Fred Mertz

Frederick Hobart Mertz, played by William Frawley, is a fictional character in the 1950s American sitcom I Love Lucy. 2Character Fred was born and raised on a farm in the midwest (episode #171), probably in or near Steubenville, Ohio (episode #134), although in one episode Ethel claims that Fred's mother comes once a year from Indiana. Fred is of Irish descent (episode #171) and has at least one brother (season 2, episode 29). He toured the country in vaudeville before retiring to New York City. He is a World War I veteran and is married to Ethel Mae Louise Roberta Potter Mertz (Vivian Vance), and they often jokingly make fun of each other. Their wedding anniversary is May 3 (episode #121). Ethel often calls Fred a "fat old goat", and in return Fred calls Ethel the "bottomless pit" due to her voracious appetite. Having been "wiped out" in the Great Depression (episode # 152), he is a penny-pincher and gives Ethel very little money. Nevertheless, Fred always has the money when an investment opportunity comes along (e.g., diner purchase, oil stocks). As a young man, Fred was in vaudeville with his friend, Barney Kurtz, as the duo of 'Mertz and Kurtz' (known for "tap dancing, soft shoe and smart quips" (episode #23)