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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Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2024-06-07 |
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Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed | Self (archive footage) | 2023-06-20 |
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Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story | Self (archive footage) | 2023-06-02 |
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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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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 2 | Self (archive footage) | 2001-02-22 |
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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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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 Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1 | 1997-01-01 | |
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The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender | Self (archive footage) | 1997-11-01 |
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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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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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Night of 100 Stars II | Self | 1985-03-10 |
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Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers | Self (archive footage) | 1985-01-01 |
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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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Showbiz Goes to War | (archive footage) | 1982-12-31 |
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Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny | Self | 1982-02-28 |
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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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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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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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Lucy Gets Lucky | Lucy Collins | 1975-03-01 |
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Three for Two | Sally / Rita / Pauline | 1975-12-03 |
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Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television | (archive footage) | 1975-10-24 |
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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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Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special | Janet (uncredited) | 1970-11-16 |
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Swing Out, Sweet Land | Statue of Liberty (voice) | 1970-01-01 |
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The Jack Benny Birthday Special | Self | 1969-02-17 |
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Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love | Self | 1969-12-06 |
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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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Carnival Nights | Self | 1968-03-20 |
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A Guide for the Married Man | Technical Adviser (Mrs. Joe X) | 1967-05-25 |
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Lucy in London | Lucy Carmichael | 1966-10-24 |
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Carol + 2 | Self | 1966-03-22 |
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Salute to Stan Laurel | Self | 1965-11-23 |
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The Big Parade of Comedy | Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage) | 1964-09-02 |
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The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour | Bonnie Blakely | 1964-04-18 |
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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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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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Lucy's Really Lost Moments | Lucy Ricardo | 1956-01-01 |
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The Long, Long Trailer | Tacy Collini | 1954-02-19 |
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A Star Is Born World Premiere | Self | 1954-09-28 |
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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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A Woman of Distinction | Self (uncredited) | 1950-03-16 |
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Fancy Pants | Agatha Floud | 1950-07-19 |
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The Fuller Brush Girl | Sally Elliot | 1950-09-15 |
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Easy Living | Anne, Lenahan's Secretary | 1949-10-08 |
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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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Lured | Sandra Carpenter | 1947-08-28 |
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Her Husband's Affairs | Margaret Weldon | 1947-11-12 |
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Two Smart People | Ricki Woodner | 1946-06-04 |
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Lover Come Back | Kay Williams | 1946-06-21 |
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The Dark Corner | Kathleen Stewart | 1946-04-09 |
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Easy to Wed | Gladys Benton | 1946-07-25 |
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Ziegfeld Follies | Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies") | 1945-08-26 |
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Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood | Self (uncredited) | 1945-10-05 |
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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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Thousands Cheer | Lucille Ball | 1943-09-13 |
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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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Valley of the Sun | Christine Larson | 1942-02-06 |
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Seven Days' Leave | Terry Havalok-Allen | 1942-11-13 |
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The Big Street | Gloria Lyons | 1942-08-13 |
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Look Who's Laughing | Julie Patterson | 1941-11-21 |
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A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob | Dot Duncan | 1941-03-14 |
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You Can't Fool Your Wife | Clara Fields Hinklin | 1940-05-21 |
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Too Many Girls | Connie Casey | 1940-10-08 |
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Dance, Girl, Dance | Bubbles | 1940-08-30 |
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The Marines Fly High | Joan Grant | 1940-03-04 |
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Panama Lady | Lucy | 1939-05-12 |
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That's Right – You're Wrong | Sandra Sand | 1939-11-24 |
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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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Twelve Crowded Hours | Paula Sanders | 1939-02-23 |
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Go Chase Yourself | Carol Meeley | 1938-04-22 |
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Next Time I Marry | Nancy Crocker Fleming | 1938-12-09 |
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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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Annabel Takes a Tour | Annabel Allison | 1938-11-10 |
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The Affairs of Annabel | Annabel Allison | 1938-09-09 |
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Room Service | Christine Marlowe | 1938-09-21 |
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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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Bunker Bean | Rosie Kelly | 1936-06-26 |
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Winterset | Girl (uncredited) | 1936-12-03 |
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So and Sew | Sally Curtis | 1936-08-24 |
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That Girl from Paris | Claire Williams | 1936-12-31 |
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Muss 'em Up | Departing Train Passenger (uncredited) | 1936-02-13 |
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Swing It | Mary (uncredited) | 1936-06-30 |
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Follow the Fleet | Kitty Collins | 1936-02-20 |
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Chatterbox | Lillian Temple | 1936-01-17 |
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The Farmer in the Dell | Gloria Wilson | 1936-03-27 |
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One Live Ghost | Maxine | 1936-11-07 |
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Dummy Ache | Actress | 1936-07-10 |
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Behind the Evidence | Secretary (uncredited) | 1935-01-08 |
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Top Hat | Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited) | 1935-08-29 |
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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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Foolish Hearts | Hat Check Girl | 1935-12-27 |
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Roberta | Fashion Model | 1935-03-07 |
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The Three Musketeers | (uncredited) | 1935-11-01 |
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Carnival | Nurse | 1935-02-15 |
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Hooray for Love | Chorine (uncredited) | 1935-06-14 |
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I'll Love You Always | Lucille (uncredited) | 1935-03-19 |
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The Whole Town's Talking | Bank Employee (uncredited) | 1935-02-22 |
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His Old Flame | 1935-01-25 | |
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A Night at the Biltmore Bowl | Lucille Ball | 1935-06-21 |
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The Affairs of Cellini | Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited) | 1934-08-24 |
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Moulin Rouge | Show Girl (uncredited) | 1934-01-10 |
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Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back | Bridesmaid | 1934-08-15 |
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Bottoms Up | Chorine (uncredited) | 1934-04-12 |
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Nana | Chorus Girl (uncredited) | 1934-02-01 |
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Kid Millions | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) | 1934-11-10 |
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Broadway Bill | Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited) | 1934-11-30 |
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Three Little Pigskins | Daisy Simms | 1934-12-08 |
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Fugitive Lady | Beauty Operator (uncredited) | 1934-12-10 |
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Murder at the Vanities | Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited) | 1934-05-18 |
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Perfectly Mismated | 1934-11-12 | |
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Men of the Night | Peggy (uncredited) | 1934-11-18 |
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Jealousy | (uncredited) | 1934-11-23 |
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Hold That Girl | Girl (uncredited) | 1934-03-23 |
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The Bowery | Blonde (uncredited) | 1933-10-07 |
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Blood Money | Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited) | 1933-11-17 |
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Roman Scandals | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) | 1933-11-27 |
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Broadway Thru a Keyhole | Chorine / Girl at the Beach | 1933-11-02 |
