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