Lucille Ball
1911 - 1988
Lucille Ball was none other than the queen of television comedy. She remains the standard by which other female television comedians are judged. Ball was known mainly for her long running television series, "I Love Lucy, " in which she co-starred with her husband, Desi Arnaz and Vivian Vance and William Frawley.
Ball's first big break came in 1933 in Hollywood when she appeared as a Goldwyn Girl in Roman Scandals. She also played a female clown in performances with Red Skeleton and Bob Hope.
In 1940, Ball met Ricky Ricardo while she was working for RKO. The two got married in 1942. In 1951, Ball and Arnaz started the "I Love Lucy" television show and its production company, Desilu Productions. Ball gave birth to "Little Ricky" (Ricky Ricardo, Jr.) while the weekly series was being filmed. Little Ricky immediately became a star on the "I Love Lucy" Show. Besides, the most watched single episode of a sit-com was the episode in which Ball went into labor and bore Little Ricky. (In reality, this episode was not the actual birth, just a televised episode). After that episode was filmed, Ball took a leave of absence from active filming and the episode went into re-runs. This was one of the very first television series to go into re-runs and to think that it was largely precipitated by the birth of a child!
Ball and Arnaz curtailed the "I Love Lucy" Show in 1957 and started "The Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour," still using Desilu Productions as the production company. They continued with this series until 1960.
Ball and Arnaz divorced and in 1960, Arnaz sold his interest in Desilu Productions to Ball. Soon the company was grossing $25 million + annually for Ball and she sold her interest in the company to Gulf Western.
In 1960, Ball ventured to Broadway and appeared in a musical performance of Wildcat. In 1961, Ball married a nightclub comedian by the name of Gary Morton.
Movies/Films/Career:
Cameo Appearances
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