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