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Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball

Actor · 1911–1989 · Jamestown, New York, USA

IMDb

Highest rated as cast or director

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.

Acted in 120

2010s

  1. 2016

    I Love Lucy Christmas Special

    Lucy

  2. 2015

    Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration

    Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)

  3. 2011

    Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored

    Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)

2000s

  1. 2005

    Pioneers of Primetime

    Movie

  2. 2004

    TV in Black: The First Fifty Years

    (archive footage)

1990s

  1. 1997

    The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1

    Movie

  2. 1996

    E! True Hollywood Story

    TV

  3. 1994

    That's Entertainment! III

    (archive footage) (uncredited)

1980s

  1. 1986

    Life with Lucy

    Lucy Barker · 8 episodes

  2. 1985

    Stone Pillow

    Florabelle

1970s

  1. 1979

    Cher... and Other Fantasies

    Cleaning Lady

  2. 1977

    Lucy Calls the President

    Lucy Whittaker

  3. 1976

    What Now, Catherine Curtis?

    Catherine Curtis

  4. The Practice

    TV

  5. 1975

    Three for Two

    Sally / Rita / Pauline

  6. Lucy Gets Lucky

    Lucy Collins

  7. 1974

    Happy Anniversary and Goodbye

    Norma Michaels

  8. Mame

    Mame

    53
  9. 1970

    Swing Out, Sweet Land

    Statue of Liberty (voice)

1950s

  1. 1958

    Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

    TV · 2 Seasons · Drama

  2. The Ann Sothern Show

    Lucy Ricardo · 1 episode

  3. 1957

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    Lucy Ricardo · 13 episodes

  4. 1956

    The Bob Hope Chevy Show

    Lucy Ricardo

  5. Forever, Darling

    Susan Vega

  6. Lucy's Really Lost Moments

    Lucy Ricardo

  7. 1954

    The Long, Long Trailer

    Tacy Collini

    66
  8. 1953

    I Love Lucy: The Movie

    Lucy Ricardo / Self

  9. 1952

    Ellis in Freedomland

    The Laundromat (voice)

  10. 1951

    The Magic Carpet

    Princess Narah

  11. I Love Lucy

    Lucy Ricardo · 180 episodes

    83
  12. 1950

    The Jack Benny Program

    Rachel Revere · 1 episode

    83

  13. The Fuller Brush Girl

    Sally Elliot

  14. Fancy Pants

    Agatha Floud

    69

1940s

  1. 1949

    Miss Grant Takes Richmond

    Ellen Grant

  2. Easy Living

    Anne, Lenahan's Secretary

  3. Sorrowful Jones

    Gladys O'Neill

  4. 1947

    Her Husband's Affairs

    Margaret Weldon

  5. Lured

    Sandra Carpenter

    76
  6. 1946

    Easy to Wed

    Gladys Benton

  7. Lover Come Back

    Kay Williams

  8. Two Smart People

    Ricki Woodner

  9. The Dark Corner

    Kathleen Stewart

    78
  10. 1945

    Ziegfeld Follies

    Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")

  11. Without Love

    Kitty Trimble

    65
  12. 1944

    Meet the People

    Julie Hampton

  13. 1943

    Best Foot Forward

    Lucille Ball

  14. Thousands Cheer

    Lucille Ball

  15. Du Barry Was a Lady

    May Daly / Madame Du Barry

    62
  16. 1942

    Seven Days' Leave

    Terry Havalok-Allen

  17. The Big Street

    Gloria Lyons

  18. Valley of the Sun

    Christine Larson

  19. 1941

    Look Who's Laughing

    Julie Patterson

  20. A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob

    Dot Duncan

  21. 1940

    Too Many Girls

    Connie Casey

  22. Dance, Girl, Dance

    Bubbles

  23. You Can't Fool Your Wife

    Clara Fields Hinklin

  24. The Marines Fly High

    Joan Grant

1930s

  1. 1939

    That's Right – You're Wrong

    Sandra Sand

  2. Five Came Back

    Peggy Nolan

  3. Panama Lady

    Lucy

  4. Beauty for the Asking

    Jean Russell

  5. Twelve Crowded Hours

    Paula Sanders

  6. 1938

    Next Time I Marry

    Nancy Crocker Fleming

  7. Annabel Takes a Tour

    Annabel Allison

  8. Room Service

    Christine Marlowe

  9. The Affairs of Annabel

    Annabel Allison

  10. Having Wonderful Time

    Miriam

  11. Joy of Living

    Salina Garret Pine

  12. Go Chase Yourself

    Carol Meeley

  13. 1937

    Stage Door

    Judith

  14. Don't Tell the Wife

    Annie Howell

  15. 1936

    That Girl from Paris

    Claire Williams

  16. Winterset

    Girl (uncredited)

    61

  17. One Live Ghost

    Maxine

  18. Dummy Ache

    Actress

  19. Bunker Bean

    Rosie Kelly

  20. The Farmer in the Dell

    Gloria Wilson

  21. Follow the Fleet

    Kitty Collins

  22. Muss 'em Up

    Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)

  23. Chatterbox

    Lillian Temple

  24. 1935

    I Dream Too Much

    Gwendolyn Dilley

  25. The Three Musketeers

    (uncredited)

  26. Top Hat

    Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)

    84

  27. Old Man Rhythm

    College Girl

  28. A Night at the Biltmore Bowl

    Lucille Ball

  29. Hooray for Love

    Chorine (uncredited)

  30. I'll Love You Always

    Lucille (uncredited)

  31. Roberta

    Fashion Model (uncredited)

    73

  32. The Whole Town's Talking

    Bank Employee (uncredited)

  33. Carnival

    Nurse (uncredited)

  34. 1934

    Fugitive Lady

    Beauty Operator (uncredited)

  35. Three Little Pigskins

    Daisy Simms

  36. Broadway Bill

    Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)

    74

  37. Jealousy

    (uncredited)

  38. Men of the Night

    Peggy (uncredited)

  39. Perfectly Mismated

    Movie

  40. Kid Millions

    Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

  41. The Affairs of Cellini

    Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)

  42. Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back

    Bridesmaid

  43. Murder at the Vanities

    Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)

  44. Bottoms Up

    Chorine (uncredited)

  45. Hold That Girl

    Girl (uncredited)

  46. Nana

    Chorus Girl (uncredited)

  47. Moulin Rouge

    Show Girl (uncredited)

  48. 1933

    Roman Scandals

    Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

    64

  49. Blood Money

    Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)

  50. Broadway Thru a Keyhole

    Chorine / Girl at the Beach

  51. The Bowery

    Blonde (uncredited)

No release date

  1. The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special

    Movie

Produced 14

1980s

  1. 1981

    Bungle Abbey

    Executive Producer

1970s

  1. 1976

    What Now, Catherine Curtis?

    Executive Producer

  2. 1975

    Three for Two

    Executive Producer

  3. The Columbia Pictures 50th Anniversary Special

    Producer

  4. Lucy Gets Lucky

    Executive Producer, Executive In Charge Of Production

  5. 1974

    Happy Anniversary and Goodbye

    Executive Producer

1960s

  1. 1965

    Star Trek: The Cage

    Executive Producer

  2. 1963

    Surf Scene

    Executive Producer

  3. 1962

    The Lucy Show

    Executive In Charge Of Production

    71
  4. 1961

    Dragon by the Tail

    Executive Producer

1950s

  1. 1958

    U.S. Marshall

    Producer's Assistant, Executive Producer

  2. Strange Witness

    Producer

  3. 1957

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    Producer

  4. 1952

    Cavalcade of America

    Executive Producer

Directed 2

1980s

  1. 1981

    Bungle Abbey

    Director

Other crew 1

1990s

  1. 1990

    Chicago Joe and the Showgirl

    In Memory Of

Appearances62

2010s

  1. 2017

    This Is Bob Hope...

    Self (archive footage)

  2. The Fabulous Allan Carr

    Self (archive footage)

2000s

  1. 2004

    Judy Garland: By Myself

    Self (archive footage)

  2. 2003

    Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer

    Self (archive footage)

  3. Cher: The Farewell Tour

    Self (archive footage)

  4. 2001

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

    Self (archive footage)

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

    Self (archive footage)

1990s

  1. 1998

    The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

    Self - Roastee (archive footage)

  2. 1997

    The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender

    Self (archive footage)

  3. 1993

    Intimate Portrait

    Self (archive footage) · 1 episode

  4. The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years

    Self (archive footage)

  5. Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie

    Self

1980s

  1. 1988

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

    Self

  2. 1987

    A Beverly Hills Christmas

    Self

  3. The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

    Self · 1 episode

  4. Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

    Self

  5. 1985

    Night of 100 Stars II

    Self

  6. That's Dancing!

    Self (archive footage)

    71

  7. Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers

    Self (archive footage)

  8. 1984

    Body Language

    Self · 5 episodes

  9. 1983

    Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  10. 1982

    Showbiz Goes to War

    Self (archive footage)

  11. 1981

    Entertainment Tonight

    Self · 2 episodes

    38

  12. A Love Letter to Jack Benny

    Herself

  13. 1980

    Lucy Moves to NBC

    Self

No release date

  1. The Time Element

    Self