Lucille Ball
Acting
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
Acting206
A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music
2025
Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieOutstanding: A Comedy Revolution
2024
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieRock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieMad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story
2023
Self (archive footage)
movieLucy and Desi
2022
Self (archive footage)
movieMy Darling Vivian
2020
Self (archive footage)
movieThis Is Bob Hope...
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Fabulous Allan Carr
2017
Self (archive)
movieMary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015
Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)
movieClassic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011
Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
movieJudy Garland: By Myself
2004
Self (archive footage)
movieTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
(archive footage)
movieBiography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
2003
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
Self (archive footage)
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
movieThe Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1998
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
movieThe Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997
Self (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment! III
1994
(archive footage)
tvIntimate Portrait
1993
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
1993
Self (archive footage)
tvLife with Lucy
1986
Lucy Barker
movieStone Pillow
1985
Florabelle
movieThat's Dancing!
1985
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieShowbiz Goes to War
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieCher... and Other Fantasies
1979
Cleaning Lady
movieLucy Calls the President
1977
Lucy Whittaker
movieWhat Now, Catherine Curtis?
1976
Catherine Curtis
movieThree for Two
1975
Sally / Rita / Pauline
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975
(archive footage)
movieLucy Gets Lucky
1975
Lucy Collins
movieHappy Anniversary and Goodbye
1974
Norma Michaels
tvDinah!
1974
Self
movieMame
1974
Mame Dennis
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
1970
Janet (uncredited)
movieSwing Out, Sweet Land
1970
Statue of Liberty (voice)
movieThe Dean Martin Christmas Show
1968
Self - Guest (uncredited)
tvHere's Lucy
1968
Lucy Carter
tvThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
Self - Guest
movieYours, Mine and Ours
1968
Helen North Beardsley
tvThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
Self - Guest
movieA Guide for the Married Man
1967
Technical Adviser
movieLucy in London
1966
Lucy Carmichael
movieThe Big Parade of Comedy
1964
Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)
movieThe Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
1964
Bonnie Blakely
movieCritic's Choice
1963
Angela Ballantine
tvThe Lucy Show
1962
Lucy Carmichael
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
Self / Self (archive footage)
tvThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
Self - Guest / Self - Co-Hostess
movieThe Facts of Life
1960
Kitty Weaver
NBC Sunday Showcase
1959
Lucy Ricardo
tvThe Ann Sothern Show
1958
Lucy Ricardo
tvThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
Lucy Ricardo
movieThe Bob Hope Chevy Show
1956
Lucy Ricardo
movieForever, Darling
1956
Susan Vega
movieLucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
Lucy Ricardo
tvMGM Parade
1955
Self
movieThe Long, Long Trailer
1954
Tacy Collini
movieI Love Lucy: The Movie
1953
Lucy Ricardo / Self
movieEllis in Freedomland
1952
The Laundromat (voice)
movieThe Magic Carpet
1951
Princess Narah
tvI Love Lucy
1951
Lucy Ricardo
tvThe Jack Benny Program
1950
Rachel Revere
movieThe Fuller Brush Girl
1950
Sally Elliot
movieFancy Pants
1950
Agatha Floud
movieA Woman of Distinction
1950
Self (uncredited)
movieMiss Grant Takes Richmond
1949
Ellen Grant
movieEasy Living
1949
Anne, Lenahan's Secretary
movieSorrowful Jones
1949
Gladys O'Neill
movieHer Husband's Affairs
1947
Margaret Weldon
movieLured
1947
Sandra Carpenter
movieEasy to Wed
1946
Gladys Benton
movieLover Come Back
1946
Kay Williams
movieTwo Smart People
1946
Ricki Woodner
movieThe Dark Corner
1946
Kathleen Stewart
movieBud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
1945
Self (uncredited)
movieZiegfeld Follies
1945
Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")
movieWithout Love
1945
Kitty Trimble
movieMeet the People
1944
Julie Hampton
movieBest Foot Forward
1943
Lucille Ball
movieThousands Cheer
1943
Lucille Ball
movieDu Barry Was a Lady
1943
May Daly / Madame Du Barry
movieSeven Days' Leave
1942
Terry Havalok-Allen
movieThe Big Street
1942
Gloria Lyons
movieValley of the Sun
1942
Christine Larson
movieLook Who's Laughing
1941
Julie Patterson
movieA Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
1941
Dot Duncan
movieToo Many Girls
1940
Connie Casey
movieDance, Girl, Dance
1940
Bubbles
movieYou Can't Fool Your Wife
1940
Clara Fields Hinklin
movieThe Marines Fly High
1940
Joan Grant
movieThat's Right – You're Wrong
1939
Sandra Sand
movieFive Came Back
1939
Peggy Nolan
movieBeauty for the Asking
1939
Jean Russell
movieTwelve Crowded Hours
1939
Paula Sanders
movieNext Time I Marry
1938
Nancy Crocker Fleming
movieAnnabel Takes a Tour
1938
Annabel Allison
movieRoom Service
1938
Christine Marlowe
movieThe Affairs of Annabel
1938
Annabel Allison
movieJoy of Living
1938
Salina Garret Pine
movieGo Chase Yourself
1938
Carol Meeley
movieStage Door
1937
Judith
movieDon't Tell the Wife
1937
Annie Howell
movieThat Girl from Paris
1936
Claire Williams
movieWinterset
1936
Girl (uncredited)
movieOne Live Ghost
1936
Maxine
So and Sew
1936
Sally Curtis
movieDummy Ache
1936
Actress
Swing It
1936
Mary (uncredited)
movieBunker Bean
1936
Rosie Kelly
movieThe Farmer in the Dell
1936
Gloria Wilson
movieFollow the Fleet
1936
Kitty Collins
movieMuss 'em Up
1936
Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)
movieChatterbox
1936
Lillian Temple
Foolish Hearts
1935
Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
movieI Dream Too Much
1935
Gwendolyn Dilley
movieThe Three Musketeers
1935
(uncredited)
movieTop Hat
1935
Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)
movieOld Man Rhythm
1935
College Girl
movieA Night at the Biltmore Bowl
1935
Lucille Ball
movieHooray for Love
1935
Chorine (uncredited)
movieI'll Love You Always
1935
Lucille (uncredited)
movieRoberta
1935
Fashion Model (uncredited)
movieThe Whole Town's Talking
1935
Bank Employee (uncredited)
movieCarnival
1935
Nurse (uncredited)
Behind the Evidence
1935
Secretary (uncredited)
movieFugitive Lady
1934
Beauty Operator (uncredited)
movieThree Little Pigskins
1934
Daisy Simms
movieBroadway Bill
1934
Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)
movieJealousy
1934
(uncredited)
movieMen of the Night
1934
Peggy (uncredited)
movieKid Millions
1934
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
movieThe Affairs of Cellini
1934
Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
movieBulldog Drummond Strikes Back
1934
Bridesmaid
movieMurder at the Vanities
1934
Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
movieBottoms Up
1934
Chorine (uncredited)
movieHold That Girl
1934
Girl (uncredited)
movieNana
1934
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
movieMoulin Rouge
1934
Show Girl (uncredited)
movieRoman Scandals
1933
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
movieBlood Money
1933
Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)
movieBroadway Thru a Keyhole
1933
Chorine / Girl at the Beach
movieThe Bowery
1933
Blonde (uncredited)
Production16
movieBungle Abbey
1981
Executive Producer
movieWhat Now, Catherine Curtis?
1976
Executive Producer
movieThree for Two
1975
Executive Producer
movieLucy Gets Lucky
1975
Executive Producer, Executive In Charge Of Production
movieHappy Anniversary and Goodbye
1974
Executive Producer
movieStar Trek: The Cage
1965
Executive Producer
movieSurf Scene
1963
Executive Producer
tvThe Lucy Show
1962
Executive In Charge Of Production
movieDragon by the Tail
1961
Executive Producer
Alcatraz Express
1961
Executive Producer
The Gun of Zangara
1960
Executive Producer
movieStrange Witness
1958
Producer
tvThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
Producer
tvU.S. Marshall
1956
Producer's Assistant
tvCavalcade of America
1952
Executive Producer
Directing2
movieBungle Abbey
1981
Director
tvHere's Lucy
1968
Director
Crew1
movieChicago Joe and the Showgirl
1990
In Memory Of