Lucille Ball
Born
August 6, 1911
Died
April 26, 1989 (77 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Jamestown, New York, USA
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.
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Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2024
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Self (archive footage)
2023
Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story
Self (archive footage)
2023
Lucy and Desi
Self (archive footage)
2022
My Darling Vivian
Self (archive footage)
2020
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
2017
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Lucy
2016
Trumbo
Self (archive footage) (voice) (uncredited)
2015
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)
2015
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
2011
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self (archive footage)
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
(archive footage)
2004
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Self (archive footage)
2003
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
2001
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
Self (archive footage)
2000
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
1999
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
1998
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
1997
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
1997
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
1994
Intimate Portrait
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1993
The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
Self (archive footage)
1993
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Self
1993
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
(archive footage)
1989
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
1988
A Beverly Hills Christmas
Self
1987
The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
Self · (1 episode)
1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
Life with Lucy
Lucy Barker · (8 episodes)
1986
Stone Pillow
Florabelle
1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
1985
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
Self
1984
Body Language
Self · (5 episodes)
1984
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Showbiz Goes to War
(archive footage)
1982
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Self
1982
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (2 episodes)
1981
Lucy Moves to NBC
Self
1980
Cher... and Other Fantasies
Cleaning Lady
1979
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · (1 episode)
1978
Lucy Calls the President
Lucy Whittaker
1977
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
1976
NBC: The First Fifty Years
1976
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
Catherine Curtis
1976
The Practice
(1 episode)
1976
Donny & Marie
Self · (1 episode)
1976
Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul
Self
1976
Three for Two
Sally / Rita / Pauline
1975
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
(archive footage)
1975
Lucy Gets Lucky
Lucy Collins
1975
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
Norma Michaels
1974
Dinah!
Self · (3 episodes)
1974
Mame
Mame Dennis
1974
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self · (2 episodes)
1973
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self · (1 episode)
1973
The Pearl Bailey Show
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Janet (uncredited)
1970
The Flip Wilson Show
Self · (1 episode)
1970
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Statue of Liberty (voice)
1970
Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love
Self
1969
The Jack Benny Birthday Special
Self
1969
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1969
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Self - Guest (uncredited)
1968
Here's Lucy
Lucy Carter · (144 episodes)
1968
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
1968
Yours, Mine and Ours
Helen North Beardsley
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest · (4 episodes)
1967
A Guide for the Married Man
Technical Adviser (Mrs. Joe X)
1967
Lucy in London
Lucy Carmichael
1966
Carol + 2
Self
1966
Salute to Stan Laurel
Self
1965
The Big Parade of Comedy
Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)
1964
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Bonnie Blakely
1964
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Self · (1 episode)
1963
The Danny Kaye Show
Self · (1 episode)
1963
General Foods Opening Night
1963
The Greatest Show on Earth
Kate Reynolds · (1 episode)
1963
Critic's Choice
Angela Ballantine
1963
The Lucy Show
Lucy Carmichael · (156 episodes)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (5 episodes)
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (1 episode)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Hostess · (1 episode)
1961
Password
(1 episode)
1961
Treffpunkt New York
Self · (1 episode)
1961
The Facts of Life
Kitty Weaver
1960
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Self
1960
Startime
(1 episode)
1959
NBC Sunday Showcase
Lucy Ricardo · (1 episode)
1959
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
(6 episodes)
1958
The Ann Sothern Show
Lucy Ricardo · (1 episode)
1958
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Lucy Ricardo · (13 episodes)
1957
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self · (1 episode)
1957
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Lucy Ricardo
1956
Forever, Darling
Susan Vega
1956
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Lucy Ricardo
1956
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
1954
The Long, Long Trailer
Tacy Collini
1954
I Love Lucy: The Movie
Lucy Ricardo
1953
This Is Your Life
Self · (1 episode)
1952
Ellis in Freedomland
The Laundromat (voice)
1952
The Magic Carpet
Princess Narah
1951
I Love Lucy
Lucy Ricardo · (180 episodes)
1951
The Jack Benny Program
Rachel Revere · (1 episode)
1950
The Fuller Brush Girl
Sally Elliot
1950
Fancy Pants
Agatha Floud
1950
The Bob Hope Show
Self · (14 episodes)
1950
A Woman of Distinction
Self (uncredited)
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (6 episodes)
1950
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
Ellen Grant
1949
Easy Living
Anne, Lenahan's Secretary
1949
The Ed Wynn Show
Self · (1 episode)
1949
Sorrowful Jones
Gladys O'Neill
1949
The Emmy Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1949
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (9 episodes)
1948
Her Husband's Affairs
Margaret Weldon
1947
Lured
Sandra Carpenter
1947
Easy to Wed
Gladys Benton
1946
Lover Come Back
Kay Williams
1946
Two Smart People
Ricki Woodner
1946
The Dark Corner
Kathleen Stewart
1946
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
Self (uncredited)
1945
Ziegfeld Follies
Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")
1945
Without Love
Kitty Trimble
1945
G.I. Journal
Self
1944
Meet the People
Julie Hampton
1944
Best Foot Forward
Lucille Ball
1943
Thousands Cheer
Lucille Ball
1943
Du Barry Was a Lady
May Daly / Madame Du Barry
1943
Seven Days' Leave
Terry Havalok-Allen
1942
The Big Street
Gloria Lyons
1942
Valley of the Sun
Christine Larson
1942
Look Who's Laughing
Julie Patterson
1941
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
Dot Duncan
1941
Too Many Girls
Connie Casey
1940
Dance, Girl, Dance
Bubbles
1940
You Can't Fool Your Wife
Clara Fields Hinklin
1940
The Marines Fly High
Joan Grant
1940
That's Right – You're Wrong
Sandra Sand
1939
Five Came Back
Peggy Nolan
1939
Panama Lady
Lucy
1939
Beauty for the Asking
Jean Russell
1939
Twelve Crowded Hours
Paula Sanders
1939
Next Time I Marry
Nancy Crocker Fleming
1938
Annabel Takes a Tour
Annabel Allison
1938
Room Service
Christine Marlowe
1938
The Affairs of Annabel
Annabel Allison
1938
Having Wonderful Time
Miriam
1938
Joy of Living
Salina Garret Pine
1938
Go Chase Yourself
Carol Meeley
1938
Stage Door
Judith
1937
Don't Tell the Wife
Annie Howell
1937
That Girl from Paris
Claire Williams
1936
Winterset
Girl (uncredited)
1936
One Live Ghost
Maxine
1936
So and Sew
Sally Curtis
1936
Dummy Ache
Actress
1936
Swing It
Mary (uncredited)
1936
Bunker Bean
Rosie Kelly
1936
The Farmer in the Dell
Gloria Wilson
1936
Follow the Fleet
Kitty Collins
1936
Muss 'em Up
Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)
1936
Chatterbox
Lillian Temple
1936
Foolish Hearts
Hat Check Girl
1935
I Dream Too Much
Gwendolyn Dilley
1935
The Three Musketeers
(uncredited)
1935
Top Hat
Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)
1935
Old Man Rhythm
College Girl
1935
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
Lucille Ball
1935
Hooray for Love
Chorine (uncredited)
1935
I'll Love You Always
Lucille (uncredited)
1935
Roberta
Fashion Model
1935
The Whole Town's Talking
Bank Employee (uncredited)
1935
Carnival
Nurse
1935
His Old Flame
1935
Behind the Evidence
Secretary (uncredited)
1935
Fugitive Lady
Beauty Operator (uncredited)
1934
Three Little Pigskins
Daisy Simms
1934
Broadway Bill
Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)
1934
Jealousy
(uncredited)
1934
Men of the Night
Peggy (uncredited)
1934
Perfectly Mismated
1934
Kid Millions
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
1934
The Affairs of Cellini
Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
1934
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Bridesmaid
1934
Murder at the Vanities
Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
1934
Bottoms Up
Chorine (uncredited)
1934
Hold That Girl
Girl (uncredited)
1934
Nana
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1934
Moulin Rouge
Show Girl (uncredited)
1934
Roman Scandals
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
1933
Blood Money
Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)
1933
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
Chorine / Girl at the Beach
1933
The Bowery
Blonde (uncredited)
1933