Lucille Ball
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 6, 1911
- Died
- April 26, 1989 (aged 77)
- Birthplace
- Jamestown, New York, USA
Biography
Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy. One of the most popular and influential stars in America during her lifetime, with one of Hollywood's longest careers, especially on television, Ball began acting in the 1930s, becoming both a radio actress and B-movie star in the 1940s, and then a television star during the 1950s. She was still making films in the 1960s and 1970s. Ball received thirteen Emmy Award nominations and four wins. In 1977 Ball was among the first recipients of the Women in Film Crystal Award. She was the recipient of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986 and the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1989. In 1929, Ball landed work as a model and later began her performing career on Broadway using the stage name Dianne Belmont. She appeared in many small movie roles in the 1930s as a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures. Ball was labeled as the "Queen of the Bs" (referring to her many roles in B-films). In 1951, Ball was pivotal in the creation of the television series I Love Lucy. The show co-starred her then husband, Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo and Vivian Vance and William Frawley as Ethel and Fred Mertz, the Ricardos' landlords and friends. The show ended in 1957 after 180 episodes. They then changed the format a little - lengthening the time of the show from 30 minutes to 60 minutes (the first one went 75 mins), adding some characters, altering the storyline somewhat, and renaming the show from "I Love Lucy" to "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour", which ran for three seasons (1957–1960) and 13 episodes. Ball went on to star in two more successful television series: The Lucy Show, which ran on CBS from 1962 to 1968 (156 Episodes), and Here's Lucy from 1968 to 1974 (144 episodes). Her last attempt at a television series was a 1986 show called Life with Lucy - which failed miserably after 8 episodes aired although 13 were produced. Ball met and eloped with Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz in 1940. On July 17, 1951, almost 40 years old, Ball gave birth to their first child, Lucie Désirée Arnaz. A year and a half later, Ball gave birth to their second child, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV, known as Desi Arnaz, Jr. Ball and Arnaz divorced on May 4, 1960. On April 26, 1989, Ball died of a dissecting aortic aneurysm at age 77. At the time of her death she had been married to her second husband, standup comedian and business partner Gary Morton, for twenty-eight years.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special
Movie
The Time Element
Movie · as Self
A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music
Movie · as Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) (uncredited)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Lucy and Desi
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
My Darling Vivian
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Movie · as Lucy
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
Movie · as Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Movie · as Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
Pioneers of Primetime
Movie
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Movie · as (archive footage)
Judy Garland: By Myself
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Cher: The Farewell Tour
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
Movie · as Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Movie · as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
Movie
E! True Hollywood Story
TV · 1 ep
That's Entertainment! III
Movie · as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Movie · as Self
The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Intimate Portrait
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
Movie · as (archive footage)
A Tribute to Lucy
Movie
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Movie · as Self
A Beverly Hills Christmas
Movie · as Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Movie · as Self
The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
TV · as Self · 1 ep
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Movie · as Self
Life with Lucy
TV · as Lucy Barker · 8 eps
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Stone Pillow
Movie · as Florabelle
Night of 100 Stars II
Movie · as Self
That's Dancing!
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Movie · as Self
Body Language
TV · as Self · 5 eps
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Showbiz Goes to War
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Movie · as Self
A Love Letter to Jack Benny
Movie · as Herself
Entertainment Tonight
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Lucy Moves to NBC
Movie · as Self
Cher... and Other Fantasies
Movie · as Cleaning Lady
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Lucy Calls the President
Movie · as Lucy Whittaker
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Movie · as Self
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
Movie · as Catherine Curtis
Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul
Movie · as Self
NBC: The First Fifty Years
Movie · as Self
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Movie · as Self
The Practice
TV · 1 ep
Donny & Marie
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Three for Two
Movie · as Sally / Rita / Pauline
Lucy Gets Lucky
Movie · as Lucy Collins
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Movie · as (archive footage)
Mame
Movie · as Mame
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
Movie · as Norma Michaels
Dinah!
TV · as Self · 4 eps
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Pearl Bailey Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Movie · as Janet (uncredited)
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Movie · as Statue of Liberty (voice)
The Flip Wilson Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love
Movie · as Self
The Jack Benny Birthday Special
Movie · as Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Yours, Mine and Ours
Movie · as Helen North Beardsley
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Movie · as Self - Guest (uncredited)
Carnival Nights
Movie · as Self
Here's Lucy
TV · as Lucy Carter · 144 eps
The Dick Cavett Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 2 eps
A Guide for the Married Man
Movie · as Technical Adviser
The Carol Burnett Show
TV · as Self - Guest · 4 eps
Omnibus
TV · 1 ep
Lucy in London
Movie · as Lucy Carmichael
Carol + 2
Movie · as Self
Salute to Stan Laurel
Movie · as Self
The Big Parade of Comedy
Movie · as Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Movie · as Bonnie Blakely
Critic's Choice
Movie · as Angela Ballantine
General Foods Opening Night
Movie · as Self
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Danny Kaye Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Greatest Show on Earth
TV · as Kate Reynolds · 1 ep
The Lucy Show
TV · as Lucy Carmichael · 156 eps
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 5 eps
The Merv Griffin Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Treffpunkt New York
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Password
TV · 1 ep
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self - Guest, Self - Co-Hostess · 2 eps
The Facts of Life
Movie · as Kitty Weaver
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Movie · as Self
NBC Sunday Showcase
TV · as Lucy Ricardo · 1 ep
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV · 6 eps
The Ann Sothern Show
TV · as Lucy Ricardo · 1 ep
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
TV · as Lucy Ricardo · 13 eps
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Forever, Darling
Movie · as Susan Vega
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Movie · as Lucy Ricardo
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Movie · as Lucy Ricardo
MGM Parade
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Long, Long Trailer
Movie · as Tacy Collini
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Movie · as Self
I Love Lucy: The Movie
Movie · as Lucy Ricardo / Self
Ellis in Freedomland
Movie · as The Laundromat (voice)
This Is Your Life
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Magic Carpet
Movie · as Princess Narah
I Love Lucy
TV · as Lucy Ricardo · 180 eps
Fancy Pants
Movie · as Agatha Floud
The Fuller Brush Girl
Movie · as Sally Elliot
A Woman of Distinction
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
The Bob Hope Show
TV · as Self · 15 eps
The Jack Benny Program
TV · as Rachel Revere · 1 ep
What's My Line?
TV · as Self · 6 eps
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
Movie · as Ellen Grant
Sorrowful Jones
Movie · as Gladys O'Neill
Easy Living
Movie · as Anne, Lenahan's Secretary
The Emmy Awards
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Ed Wynn Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV · as Self · 9 eps
Lured
Movie · as Sandra Carpenter
Her Husband's Affairs
Movie · as Margaret Weldon
The Dark Corner
Movie · as Kathleen Stewart
Easy to Wed
Movie · as Gladys Benton
Two Smart People
Movie · as Ricki Woodner
Lover Come Back
Movie · as Kay Williams
Without Love
Movie · as Kitty Trimble
Ziegfeld Follies
Movie · as Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
Meet the People
Movie · as Julie Hampton
G.I. Journal
Movie · as Self
Best Foot Forward
Movie · as Lucille Ball
Du Barry Was a Lady
Movie · as May Daly / Madame Du Barry
Thousands Cheer
Movie · as Lucille Ball
The Big Street
Movie · as Gloria Lyons
Seven Days' Leave
Movie · as Terry Havalok-Allen
Valley of the Sun
Movie · as Christine Larson
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
Movie · as Dot Duncan
Look Who's Laughing
Movie · as Julie Patterson
Dance, Girl, Dance
Movie · as Bubbles
Too Many Girls
Movie · as Connie Casey
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Movie · as Clara Fields Hinklin
The Marines Fly High
Movie · as Joan Grant
Five Came Back
Movie · as Peggy Nolan
Twelve Crowded Hours
Movie · as Paula Sanders
Panama Lady
Movie · as Lucy
Beauty for the Asking
Movie · as Jean Russell
That's Right – You're Wrong
Movie · as Sandra Sand
Room Service
Movie · as Christine Marlowe
Joy of Living
Movie · as Salina Garret Pine
Having Wonderful Time
Movie · as Miriam
The Affairs of Annabel
Movie · as Annabel Allison
Go Chase Yourself
Movie · as Carol Meeley
Next Time I Marry
Movie · as Nancy Crocker Fleming
Annabel Takes a Tour
Movie · as Annabel Allison
Stage Door
Movie · as Judith
Don't Tell the Wife
Movie · as Annie Howell
Follow the Fleet
Movie · as Kitty Collins
Swing It
Movie · as Mary (uncredited)
Bunker Bean
Movie · as Rosie Kelly
That Girl from Paris
Movie · as Claire Williams
One Live Ghost
Movie · as Maxine
The Farmer in the Dell
Movie · as Gloria Wilson
Chatterbox
Movie · as Lillian Temple
Dummy Ache
Movie · as Actress
Winterset
Movie · as Girl (uncredited)
Muss 'em Up
Movie · as Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)
So and Sew
Movie · as Sally Curtis
Roberta
Movie · as Fashion Model (uncredited)
Foolish Hearts
Movie · as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
I Dream Too Much
Movie · as Gwendolyn Dilley
Behind the Evidence
Movie · as Secretary (uncredited)
Top Hat
Movie · as Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)
Old Man Rhythm
Movie · as College Girl
The Three Musketeers
Movie · as (uncredited)
Carnival
Movie · as Nurse (uncredited)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
Movie · as Lucille Ball
His Old Flame
Movie
The Whole Town's Talking
Movie · as Bank Employee (uncredited)
Hooray for Love
Movie · as Chorine (uncredited)
I'll Love You Always
Movie · as Lucille (uncredited)
Broadway Bill
Movie · as Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Three Little Pigskins
Movie · as Daisy Simms
Kid Millions
Movie · as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Nana
Movie · as Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Movie · as Bridesmaid
Moulin Rouge
Movie · as Show Girl (uncredited)
The Affairs of Cellini
Movie · as Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
Bottoms Up
Movie · as Chorine (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
Movie · as Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
Men of the Night
Movie · as Peggy (uncredited)
Jealousy
Movie · as (uncredited)
Perfectly Mismated
Movie
Hold That Girl
Movie · as Girl (uncredited)
Fugitive Lady
Movie · as Beauty Operator (uncredited)
Blood Money
Movie · as Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
Movie · as Chorine / Girl at the Beach
Roman Scandals
Movie · as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
The Bowery
Movie · as Blonde (uncredited)