 She had to play Fred's wife, and Fred was an old guy. By the way, Vivian Vance did not like this. She almost didn't take the part because she said, you know, I'm not old. I know, but he's going to be your husband, so we have to make you old and matronly looking. She never liked that, and she never liked William Frawley, the actor. They hated each other. Okay. That's true. So how old was she? How old was Vivian Vance when she played Ethel? 25. No, no, older than that.