Acting
Lucille Ball
EN, NL cinema · 175 credits
Born
6 August 1911
Died
26 April 1989 (aged 77)
Birthplace
Jamestown, New York, USA
Also known as Lucille Désirée Ball · Lucy · The Queen of the B's · Λουσίλ Μπολ · Λουσίλ Ντεζιρέ Μπολ
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
Filmography
The Time Element
as Self
A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music
2025
A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music
as Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) (uncredited)
Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story
as Self (archive footage)
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
as Self (archive footage)
Lucy and Desi
as Self (archive footage)
My Darling Vivian
as Self (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
as Self (archive footage)
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
as Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
as Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
as (archive footage)
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self (archive footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self (archive footage)
Cher: The Farewell Tour
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self / Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Best Of Danny Kaye - The Television Years
as Self (archive footage)
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
In Memory Of
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
1989
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
as (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Stone Pillow
as Florabelle
That's Dancing!
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Showbiz Goes to War
as Self (archive footage)
Bungle Abbey
Director, Executive Producer
Cher... and Other Fantasies
as Cleaning Lady
Lucy Calls the President
as Lucy Whittaker
What Now, Catherine Curtis?
as Catherine Curtis, Executive Producer
Three for Two
as Sally / Rita / Pauline, Executive Producer
Lucy Gets Lucky
as Lucy Collins, Executive Producer, Executive In Charge Of Production
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
as (archive footage)
Mame
as Mame
Happy Anniversary and Goodbye
as Norma Michaels, Executive Producer
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
1970
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
as Janet (uncredited)
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as Statue of Liberty (voice)
Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love
1969
Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love
as Self
Yours, Mine and Ours
as Helen North Beardsley
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
as Self - Guest (uncredited)
Carnival Nights
as Self
A Guide for the Married Man
as Technical Adviser
Lucy in London
as Lucy Carmichael
Carol + 2
as Self
Star Trek: The Cage
Executive Producer
The Big Parade of Comedy
as Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
as Bonnie Blakely
Critic's Choice
as Angela Ballantine
Surf Scene
Executive Producer
Dragon by the Tail
Executive Producer
Alcatraz Express
1961
Alcatraz Express
Executive Producer
The Facts of Life
as Kitty Weaver
The Gun of Zangara
1960
The Gun of Zangara
Executive Producer
Forever, Darling
as Susan Vega
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
as Lucy Ricardo
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
as Lucy Ricardo
The Long, Long Trailer
as Tacy Collini
I Love Lucy: The Movie
as Lucy Ricardo / Self
Ellis in Freedomland
as The Laundromat (voice)
The Magic Carpet
as Princess Narah
Fancy Pants
as Agatha Floud
The Fuller Brush Girl
as Sally Elliot
A Woman of Distinction
as Self (uncredited)
Miss Grant Takes Richmond
as Ellen Grant
Sorrowful Jones
as Gladys O'Neill
Easy Living
as Anne, Lenahan's Secretary
Lured
as Sandra Carpenter
Her Husband's Affairs
as Margaret Weldon
The Dark Corner
as Kathleen Stewart
Easy to Wed
as Gladys Benton
Two Smart People
as Ricki Woodner
Lover Come Back
as Kay Williams
Without Love
as Kitty Trimble
Ziegfeld Follies
as Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
as Self (uncredited)
Meet the People
as Julie Hampton
Best Foot Forward
as Lucille Ball
Du Barry Was a Lady
as May Daly / Madame Du Barry
Thousands Cheer
as Lucille Ball
The Big Street
as Gloria Lyons
Seven Days' Leave
as Terry Havalok-Allen
Valley of the Sun
as Christine Larson
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
as Dot Duncan
Look Who's Laughing
as Julie Patterson
Dance, Girl, Dance
as Bubbles
Too Many Girls
as Connie Casey
You Can't Fool Your Wife
as Clara Fields Hinklin
The Marines Fly High
as Joan Grant
Five Came Back
as Peggy Nolan
Twelve Crowded Hours
as Paula Sanders
Panama Lady
as Lucy
Beauty for the Asking
as Jean Russell
That's Right – You're Wrong
as Sandra Sand
Room Service
as Christine Marlowe
Joy of Living
as Salina Garret Pine
Having Wonderful Time
as Miriam
The Affairs of Annabel
as Annabel Allison
Go Chase Yourself
as Carol Meeley
Next Time I Marry
as Nancy Crocker Fleming
Annabel Takes a Tour
as Annabel Allison
Stage Door
as Judith
Don't Tell the Wife
as Annie Howell
Follow the Fleet
as Kitty Collins
Swing It
1936
Swing It
as Mary (uncredited)
Bunker Bean
as Rosie Kelly
That Girl from Paris
as Claire Williams
One Live Ghost
as Maxine
The Farmer in the Dell
as Gloria Wilson
Chatterbox
as Lillian Temple
Winterset
as Girl (uncredited)
Muss 'em Up
as Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)
So and Sew
1936
So and Sew
as Sally Curtis
Dummy Ache
as Actress
Roberta
as Fashion Model (uncredited)
Foolish Hearts
1935
Foolish Hearts
as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
I Dream Too Much
as Gwendolyn Dilley
Behind the Evidence
1935
Behind the Evidence
as Secretary (uncredited)
Top Hat
as Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)
Old Man Rhythm
as College Girl
The Three Musketeers
as (uncredited)
Carnival
as Nurse (uncredited)
The Whole Town's Talking
as Bank Employee (uncredited)
Hooray for Love
as Chorine (uncredited)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
as Lucille Ball
I'll Love You Always
as Lucille (uncredited)
Broadway Bill
as Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)
Three Little Pigskins
as Daisy Simms
Kid Millions
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Nana
as Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Moulin Rouge
as Show Girl (uncredited)
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
as Bridesmaid
The Affairs of Cellini
as Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
Bottoms Up
as Chorine (uncredited)
Murder at the Vanities
as Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)
Fugitive Lady
as Beauty Operator (uncredited)
Hold That Girl
as Girl (uncredited)
Men of the Night
as Peggy (uncredited)
Jealousy
as (uncredited)
Blood Money
as Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
as Chorine / Girl at the Beach
Roman Scandals
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
The Bowery
as Blonde (uncredited)