They were a good pair on TV, and played the part of an older (60-something) couple well.  However, Vivian Vance (Ethel) was only in her early 40s (and looked no older nor younger) at the time while William Frawley (Fred) really was in his 60s.  I think I read in a book somewhere that Vivian was offended to play such a matronly role when she was pretty much Lucy's age (and Lucy was playing a thirtysomething).

Still, the whole cast of "I Love Lucy" made their parts believable because of their tremendous talent.

Apparently they didn't get along very well at all in real life, but they made a great comedic duo on "I Love Lucy."

Another great pairing. Despite the fact that they were not the stars of the show, they held their own with Lucy and Desi, sometimes stealing the scene.

Vintage character actor Frawley was much older than Vance, who was actually quite an attractive woman. Apparently, he overheard her saying before filming began that it was unlikely that a woman like her would ever be with a man like him, and held it against her forever after, and the antipathy was mutual. Still, when I watched the show as a kid, I don't remember having any feeling of anything being wrong, so I guess their skill at acting helped overcome, at least on the small screen, what must have been a decidedly unpleasant working experience. Either that, or I was a very naive, unobservant kid.

They made a pretty good pair, but poor Ethel being married to grumpy old Fred.

the were a very good paring the friends of lucy and ricky. the actors played well together even though i have heard on many occasions that Vivian Vance and william Frawley could not stand each other. that alone would show they did a fine acting job as husband and wife.

Best pairing yet, bar none, to be sure.