Lucille Ball

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

199

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 (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.

Known For

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Carol Burnett Show

    The Carol Burnett Show

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • The Bob Hope Show

    The Bob Hope Show

  • The Jack Benny Program

    The Jack Benny Program

  • I Love Lucy

    I Love Lucy

  • The Lucy Show

    The Lucy Show

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

    Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

  • The Dick Cavett Show

    The Dick Cavett Show

  • Intimate Portrait

    Intimate Portrait

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • Dinah!

    Dinah!

  • This Is Your Life

    This Is Your Life

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • The Flip Wilson Show

    The Flip Wilson Show

  • Tonight Starring Jack Paar

    Tonight Starring Jack Paar

  • The Danny Kaye Show

    The Danny Kaye Show

  • The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

    The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

  • Entertainment Tonight

    Entertainment Tonight

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

    Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

  • The Kennedy Center Honors

    The Kennedy Center Honors

  • Donny & Marie

    Donny & Marie

  • Moulin Rouge

    Moulin Rouge

  • Yours, Mine and Ours

    Yours, Mine and Ours

  • Body Language

    Body Language

  • The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

    The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

  • Startime

    Startime

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

  • Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

    Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

  • The Magic Carpet

    The Magic Carpet

  • Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love

    Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love

  • The Greatest Show on Earth

    The Greatest Show on Earth

  • The Big Parade of Comedy

    The Big Parade of Comedy

  • Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

    Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution

  • The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

    The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

  • CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years

    CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years

  • The American Film Institute Salute to ...

    The American Film Institute Salute to ...

  • The Long, Long Trailer

    The Long, Long Trailer

  • The Ann Sothern Show

    The Ann Sothern Show

  • Password

    Password

  • Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story

    Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story

  • Forever, Darling

    Forever, Darling

  • The Dean Martin Christmas Show

    The Dean Martin Christmas Show

  • Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers

    Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers

  • All Star Party for Clint Eastwood

    All Star Party for Clint Eastwood

  • Seven Days' Leave

    Seven Days' Leave

  • Carnival Nights

    Carnival Nights

  • Lucy in London

    Lucy in London

  • A Woman of Distinction

    A Woman of Distinction

  • A Night at the Biltmore Bowl

    A Night at the Biltmore Bowl

  • Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back

    Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back

  • A Guide for the Married Man

    A Guide for the Married Man

  • Beauty for the Asking

    Beauty for the Asking

  • Fancy Pants

    Fancy Pants

  • Three for Two

    Three for Two

  • Showbiz Goes to War

    Showbiz Goes to War

  • Broadway Bill

    Broadway Bill

  • Ziegfeld Follies

    Ziegfeld Follies

  • I Love Lucy: The Movie

    I Love Lucy: The Movie

  • Panama Lady

    Panama Lady

  • Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy

    Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy

  • The Dark Corner

    The Dark Corner

  • The Emmy Awards

    The Emmy Awards

  • The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour

    The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour

  • The Practice

    The Practice

  • Chatterbox

    Chatterbox

  • Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC

    Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC

  • Miss Grant Takes Richmond

    Miss Grant Takes Richmond

  • The Big Street

    The Big Street

  • NBC Sunday Showcase

    NBC Sunday Showcase

  • The Affairs of Annabel

    The Affairs of Annabel

  • Perfectly Mismated

    Perfectly Mismated

  • His Old Flame

    His Old Flame

  • Roberta

    Roberta

  • Life with Lucy

    Life with Lucy

  • A Beverly Hills Christmas

    A Beverly Hills Christmas

  • Annabel Takes a Tour

    Annabel Takes a Tour

  • This Is Bob Hope...

    This Is Bob Hope...

  • Hooray for Love

    Hooray for Love

  • Stage Door

    Stage Door

  • The Bowery

    The Bowery

  • Nana

    Nana

  • Easy Living

    Easy Living

  • Happy Anniversary and Goodbye

    Happy Anniversary and Goodbye

  • Sorrowful Jones

    Sorrowful Jones

  • The Marines Fly High

    The Marines Fly High

  • The Facts of Life

    The Facts of Life

  • The Pearl Bailey Show

    The Pearl Bailey Show

  • Salute to Stan Laurel

    Salute to Stan Laurel

  • One Live Ghost

    One Live Ghost

  • Having Wonderful Time

    Having Wonderful Time

  • Best Foot Forward

    Best Foot Forward

  • A Star Is Born World Premiere

    A Star Is Born World Premiere

  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

    Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

  • Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

    Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land

    Swing Out, Sweet Land

  • Five Came Back

    Five Came Back

  • Hedda Hopper's Hollywood

    Hedda Hopper's Hollywood

  • Blood Money

    Blood Money

  • Lucy Moves to NBC

    Lucy Moves to NBC

  • Kid Millions

    Kid Millions

  • Lured

    Lured

  • Three Little Pigskins

    Three Little Pigskins

  • The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

    The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

  • The Farmer in the Dell

    The Farmer in the Dell

  • Two Smart People

    Two Smart People

  • Valley of the Sun

    Valley of the Sun

  • Meet the People

    Meet the People

  • I Dream Too Much

    I Dream Too Much

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

    TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

  • Mame

    Mame

  • Thousands Cheer

    Thousands Cheer

  • Joy of Living

    Joy of Living

  • Follow the Fleet

    Follow the Fleet

  • Judy Garland: By Myself

    Judy Garland: By Myself

  • Old Man Rhythm

    Old Man Rhythm

  • Lover Come Back

    Lover Come Back

  • Look Who's Laughing

    Look Who's Laughing

  • My Darling Vivian

    My Darling Vivian

  • Carnival

    Carnival

  • The Three Musketeers

    The Three Musketeers

  • Winterset

    Winterset

  • Room Service

    Room Service

  • Bottoms Up

    Bottoms Up

  • Bunker Bean

    Bunker Bean

  • Without Love

    Without Love

  • The Affairs of Cellini

    The Affairs of Cellini

  • E! True Hollywood Story

    E! True Hollywood Story

  • The Ed Wynn Show

    The Ed Wynn Show

  • Fugitive Lady

    Fugitive Lady

  • Du Barry Was a Lady

    Du Barry Was a Lady

  • Roman Scandals

    Roman Scandals

  • What Now, Catherine Curtis?

    What Now, Catherine Curtis?

  • Men of the Night

    Men of the Night

  • Behind the Evidence

    Behind the Evidence

  • Easy to Wed

    Easy to Wed

  • Foolish Hearts

    Foolish Hearts

  • Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer

    Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer

  • The Jack Benny Birthday Special

    The Jack Benny Birthday Special

  • Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

    Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

  • That Girl from Paris

    That Girl from Paris

  • The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

    The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1

  • That's Right – You're Wrong

    That's Right – You're Wrong

  • The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

    The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2

  • Lucy and Desi

    Lucy and Desi

  • Dance, Girl, Dance

    Dance, Girl, Dance

  • Carol + 2

    Carol + 2

  • The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

    The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

  • Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul

    Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul

  • Top Hat

    Top Hat

  • Lucy Gets Lucky

    Lucy Gets Lucky

  • I'll Love You Always

    I'll Love You Always

  • Swing It

    Swing It

  • Treffpunkt New York

    Treffpunkt New York

  • The Fuller Brush Girl

    The Fuller Brush Girl

  • Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television

    Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television

  • Go Chase Yourself

    Go Chase Yourself

  • Television: The First Fifty Years

    Television: The First Fifty Years

  • Lucy's Really Lost Moments

    Lucy's Really Lost Moments

  • Next Time I Marry

    Next Time I Marry

  • A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob

    A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob

  • Night of 100 Stars II

    Night of 100 Stars II

  • Too Many Girls

    Too Many Girls

  • Broadway Thru a Keyhole

    Broadway Thru a Keyhole

  • Don't Tell the Wife

    Don't Tell the Wife

  • That's Entertainment! III

    That's Entertainment! III

  • Stone Pillow

    Stone Pillow

  • Ellis in Freedomland

    Ellis in Freedomland

  • All Star Party for Lucille Ball

    All Star Party for Lucille Ball

  • The Bob Hope Chevy Show

    The Bob Hope Chevy Show

  • Her Husband's Affairs

    Her Husband's Affairs

  • G.I. Journal

    G.I. Journal

  • Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie

    Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie

  • Murder at the Vanities

    Murder at the Vanities

  • Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored

    Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored

  • Critic's Choice

    Critic's Choice

  • Pioneers of Primetime

    Pioneers of Primetime

  • General Foods Opening Night

    General Foods Opening Night

  • The Whole Town's Talking

    The Whole Town's Talking

  • Jealousy

    Jealousy

  • Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

    Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

  • Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

    Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

  • Lucy Calls the President

    Lucy Calls the President

  • Hold That Girl

    Hold That Girl

  • You Can't Fool Your Wife

    You Can't Fool Your Wife

  • Twelve Crowded Hours

    Twelve Crowded Hours

  • The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1

    The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1

  • Dummy Ache

    Dummy Ache

  • Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny

    Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny

  • I Love Lucy Christmas Special

    I Love Lucy Christmas Special

  • Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special

    Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special

  • Muss 'em Up

    Muss 'em Up

  • NBC: The First Fifty Years

    NBC: The First Fifty Years

  • Cher... and Other Fantasies

    Cher... and Other Fantasies

  • So and Sew

    So and Sew

  • The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years

    The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years