Lucille Ball
Date of birth: 1911-08-06
Place of birth: Jamestown, New York, USA
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Люсиль Болл, Lucille Désirée Ball, Lucy, The Queen of the B's, Λουσίλ Μπολ , Λουσίλ Ντεζιρέ Μπολ
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.
Movie Credits
Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love
1969-12-06
Ann-Margret starts her journey to Hollywood from the countryside, traversing the Freeway until she g
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985-01-01
William Shatner, Liz Taylor and many more stars blow lines, lose their pants and more in this hilari
A Guide for the Married Man
1967-05-25
A man gives his friend a series of lessons on how to cheat on one's wife without being caught.
Lured
1947-08-28
Sandra Carpenter is a London-based dancer who is distraught to learn that her friend has disappeared
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011-01-01
A compilation of television's biggest and best stars as they are caught in hilarious moments while f
The Dark Corner
1946-04-09
Ex-con turned private investigator Bradford Galt suspects someone is following him and maybe even tr
Roberta
1935-03-07
Football player John Kent tags along as Huck Haines and the Wabash Indianians travel to an engagemen
The Long, Long Trailer
1954-02-19
A newly wed couple, Tacy and Nicky, travel in a trailer for their honeymoon. The journey is a humoro
Without Love
1945-03-22
In World War II Washington DC, scientist Pat Jamieson's assistant, Jamie Rowan, enters a loveless ma
Dance, Girl, Dance
1940-08-30
Judy O'Brien is an aspiring ballerina in a dance troupe. Also in the company is Bubbles, a brash man
Yours, Mine and Ours
1968-04-24
When a widower with ten children marries a widow with eight, can the twenty of them ever come togeth
Follow the Fleet
1936-02-20
When the US Navy fleet docks at San Francisco, sailor Bake Baker tries to rekindle the flame with hi
Forever, Darling
1956-02-09
Susan and Lorenzo have been married for over five years and they are starting to drift apart. So int
Mame
1974-03-07
The madcap life of eccentric Mame Dennis and her bohemian, intellectual arty clique is disrupted whe
Best Foot Forward
1943-10-08
Bud Hooper, a cadet at Winsocki Military Academy, sends an invitation to movie star Lucille Ball to
Ziegfeld Follies
1945-08-26
The late, great impresario Florenz Ziegfeld looks down from heaven and ordains a new revue in his gr
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
1949-10-20
A bookie uses a phony real estate business as a front for his betting parlor. To further keep up the
Du Barry Was a Lady
1943-08-13
Hat check man Louis Blore is in love with nightclub star May Daly. May, however, is in love with a p
Thousands Cheer
1943-09-13
Acrobat Eddie Marsh is in the army now. His first act is to become friendly with Kathryn Jones, the
Stage Door
1937-10-08
The ups and downs in the lives and careers of a group of ambitious young actresses and show girls fr
Room Service
1938-09-21
Broke Gordon Miller tries to land a backer for his new play while he has to deal with with the hotel
Easy to Wed
1946-07-25
When a newspaper accuses a wealthy socialite of being a homewrecker, she files a multi-million-dolla
Joy of Living
1938-05-06
Falling in love with the voice of Broadway chanteuse Margaret Garret, cocksure young tycoon Daniel B
Having Wonderful Time
1938-07-01
Teddy Shaw, a bored New York office girl, goes to a camp in the Catskill Mountains for rest and find
The Facts of Life
1960-11-14
Middle-class suburbanites Larry and Kitty grow bored with their lives and respective marriages. Alth
Five Came Back
1939-06-23
Twelve people are aboard Coast Airline's flagship the Silver Queen enroute to South America when the
Lucy and Desi
2022-01-21
Explore the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in en
Showbiz Goes to War
1982-12-31
While a few Hollywood celebrities such as James Stewart and Clark Gable saw combat during World War
Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story
2023-06-02
The extraordinary life of playwright, singer, actor, composer, and director Noël Coward, who rose fr
Stone Pillow
1985-11-05
A homeless woman named Florabelle becomes the unwitting guide to the streets for a New York social w
Fancy Pants
1950-07-19
An American actor, impersonating an English butler, is hired by a rich woman from New Mexico to refi
Sorrowful Jones
1949-07-04
A young girl is left with the notoriously cheap Sorrowful Jones as a marker for a bet. When her fath
Broadway Bill
1934-11-30
Tycoon J.L. Higgins controls his whole family, but one of his sons-in-law, Dan Brooks, and his daugh
All Star Party for Lucille Ball
1984-12-09
A tribute to Lucille ball, with an humanitarian award for her quest to end juvenile diabetes.
The Fuller Brush Girl
1950-09-15
A daffy door-to-door saleswoman blunders into a murder investigation.
Her Husband's Affairs
1947-11-12
Bill Weldon is an Ad man who craves his wife Margaret's approval of his work, instead he gets constr
The Magic Carpet
1951-10-18
With the aid of a magic carpet, the true heir to an Arabian caliphate leads an uprising against the
Meet the People
1944-06-01
A idealistic shipyard worker interests a beautiful Hollywood star in staging a musical tribute to th
Too Many Girls
1940-10-08
Mr. Casey's daughter, Connie, wants to go to Pottawatomie College and without her knowledge, he send
Critic's Choice
1963-02-24
Parker Ballantine is a New York theater critic and his wife writes a play that may or may not be ver
Two Smart People
1946-06-04
Con woman Ricki Woodner and detective Bob Simms follow a prison-bound swindler Ace Connors on his f
The Big Street
1942-08-13
Meek busboy Little Pinks is in love with an extremely selfish nightclub singer who despises and uses
Easy Living
1949-10-08
A football halfback has a heart condition, a nagging wife and a team secretary who loves him.
Twelve Crowded Hours
1939-02-23
An ace reporter with a girlfriend nails a numbers racketeer for murders.
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
1970-11-16
Seven Days' Leave
1942-11-13
Soldier Johnny Grey is engaged to marry singer Mapy Cortes, but his plans go awry when he learns tha
The Affairs of Annabel
1938-09-09
Wonder Pictures has been striking out at the box office lately, causing the seedy PR man to involve
Panama Lady
1939-05-12
A weary dance-hall girl in a Panama saloon is given the choice of jail or going with a rough-and-tu
Beauty for the Asking
1939-02-24
Denny breaks up with his fiancée Jean to marries wealthy Flora. When Jean is fired from her job she
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
1989-09-23
A posthumous tribute to comedy legend Lucille Ball by her frequent co-star Bob Hope features clips f
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988-05-16
Stars celebrate Bob Hope's 50 years with NBC.
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
2023-06-20
This timely exploration of Hollywood and LGBTQ+ identity examines the life of legendary actor Rock H
Three Little Pigskins
1934-12-08
The stooges are mistaken by a gangster for the "Three Horsemen of Boulder Dam", famous football play
That's Right – You're Wrong
1939-11-24
J. D. Forbes, head of the almost-bankrupt Four Star Studios in Hollywood contacts band leader Kay Ky
Swing It
1936-06-30
Louis Prima, between song numbers, tells how he happened to get a job in a Hollywood cafe playing mu
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983-02-25
Out-takes (mostly from Warner Bros.), promotional shorts, movie premieres, public service pleas, war
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
1941-03-14
Steve is a shy quiet man who is an executive for a shipping firm. He meets Dot at the Opera where sh
Valley of the Sun
1942-02-06
An Arizona frontiersman steals an Indian agent's girlfriend, followed by trouble.
Look Who's Laughing
1941-11-21
Fibber McGee enlists the help of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy in enticing an aircraft manufactu
Bunker Bean
1936-06-26
A shy office worker becomes a hero when a fortune teller calls him another Napoleon.
Foolish Hearts
1935-12-27
A little entry from the RKO shorts department serving also as an audition-type (stick 'em in one of
That Girl from Paris
1936-12-31
Nikki Martin, a beautiful French opera star, stows away on an ocean liner in hopes of escaping her j
I Dream Too Much
1935-11-29
Opera student Annette Monard meets composer Jonathan Street, and in a buoyant, alcohol-fueled evenin
Lover Come Back
1946-06-21
A wife decides to take revenge when she learns her husband has been unfaithful.
You Can't Fool Your Wife
1940-05-21
Longtime school sweethearts discover married life, thanks to a disagreeable live-in mother-in-law an
Go Chase Yourself
1938-04-22
When a bank is robbed, a not-so-bright teller is wrongly suspected of being part of the holdup team.
Next Time I Marry
1938-12-09
Heiress Nancy Crocker Fleming will only receive her inheritance if she marries a "plain American." H
Annabel Takes a Tour
1938-11-10
Annabel Allison, star of Wonder Pictures, is irked at her poor publicity, especially when a rival ge
The Marines Fly High
1940-03-04
Marine lieutenants Dan and Jim fight bandits in the South American jungle, while competing for the a
Behind the Evidence
1935-01-08
Norman Foster plays a millionaire who takes a job as a reporter after he's wiped out in the Stock Ma
Don't Tell the Wife
1937-03-05
After being released from prison, con man Thurston Hall gathers his gang of cronies--along with inno
Kid Millions
1934-11-10
A musical comedy about a Brooklyn boy who inherits a fortune from his archaeologist father, but has
A Beverly Hills Christmas
1987-12-22
An evening of Christmas music from stars living in Beverly Hills, California.
Nana
1934-02-01
Young Parisian Nana wards off of a boozed-up military officer at a local restaurant, and fellow dine
Moulin Rouge
1934-01-10
A singer marries a famous composer, and after a while she gets the itch to go back on the stage. How
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
1934-08-15
Bulldog Drummond finds himself immersed in another adventure when he stumbles upon a corpse in the m
Blood Money
1933-11-17
The title refers to the business of affable, ambitious bail bondsman (and politically-connected grif
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
2003-08-22
His career started in the glory days of vaudeville. More than 70 years later, he is revered as the m
The Affairs of Cellini
1934-08-24
The 16th-century sculptor woos the Duchess of Florence despite the duke.
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976-11-28
CBS honors Lucille Ball with this celebration of her three CBS series: I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show an
Top Hat
1935-08-29
Showman Jerry Travers is working for producer Horace Hardwick in London. Jerry demonstrates his new
Old Man Rhythm
1935-08-02
Romantic rivalries between father and son enrolled at the same college.
Bottoms Up
1934-04-12
Promoter "Smoothie" King helps a pair of phonies con their way into a movie company. As Wanda heads
Murder at the Vanities
1934-05-18
Shortly before the curtain goes up the first time at the latest performance of Earl Carroll's Vaniti
Lucy Calls the President
1977-11-21
Homemaker Lucy Whittaker calls up President Carter to complain about a local political issue—and to
One Live Ghost
1936-11-07
Henry Morton just wants to go fishing. Little things thwart him: Maxine the maid makes noise, Sonny,
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
1933-11-02
Racketeer Frank Rocci is smitten with Joan Whelan, a dancer at Texas Guinan's famous Broadway night
Night of 100 Stars II
1985-03-10
This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited from a
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
1960-01-10
A look at the past, present and future of Hollywood as seen through the eyes of the movie columnist.
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999-01-01
Trace the history of television and its impact on American culture with clips, newsreels, and exclus
Three for Two
1975-12-03
Lucille Ball stars with the Great One, Jackie Gleason, combining their comedic talents for the first
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
1993-02-14
Emmy Award-Winning Special Desi and Lucy's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, hosts this emotional and honest g
The Farmer in the Dell
1936-03-27
An Iowa farmer's wife makes him move to Hollywood so their daughter can become a star.
The Big Parade of Comedy
1964-09-02
Film clips highlight the funniest scenes and brightest comic stars in MGM's history.
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
2024-06-07
This rapturous documentary steps into the dynamic world of queer stand-up and examines the powerful
Roman Scandals
1933-11-27
A kind-hearted young man is thrown out of his corrupt home town of West Rome, Oklahoma. He falls asl
The Three Musketeers
1935-11-01
In 17th century France, young D'Artagnan wants to join the King's Musketeers, but instead befriends
Chatterbox
1936-01-17
Teenage orphan Jenny Yates becomes starstruck when a revival of an old Victorian melodrama passes th
The Bowery
1933-10-07
"In the Gay Nineties New York had grown up into bustles and balloon Sleeves ... but The Bowery had g
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015-10-13
Not only did Mary Tyler Moore “turn the world on with her smile,” as her show’s theme song declared,
That's Entertainment! III
1994-07-01
Some of MGM'S musical stars review the studios history of musicals. From The Hollywood Revue of 1929
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
1968-12-19
A Classic Holiday Celebration with Dean and Friends.
I Love Lucy: The Movie
1953-01-01
The film plays out, with three first-season episodes edited together into a single story: "The Benef
Carnival
1935-02-15
"Chick" Thompson is a puppet-master in a traveling carnival whose wife dies in childbirth and leaves
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004-01-01
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the m
Lucy Moves to NBC
1980-02-08
Contacted by Fred Silverman, the President of NBC, Lucille Ball accepts to go back to work as a prod
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
1976-03-30
Following twenty-three years of marriage to a philandering husband, divorcee Catherine Curtis begins
Lucy Gets Lucky
1975-03-01
Lucy pulls out all the stops in Las Vegas to see her favorite entertainer, Dean Martin. Lucy gets a
Swing Out, Sweet Land
1970-01-01
John Wayne and an all-star cast tell the story of America.
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
1974-11-19
As her 25th anniversary approaches, Norma Michaels realizes that her marriage to her dentist husband
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954-09-28
Live television broadcast of the world premiere. Described by various participants as the biggest wo
This Is Bob Hope...
2017-12-29
During his career, Bob Hope was the only performer to achieve top-rated success in every form of mas
Hold That Girl
1934-03-23
"That girl" is newspaper sob-sister Tony Bellamy (Claire Trevor), whose nose for news gets her into
Perfectly Mismated
1934-11-12
Leon's ex-wife moves into the apartment next to him.
Men of the Night
1934-11-18
"Stake-Out" Kelly, ace detective, meets Mary Higgins at a small Hollywood sandwich shop where he exp
Jealousy
1934-11-23
Larry O'Roark is a boxer who's insanely posssesive and jealous of his fiancee, Jo. the sight of her
Fugitive Lady
1934-12-10
In this thriller, a young woman marries a dashing young man who, unbeknownst to her, is a jewel thie
His Old Flame
1935-01-25
Just as Charlie is running for mayor on a purity platform, an old flame threatens to show his torrid
Lucy in London
1966-10-24
Lucy goes to hip London to experience all the current fads.
The Whole Town's Talking
1935-02-22
Ordinary man-in-the-street Arthur Ferguson Jones leads a very straightforward life. He's never late
I'll Love You Always
1935-03-19
Nora Clegg, an actress, marries Carl Brent, an unemployed young engineer, whose estimation of his wo
Hooray for Love
1935-06-14
A wealthy young man falls hard for a beautiful showgirl, and her wily father quickly realizes the na
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
1935-06-21
Join vocalists broadcasting from the Biltmore Bowl in Los Angeles.
Muss 'em Up
1936-02-13
Famous private detective Tip O'Neil is summoned by telegram to the estate of old friend Paul Harding
Winterset
1936-12-03
A man is determined to find the real culprit behind the crime for which his father was wrongly execu
So and Sew
1936-08-24
A wife whose husband is away asks her decorator to impersonate her husband, to help her deal with a
Dummy Ache
1936-07-10
Dummy Ache is a 1936 American short comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins. An assuming husband, su
A Woman of Distinction
1950-03-16
Ice-cold college dean Susan Middlecott feels there's no room in her life for romance. Enter Prof. Al
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956-01-01
The legendary Lucille Ball as you've never seen her before! Laugh along with Lucy and Desi in these
General Foods Opening Night
1963-09-22
Fearing they'll all be fired after hearing Phil Silvers is getting his own show on the General Foods
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
1964-04-18
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004-02-25
As Hollywood biographies go, Judy Garland's story is one of the saddest success stories you'll ever
Shirley MacLaine: Gypsy in My Soul
1976-01-20
Musical Special featuring Shirley MacLaine in her tribute to chorus dancers, colloquially known as "
Cher... and Other Fantasies
1979-03-07
In a prime time network special featuring songs from her latest album "Take Me Home," Cher finds her
Carol + 2
1966-03-22
Carol + 2 was the title of the second of a multi-year series of television variety specials starring
The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
1993-07-01
Legendary showman Danny Kaye's greatest moments have been handpicked by Kaye's daughter, Dena, in th
Salute to Stan Laurel
1965-11-23
A program featuring original comedy skits written as a tribute to Stan Laurel.
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997-11-01
A film scrapbook, images, phrases from our past, hiding their meanings behind veils. Let's lift thos
The Jack Benny Birthday Special
1969-02-17
A TV special aired on February 17, 1969 (the star’s birthday was February 14), featuring Benny’s lon
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
1945-10-05
When two bumbling barbers act as agents for a talented but unknown singer, they stage a phony murder
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
2016-12-02
Celebrate the holidays with the I LOVE LUCY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, a new one-hour special featuring two
Ellis in Freedomland
1952-06-15
Westinghouse claims its electric appliances "freed women from the drudgery of housework." The first
My Darling Vivian
2020-04-27
The story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and the mother of his four daughters. Includes
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001-02-22
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001-02-22
This Bob Hope Special called “Highlights of a Quarter Century” begins his 26th year with NBC in 1975
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1998-01-01
Video series spotlighting memorable moments and roasts hosted by Dean Martin. "Dean Martin Celebrity
NBC: The First Fifty Years
1976-11-21
A celebration of 50 years of NBC broadcasting in radio and television, since first going on the airw
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
1997-01-01
In THE FUNNY WORLD OF LUCY, you'll hear in Lucy's own words how she went from a school girl in James
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
1982-02-28
Bob Hope takes a look back at the beautiful and funny women he has worked with over the years. More
G.I. Journal
1944-11-03
We see them all here including male vocalist Harry Babbitt, comic Ish Kabibble and guest stars like
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975-10-24
A two hour celebration of Bob Hope's 25 years of television shows that features highlights starting
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
1956-10-21
The Bob Hope Chevy Show (21 October 1956) is an episode of The Bob Hope Show. It first aired 21 Octo
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987-05-18
A TV special on the 100th anniversary of the birth of film.
Pioneers of Primetime
2005-11-09
An in-depth look at the early days of television and its first stars.
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000-12-03
For more than 30 years, Lucille Ball was one of the most recognized and loved entertainers in the wo
Carnival Nights
1968-03-20
Jack Benny presents a variety hour with a carnival theme that stars Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson, Ben
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986-11-30