Lucille Ball
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1911-08-06
Day of Death
1989-04-26 (77 years old)
Place of Birth
Jamestown, New York, USA
Lucille Ball
Biography
Lucille Désirée Ball 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.
Acting
(2024)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2023)
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
as Self (archive footage)
(2023)
Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
Lucy and Desi
as Self (archive footage)
(2020)
My Darling Vivian
as Self (archive footage)
(2018)
(2017)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
(2016)
(2015)
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
as Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)
(2011)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
as Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
(2005)
(2004)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as (archive footage)
(2004)
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self (archive footage)
(2003)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self (archive footage)
(2001)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
(2001)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
(2000)
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
as Self (archive footage)
(1999)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
(1998)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
(1997)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
(1997)
(1994)
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage)
(1993)
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
as Self
(1993)
The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
as Self (archive footage)
(1989)
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
as (archive footage)
(1988)
(1987)
(1987)
A Beverly Hills Christmas
as Self
(1985)
Night of 100 Stars II
as Self
(1985)
Stone Pillow
as Florabelle
(1985)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
(1984)
(1983)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1982)
Showbiz Goes to War
as (archive footage)
(1982)
(1980)
Lucy Moves to NBC
as Self
(1979)
Cher... and Other Fantasies
as Cleaning Lady
(1977)
Lucy Calls the President
as Lucy Whittaker
(1976)
(1976)
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
as Catherine Curtis
(1976)
(1976)
(1975)
Lucy Gets Lucky
as Lucy Collins
(1975)
Three for Two
as Sally / Rita / Pauline
(1975)
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
as (archive footage)
(1974)
Mame
as Mame Dennis
(1974)
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
as Norma Michaels
(1970)
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as Statue of Liberty (voice)
(1970)
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
as Janet (uncredited)
(1969)
(1969)
(1968)
Yours, Mine and Ours
as Helen North Beardsley
(1968)
Carnival Nights
as Self
(1968)
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
as Self - Guest (uncredited)
(1967)
A Guide for the Married Man
as Technical Adviser (Mrs. Joe X)
(1966)
Lucy in London
as Lucy Carmichael
(1966)
Carol + 2
as Self
(1965)
Salute to Stan Laurel
as Self
(1964)
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
as Bonnie Blakely
(1964)
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)
(1963)
Critic's Choice
as Angela Ballantine
(1963)
(1960)
The Facts of Life
as Kitty Weaver
(1960)
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
as Self
(1956)
Forever, Darling
as Susan Vega
(1956)
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
as Lucy Ricardo
(1956)
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
as Lucy Ricardo
(1954)
The Long, Long Trailer
as Tacy Collini
(1954)
(1953)
I Love Lucy: The Movie
as Lucy Ricardo
(1952)
Ellis in Freedomland
as The Laundromat (voice)
(1951)
The Magic Carpet
as Princess Narah
(1950)
A Woman of Distinction
as Self (uncredited)
(1950)
The Fuller Brush Girl
as Sally Elliot
(1950)
Fancy Pants
as Agatha Floud
(1949)
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
as Ellen Grant
(1949)
Easy Living
as Anne, Lenahan's Secretary
(1949)
Sorrowful Jones
as Gladys O'Neill
(1947)
Lured
as Sandra Carpenter
(1947)
Her Husband's Affairs
as Margaret Weldon
(1946)
The Dark Corner
as Kathleen Stewart
(1946)
Two Smart People
as Ricki Woodner
(1946)
Lover Come Back
as Kay Williams
(1946)
Easy to Wed
as Gladys Benton
(1945)
Ziegfeld Follies
as Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")
(1945)
Without Love
as Kitty Trimble
(1945)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
as Self (uncredited)
(1944)
Meet the People
as Julie Hampton
(1944)
G.I. Journal
as Self
(1943)
Du Barry Was a Lady
as May Daly / Madame Du Barry
(1943)
Thousands Cheer
as Lucille Ball
(1943)
Best Foot Forward
as Lucille Ball
(1942)
Seven Days' Leave
as Terry Havalok-Allen
(1942)
The Big Street
as Gloria Lyons
(1942)
Valley of the Sun
as Christine Larson
(1941)
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
as Dot Duncan
(1941)
Look Who's Laughing
as Julie Patterson
(1940)
Dance, Girl, Dance
as Bubbles
(1940)
Too Many Girls
as Connie Casey
(1940)
The Marines Fly High
as Joan Grant
(1940)
You Can't Fool Your Wife
as Clara Fields Hinklin
(1939)
That's Right – You're Wrong
as Sandra Sand
(1939)
Five Came Back
as Peggy Nolan
(1939)
Beauty for the Asking
as Jean Russell
(1939)
Twelve Crowded Hours
as Paula Sanders
(1939)
Panama Lady
as Lucy
(1938)
Next Time I Marry
as Nancy Crocker Fleming
(1938)
Annabel Takes a Tour
as Annabel Allison
(1938)
Room Service
as Christine Marlowe
(1938)
Having Wonderful Time
as Miriam
(1938)
The Affairs of Annabel
as Annabel Allison
(1938)
Go Chase Yourself
as Carol Meeley
(1938)
Joy of Living
as Salina Garret Pine
(1937)
Stage Door
as Judith
(1937)
Don't Tell the Wife
as Annie Howell
(1936)
Follow the Fleet
as Kitty Collins
(1936)
That Girl from Paris
as Claire Williams
(1936)
Muss 'em Up
as Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)
(1936)
Winterset
as Girl (uncredited)
(1936)
One Live Ghost
as Maxine
(1936)
Chatterbox
as Lillian Temple
(1936)
The Farmer in the Dell
as Gloria Wilson
(1936)
Bunker Bean
as Rosie Kelly
(1936)
So and Sew
as Sally Curtis
(1936)
Swing It
as Mary (uncredited)
(1936)
Dummy Ache
as Actress
(1935)
Top Hat
as Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)
(1935)
The Whole Town's Talking
as Bank Employee (uncredited)
(1935)
Roberta
as Fashion Model
(1935)
I'll Love You Always
as Lucille (uncredited)
(1935)
I Dream Too Much
as Gwendolyn Dilley
(1935)
Carnival
as Nurse
(1935)
The Three Musketeers
as (uncredited)
(1935)
Hooray for Love
as Chorine (uncredited)
(1935)
Foolish Hearts
as Hat Check Girl
(1935)
Old Man Rhythm
as College Girl
(1935)
Behind the Evidence
as Secretary (uncredited)
(1935)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
as Lucille Ball
(1935)
(1934)
Broadway Bill
as Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)
(1934)
Moulin Rouge
as Show Girl (uncredited)
(1934)
Jealousy
as (uncredited)
(1934)
The Affairs of Cellini
as Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
(1934)
Three Little Pigskins
as Daisy Simms
(1934)
Nana
as Chorus Girl (uncredited)
(1934)
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
as Bridesmaid
(1934)
Men of the Night
as Peggy (uncredited)
(1934)
Kid Millions
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1934)
Murder at the Vanities
as Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
(1934)
(1934)
Fugitive Lady
as Beauty Operator (uncredited)
(1934)
Hold That Girl
as Girl (uncredited)
(1934)
Bottoms Up
as Chorine (uncredited)
(1933)
Roman Scandals
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1933)
The Bowery
as Blonde (uncredited)
(1933)
Blood Money
as Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)
(1933)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
as Chorine / Girl at the Beach
Crew
(1990)
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
In Memory Of
(1981)
Bungle Abbey
Director, Executive Producer
(1976)
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
Executive Producer
(1975)
Three for Two
Executive Producer
(1975)
Lucy Gets Lucky
Executive Producer, Executive In Charge Of Production
(1975)
(1974)
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
Executive Producer, Executive In Charge Of Production
(1965)
Star Trek: The Cage
Executive Producer
(1963)
Surf Scene
Executive Producer
(1961)
Dragon by the Tail
Executive Producer
(1958)
Strange Witness
Producer