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