Lucille Ball
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
Self
Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Technical Adviser (Mrs. Joe X)
A Guide for the Married Man
Sandra Carpenter
Lured
Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Kathleen Stewart
The Dark Corner
Fashion Model (uncredited)
Roberta
Tacy Collini
The Long, Long Trailer
Kitty Trimble
Without Love
Bubbles
Dance, Girl, Dance
Helen North Beardsley
Yours, Mine and Ours
Kitty Collins
Follow the Fleet
Susan Vega
Forever, Darling
Mame Dennis
Mame
Lucille Ball
Best Foot Forward
Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")
Ziegfeld Follies
Ellen Grant
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
May Daly / Madame Du Barry
Du Barry Was a Lady
Lucille Ball
Thousands Cheer
Judith
Stage Door
Christine Marlowe
Room Service
Gladys Benton
Easy to Wed
Salina Garret Pine
Joy of Living
Miriam
Having Wonderful Time
Kitty Weaver
The Facts of Life
Peggy Nolan
Five Came Back
Self (archive footage)
Lucy and Desi
(archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War
Self (archive footage)
Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story
Florabelle
Stone Pillow
Agatha Floud
Fancy Pants
Gladys O'Neill
Sorrowful Jones
Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Broadway Bill
Self
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Princess Narah
The Magic Carpet
Sally Elliot
The Fuller Brush Girl
Margaret Weldon
Her Husband's Affairs
Connie Casey
Too Many Girls
Julie Hampton
Meet the People
Angela Ballantine
Critic's Choice
Ricki Woodner
Two Smart People
Gloria Lyons
The Big Street
Anne, Lenahan's Secretary
Easy Living
Paula Sanders
Twelve Crowded Hours
Janet (uncredited)
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Terry Havalok-Allen
Seven Days' Leave
Annabel Allison
The Affairs of Annabel
Lucy
Panama Lady
Jean Russell
Beauty for the Asking
(archive footage)
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage)
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Daisy Simms
Three Little Pigskins
Sandra Sand
That's Right – You're Wrong
Mary (uncredited)
Swing It
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Dot Duncan
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
Christine Larson
Valley of the Sun
Julie Patterson
Look Who's Laughing
Rosie Kelly
Bunker Bean
Hat Check Girl
Foolish Hearts
Claire Williams
That Girl from Paris
Gwendolyn Dilley
I Dream Too Much
Kay Williams
Lover Come Back
Clara Fields Hinklin
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Carol Meeley
Go Chase Yourself
Nancy Crocker Fleming
Next Time I Marry
Annabel Allison
Annabel Takes a Tour
Joan Grant
The Marines Fly High
Secretary (uncredited)
Behind the Evidence
Annie Howell
Don't Tell the Wife
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Kid Millions
Self
A Beverly Hills Christmas
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Nana
Bridesmaid
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Show Girl (uncredited)
Moulin Rouge
Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Blood Money
Self (archive footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
The Affairs of Cellini
Self
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)
Top Hat
College Girl
Old Man Rhythm
Chorine (uncredited)
Bottoms Up
Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
Lucy Whittaker
Lucy Calls the President
Maxine
One Live Ghost
Chorine / Girl at the Beach
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
Self
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
Sally / Rita / Pauline
Three for Two
Self
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Gloria Wilson
The Farmer in the Dell
Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)
The Big Parade of Comedy
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Roman Scandals
(uncredited)
The Three Musketeers
Lillian Temple
Chatterbox
Blonde (uncredited)
The Bowery
Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
(archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
Self - Guest (uncredited)
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Lucy Ricardo
I Love Lucy: The Movie
Nurse
Carnival
(archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self
Lucy Moves to NBC
Statue of Liberty (voice)
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Norma Michaels
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
Lucy Collins
Lucy Gets Lucky
Catherine Curtis
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
Self
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
Lucille Ball
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
Self (uncredited)
A Woman of Distinction
General Foods Opening Night
Actress
Dummy Ache
Peggy (uncredited)
Men of the Night
(uncredited)
Jealousy
His Old Flame
Lucy Ricardo
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Bank Employee (uncredited)
The Whole Town's Talking
Chorine (uncredited)
Hooray for Love
Girl (uncredited)
Winterset
Bonnie Blakely
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Perfectly Mismated
Girl (uncredited)
Hold That Girl
Lucy Carmichael
Lucy in London
Lucille (uncredited)
I'll Love You Always
Beauty Operator (uncredited)
Fugitive Lady
Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)
Muss 'em Up
Sally Curtis
So and Sew
Self (archive footage)
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self
Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul
Cleaning Lady
Cher... and Other Fantasies
Self
Carol + 2
Self (archive footage)
The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
Self
Salute to Stan Laurel
Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self
The Jack Benny Birthday Special
Self (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
Lucy
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
The Laundromat (voice)
Ellis in Freedomland
Self (archive footage)
My Darling Vivian
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
NBC: The First Fifty Years
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
Self
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Self
G.I. Journal
(archive footage)
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Lucy Ricardo
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Pioneers of Primetime
Self (archive footage)
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
Self
Carnival Nights
Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Herself
A Love Letter to Jack Benny
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
158
Gender
Female
Birthday
1911-08-06
Place of Birth
Jamestown, New York, USA
Also Known As
Люсиль Болл