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Lucille Ball
Actor

Lucille Ball

6 Aug 1911Born
26 Apr 1989Died
77Age at death
134Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 134 credits.

  1. TBAThe Lucy-Desi Milton Berle SpecialFilm
  2. 2025A Grammy Celebration of Latin MusicFilm: Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) (uncredited)
  3. 2016I Love Lucy Christmas SpecialFilm: Lucy
  4. 2015Mary Tyler Moore: A CelebrationFilm: Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)
  5. 2011Classic TV Bloopers UncensoredFilm: Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
  6. 2005Pioneers of PrimetimeFilm
  7. 2004TV in Black: The First Fifty YearsFilm: (archive footage)
  8. 1997The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1Film
  9. 1996E! True Hollywood StorySeries (1 episode)
  10. 1994That's Entertainment! IIIFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  11. 1989Bob Hope's Love Affair with LucyFilm: (archive footage)
  12. 1989A Tribute to LucyFilm
  13. 1986Life with LucySeries: Lucy Barker (8 episodes)
  14. 1985Stone PillowFilm: Florabelle
  15. 1981Bungle AbbeyFilm: Director
  16. 1979Cher... and Other FantasiesFilm: Cleaning Lady
  17. 1977Lucy Calls the PresidentFilm: Lucy Whittaker
  18. 1976NBC: The First Fifty YearsFilm
  19. 1976What Now, Catherine Curtis?Film: Catherine Curtis
  20. 1976The PracticeSeries (1 episode)
  21. 1975Three for TwoFilm: Sally / Rita / Pauline
  22. 1975Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on TelevisionFilm: (archive footage)
  23. 1975Lucy Gets LuckyFilm: Lucy Collins
  24. 1974Happy Anniversary and GoodbyeFilm: Norma Michaels
  25. 1974MameFilm: Mame
  26. 1970Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV SpecialFilm: Janet (uncredited)
  27. 1970Swing Out, Sweet LandFilm: Statue of Liberty (voice)
  28. 1968Here's LucySeries: Lucy Carter, Director (144 episodes)
  29. 1968Yours, Mine and OursFilm: Helen North Beardsley
  30. 1967OmnibusSeries (1 episode)
  31. 1967A Guide for the Married ManFilm: Technical Adviser
  32. 1966Lucy in LondonFilm: Lucy Carmichael
  33. 1964The Big Parade of ComedyFilm: Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)
  34. 1964The Lucille Ball Comedy HourFilm: Bonnie Blakely
  35. 1963The Greatest Show on EarthSeries: Kate Reynolds (1 episode)
  36. 1963Critic's ChoiceFilm: Angela Ballantine
  37. 1962The Lucy ShowSeries: Lucy Carmichael (156 episodes)
  38. 1961PasswordSeries (1 episode)
  39. 1960The Facts of LifeFilm: Kitty Weaver
  40. 1959NBC Sunday ShowcaseSeries: Lucy Ricardo (1 episode)
  41. 1958Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSeries (6 episodes)
  42. 1958The Ann Sothern ShowSeries: Lucy Ricardo (1 episode)
  43. 1957The Lucy–Desi Comedy HourSeries: Lucy Ricardo (13 episodes)
  44. 1956The Bob Hope Chevy ShowFilm: Lucy Ricardo
  45. 1956Forever, DarlingFilm: Susan Vega
  46. 1956Lucy's Really Lost MomentsFilm: Lucy Ricardo
  47. 1954The Long, Long TrailerFilm: Tacy Collini
  48. 1953I Love Lucy: The MovieFilm: Lucy Ricardo / Self
  49. 1952Ellis in FreedomlandFilm: The Laundromat (voice)
  50. 1951The Magic CarpetFilm: Princess Narah
  51. 1951I Love LucySeries: Lucy Ricardo (180 episodes)
  52. 1950The Jack Benny ProgramSeries: Rachel Revere (1 episode)
  53. 1950The Fuller Brush GirlFilm: Sally Elliot
  54. 1950Fancy PantsFilm: Agatha Floud
  55. 1949Miss Grant Takes RichmondFilm: Ellen Grant
  56. 1949Easy LivingFilm: Anne, Lenahan's Secretary
  57. 1949Sorrowful JonesFilm: Gladys O'Neill
  58. 1947Her Husband's AffairsFilm: Margaret Weldon
  59. 1947LuredFilm: Sandra Carpenter
  60. 1946Easy to WedFilm: Gladys Benton
  61. 1946Lover Come BackFilm: Kay Williams
  62. 1946Two Smart PeopleFilm: Ricki Woodner
  63. 1946The Dark CornerFilm: Kathleen Stewart
  64. 1945Ziegfeld FolliesFilm: Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")
  65. 1945Without LoveFilm: Kitty Trimble
  66. 1944Meet the PeopleFilm: Julie Hampton
  67. 1943Best Foot ForwardFilm: Lucille Ball
  68. 1943Thousands CheerFilm: Lucille Ball
  69. 1943Du Barry Was a LadyFilm: May Daly / Madame Du Barry
  70. 1942Seven Days' LeaveFilm: Terry Havalok-Allen
  71. 1942The Big StreetFilm: Gloria Lyons
  72. 1942Valley of the SunFilm: Christine Larson
  73. 1941Look Who's LaughingFilm: Julie Patterson
  74. 1941A Girl, a Guy, and a GobFilm: Dot Duncan
  75. 1940Too Many GirlsFilm: Connie Casey
  76. 1940Dance, Girl, DanceFilm: Bubbles
  77. 1940You Can't Fool Your WifeFilm: Clara Fields Hinklin
  78. 1940The Marines Fly HighFilm: Joan Grant
  79. 1939That's Right – You're WrongFilm: Sandra Sand
  80. 1939Five Came BackFilm: Peggy Nolan

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.