawley was written off My Three Sons was because his health was deteriorating and he could no longer be insured. William Demarest just happened to be the actor that was hired to take his place. So if Frawley had any resentment of Frawley is probably that he was really upset about his health issues and redirected that anger towards his replacement.

biffbronson
09-07-2010, 09:53 PM
Frawley reportedly did say things like "that's not how I would have said the line," criticizing Demarest's performance right there on the set. So we do hear of friction, which seems to have been instigated by Frawley.

Brian Damage
09-07-2010, 10:19 PM
Thanks guys for the info :)

Mr. Television
09-07-2010, 10:21 PM
I did read somewhere that they never got along even before My 3 Sons. Frawley was probably upset that he got replaced and was extra mad that he got replaced by Demarest. I don't remember where I read that though. Maybe TV Knowledge Fan will know.

catlover79
09-08-2010, 12:43 AM
Boy, Bill Frawley really didn't have a lot of Hollywood friends, did he (well, I read that the M3S kids all adored him)? I wonder how Vivian Vance got along with William Demarest, if they'd ever met. :eek:

66WASTOPS
07-22-2011, 08:05 AM
Boy, Bill Frawley really didn't have a lot of Hollywood friends, did he (well, I read that the M3S kids all adored him)? I wonder how Vivian Vance got along with William Demarest, if they'd ever met. :eek:
I remember reading somewhere that the 3 sons actually enjoyed working w/Frawley better and that they felt the show was never the same after he left[which is also my opinion as well.]

old grouch
07-22-2011, 09:33 AM
Guess which one I prefer.:lol:

franfun65
10-15-2021, 07:09 AM
There was a lot of upheaval in that show first, The William Frawley/William Demarest
thing and next Tim Considine leaving the show suddenly which i heard was over writing/directing on the show. Vivian Vance didn't get along with William Frawley on the set of I love Lucy. quote: You only live once but you do it right--Mae West.

SarahBellum
10-15-2021, 11:41 AM
I suppose there was also some tension due to MacMurray's shortened work schedule, i.e. his insistence that all of his scenes be shot in advance.

rusty spike
10-15-2021, 03:30 PM
I agree with the MacMurray method causing additional stress on the set.