Was There Really Tension Between William Frawley & William Demarest Due to My 3 Sons? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

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.

66WASTOPS · 07-22-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

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.

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.

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.

09-06-2010, 01:45 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was There Really Tension Between William Frawley & William Demarest Due to My 3 Sons? 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? Attached Images
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09-06-2010, 02:00 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,461	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.
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09-07-2010, 09:53 PM	#3
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,645	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.
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09-07-2010, 10:21 PM	#5
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	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.
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09-08-2010, 12:43 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	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.
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09-07-2010, 10:19 PM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Thanks guys for the info

07-22-2011, 09:33 AM	#8
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Guess which one I prefer.

10-15-2021, 07:09 AM	#9
franfun65 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2021 Location: Milford, PA Posts: 11	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.

10-15-2021, 11:41 AM	#10
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,874	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.

10-15-2021, 03:30 PM	#11
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I agree with the MacMurray method causing additional stress on the set.