1911-08-06 Jamestown, New York, USA
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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A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music | Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2025-11-28 |
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Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2024-06-07 |
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Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story | Self (archive footage) | 2023-06-02 |
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Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed | Self (archive footage) | 2023-06-20 |
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Lucy and Desi | Self (archive footage) | 2022-01-21 |
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My Darling Vivian | Self (archive footage) | 2020-04-27 |
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This Is Bob Hope... | Self (archive footage) | 2017-12-29 |
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I Love Lucy Christmas Special | Lucy | 2016-12-02 |
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Trumbo | Self (archive footage) (voice) (uncredited) | 2015-10-27 |
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Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration | Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage) | 2015-10-13 |
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Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored | Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) | 2011-01-01 |
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Pioneers of Primetime | 2005-11-09 | |
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Judy Garland: By Myself | Self (archive footage) | 2004-02-25 |
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TV in Black: The First Fifty Years | (archive footage) | 2004-01-01 |
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Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer | Self (archive footage) | 2003-08-22 |
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The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 | Self (archive footage) | 2001-02-22 |
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The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 | Self (archive footage) | 2001-02-22 |
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Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy | Self (archive footage) | 2000-12-03 |
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Television: The First Fifty Years | Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) | 1999-01-01 |
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The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts | Self - Roastee (archive footage) | 1998-01-01 |
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The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender | Self (archive footage) | 1997-11-01 |
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The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1 | 1997-01-01 | |
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That's Entertainment! III | (archive footage) | 1994-07-01 |
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Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie | Self | 1993-02-14 |
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The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years | Self (archive footage) | 1993-07-01 |
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A Tribute to Lucy | 1989-01-01 | |
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Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy | (archive footage) | 1989-09-23 |
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Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC | Self | 1988-05-16 |
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Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood | Self | 1987-05-18 |
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A Beverly Hills Christmas | Self | 1987-12-22 |
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All Star Party for Clint Eastwood | Self | 1986-11-30 |
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Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers | Self (archive footage) | 1985-01-01 |
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That's Dancing! | Self (archive footage) | 1985-01-18 |
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Night of 100 Stars II | Self | 1985-03-10 |
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Stone Pillow | Florabelle | 1985-11-05 |
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All Star Party for Lucille Ball | Self | 1984-12-09 |
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Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1983-02-25 |
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Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny | Self | 1982-02-28 |
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Showbiz Goes to War | (archive footage) | 1982-12-31 |
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A Love Letter to Jack Benny | Herself | 1981-02-05 |
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Lucy Moves to NBC | Self | 1980-02-08 |
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Cher... and Other Fantasies | Cleaning Lady | 1979-03-07 |
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Lucy Calls the President | Lucy Whittaker | 1977-11-21 |
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CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years | Self | 1976-11-28 |
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NBC: The First Fifty Years | 1976-11-21 | |
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Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul | Self | 1976-01-20 |
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What Now, Catherine Curtis? | Catherine Curtis | 1976-03-30 |
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Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television | (archive footage) | 1975-10-24 |
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Three for Two | Sally / Rita / Pauline | 1975-12-03 |
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Lucy Gets Lucky | Lucy Collins | 1975-03-01 |
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Mame | Mame Dennis | 1974-03-07 |
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Happy Anniversary and Goodbye | Norma Michaels | 1974-11-19 |
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Swing Out, Sweet Land | Statue of Liberty (voice) | 1970-01-01 |
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Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special | Janet (uncredited) | 1970-11-16 |
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Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love | Self | 1969-12-06 |
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The Jack Benny Birthday Special | Self | 1969-02-17 |
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Carnival Nights | Self | 1968-03-20 |
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Yours, Mine and Ours | Helen North Beardsley | 1968-04-24 |
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The Dean Martin Christmas Show | Self - Guest (uncredited) | 1968-12-19 |
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A Guide for the Married Man | Technical Adviser (Mrs. Joe X) | 1967-05-25 |
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Carol + 2 | Self | 1966-03-22 |
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Lucy in London | Lucy Carmichael | 1966-10-24 |
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Salute to Stan Laurel | Self | 1965-11-23 |
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The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour | Bonnie Blakely | 1964-04-18 |
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The Big Parade of Comedy | Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage) | 1964-09-02 |
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General Foods Opening Night | 1963-09-22 | |
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Critic's Choice | Angela Ballantine | 1963-02-24 |
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The Facts of Life | Kitty Weaver | 1960-11-14 |
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Hedda Hopper's Hollywood | Self | 1960-01-10 |
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Lucy's Really Lost Moments | Lucy Ricardo | 1956-01-01 |
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The Bob Hope Chevy Show | Lucy Ricardo | 1956-10-21 |
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Forever, Darling | Susan Vega | 1956-02-09 |
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A Star Is Born World Premiere | Self | 1954-09-28 |
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The Long, Long Trailer | Tacy Collini | 1954-02-19 |
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I Love Lucy: The Movie | Lucy Ricardo | 1953-01-01 |
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Ellis in Freedomland | The Laundromat (voice) | 1952-06-15 |
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The Magic Carpet | Princess Narah | 1951-10-18 |
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The Fuller Brush Girl | Sally Elliot | 1950-09-15 |
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Fancy Pants | Agatha Floud | 1950-07-19 |
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A Woman of Distinction | Self (uncredited) | 1950-03-16 |
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Sorrowful Jones | Gladys O'Neill | 1949-07-04 |
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Miss Grant Takes Richmond | Ellen Grant | 1949-10-20 |
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Easy Living | Anne, Lenahan's Secretary | 1949-10-08 |
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Her Husband's Affairs | Margaret Weldon | 1947-11-12 |
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Lured | Sandra Carpenter | 1947-08-28 |
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Two Smart People | Ricki Woodner | 1946-06-04 |
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Easy to Wed | Gladys Benton | 1946-07-25 |
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The Dark Corner | Kathleen Stewart | 1946-04-09 |
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Lover Come Back | Kay Williams | 1946-06-21 |
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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood | Self (uncredited) | 1945-10-05 |
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Ziegfeld Follies | Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies") | 1945-08-26 |
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Without Love | Kitty Trimble | 1945-03-22 |
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G.I. Journal | Self | 1944-11-03 |
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Meet the People | Julie Hampton | 1944-06-01 |
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Best Foot Forward | Lucille Ball | 1943-10-08 |
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Du Barry Was a Lady | May Daly / Madame Du Barry | 1943-08-13 |
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Thousands Cheer | Lucille Ball | 1943-09-13 |
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The Big Street | Gloria Lyons | 1942-08-13 |
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Seven Days' Leave | Terry Havalok-Allen | 1942-11-13 |
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Valley of the Sun | Christine Larson | 1942-02-06 |
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A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob | Dot Duncan | 1941-03-14 |
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Look Who's Laughing | Julie Patterson | 1941-11-21 |
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Dance, Girl, Dance | Bubbles | 1940-08-30 |
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You Can't Fool Your Wife | Clara Fields Hinklin | 1940-05-21 |
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The Marines Fly High | Joan Grant | 1940-03-04 |
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Too Many Girls | Connie Casey | 1940-10-08 |
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Five Came Back | Peggy Nolan | 1939-06-23 |
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Beauty for the Asking | Jean Russell | 1939-02-24 |
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That's Right – You're Wrong | Sandra Sand | 1939-11-24 |
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Panama Lady | Lucy | 1939-05-12 |
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Twelve Crowded Hours | Paula Sanders | 1939-02-23 |
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Go Chase Yourself | Carol Meeley | 1938-04-22 |
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Room Service | Christine Marlowe | 1938-09-21 |
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Joy of Living | Salina Garret Pine | 1938-05-06 |
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Having Wonderful Time | Miriam | 1938-07-01 |
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The Affairs of Annabel | Annabel Allison | 1938-09-09 |
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Next Time I Marry | Nancy Crocker Fleming | 1938-12-09 |
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Annabel Takes a Tour | Annabel Allison | 1938-11-10 |
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Stage Door | Judith | 1937-10-08 |
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Don't Tell the Wife | Annie Howell | 1937-03-05 |
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Follow the Fleet | Kitty Collins | 1936-02-20 |
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So and Sew | Sally Curtis | 1936-08-24 |
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Dummy Ache | Actress | 1936-07-10 |
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Winterset | Girl (uncredited) | 1936-12-03 |
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One Live Ghost | Maxine | 1936-11-07 |
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The Farmer in the Dell | Gloria Wilson | 1936-03-27 |
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That Girl from Paris | Claire Williams | 1936-12-31 |
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Bunker Bean | Rosie Kelly | 1936-06-26 |
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Chatterbox | Lillian Temple | 1936-01-17 |
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Swing It | Mary (uncredited) | 1936-06-30 |
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Muss 'em Up | Departing Train Passenger (uncredited) | 1936-02-13 |
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Top Hat | Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited) | 1935-08-29 |
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Foolish Hearts | Hat Check Girl (uncredited) | 1935-12-27 |
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Roberta | Fashion Model (uncredited) | 1935-03-07 |
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I'll Love You Always | Lucille (uncredited) | 1935-03-19 |
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Old Man Rhythm | College Girl | 1935-08-02 |
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I Dream Too Much | Gwendolyn Dilley | 1935-11-29 |
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Behind the Evidence | Secretary (uncredited) | 1935-01-08 |
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Carnival | Nurse (uncredited) | 1935-02-15 |
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The Three Musketeers | (uncredited) | 1935-11-01 |
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Hooray for Love | Chorine (uncredited) | 1935-06-14 |
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His Old Flame | 1935-01-25 | |
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The Whole Town's Talking | Bank Employee (uncredited) | 1935-02-22 |
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A Night at the Biltmore Bowl | Lucille Ball | 1935-06-21 |
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Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back | Bridesmaid | 1934-08-15 |
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Three Little Pigskins | Daisy Simms | 1934-12-08 |
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Moulin Rouge | Show Girl (uncredited) | 1934-01-10 |
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Kid Millions | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) | 1934-11-10 |
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Nana | Chorus Girl (uncredited) | 1934-02-01 |
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The Affairs of Cellini | Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited) | 1934-08-24 |
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Bottoms Up | Chorine (uncredited) | 1934-04-12 |
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Men of the Night | Peggy (uncredited) | 1934-11-18 |
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Fugitive Lady | Beauty Operator (uncredited) | 1934-12-10 |
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Perfectly Mismated | 1934-11-12 | |
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Broadway Bill | Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited) | 1934-11-30 |
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Hold That Girl | Girl (uncredited) | 1934-03-23 |
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Murder at the Vanities | Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited) | 1934-05-18 |
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Jealousy | (uncredited) | 1934-11-23 |
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Broadway Thru a Keyhole | Chorine / Girl at the Beach | 1933-11-02 |
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The Bowery | Blonde (uncredited) | 1933-10-07 |
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Roman Scandals | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) | 1933-11-27 |
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Blood Money | Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited) | 1933-11-17 |
