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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Klaus Badelt to Christophe Beck
Lucille Ball Biography (1911-1989)
Born August 6, 1911, in Celoron (near Jamestown), NY; daughter of Henry D. (atelephone lineman) and Desiree (a concert pianist; maiden name, Hunt) Ball;died of cardiac arrest, April 26, 1989, in Los Angeles, CA; married DesiderioAlberto (Desi) Arnaz (an actor, producer, and bandleader), November 30, 1940(divorced, 1960); married Gary Morton (a comedian), November 19, 1961; children: Lucie Desiree, Desiderio Alberto IV (first marriage).
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Birth Details
- August 6, 1911
- Celoron, New York, United States
- Death Details
- April 26, 1989
- Los Angeles, California, United States
Famous Works
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Credits; STAGE APPEARANCES
- Wildcat Jackson, Wildcat, Alvin Theatre, New York City, 1960.
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Credits; MAJOR TOURS
- Title role, Dream Girl, U.S. cities, 1947-48.
- Also toured with Desi Arnaz in a vaudeville music and comedy act, U.S. cities, 1950.
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Credits; FILM APPEARANCES
- FILM DEBUT--Slave girl, Roman Scandals, United Artists, 1933.
- Girl at beach, Broadway thru a Keyhole, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1933.
- girl, Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back, United Artists, 1934.
- beauty operator, Fugitive Lady, Columbia, 1934.
- girl, Jealousy, Columbia, 1934.
- 1934 Goldwyn girl, Kid Millions, United Artists, 1934.
- Peggy, Men of the Night, Columbia, 1934.
- chorus girl, Nana (also known as Lady of the Boulevard), United Artists,1934.
- nurse, Carnival, Columbia, 1935.
- Gwendolyn Dilley, I Dream Too Much, RKO, 1935.
- college girl, Old Man Rhythm, RKO, 1935.
- flower clerk, Top Hat, RKO, 1935.
- girl, The Whole Town's Talking (also known as Passport to France), Columbia, 1935.
- mannequin, Roberta, RKO, 1935.
- Miss Kelly, Bunker Bean (also known as His Majesty, Bunker Bean), RKO, 1936.
- Lillian Temple, Chatterbox, RKO, 1936.
- Gloria, The Farmer in the Dell, RKO, 1936.
- Kitty Collins, Follow the Fleet, RKO, 1936.
- girl, Winterset, RKO, 1936.
- Ann Howell, Don't Tell the Wife, RKO, 1937.
- Judy Canfield, Stage Door, RKO, 1937.
- Claire Williams, That Girl from Paris, RKO, 1937.
- title role, Affairs of Annabel, RKO, 1938.
- title role, Annabel Takes a Tour, RKO, 1938.
- Christine, Room Service, RKO, 1938.
- Carol Meely, Go Chase Yourself, RKO, 1938.
- Miriam, Having Wonderful Time, RKO, 1938.
- Nancy Fleming, Next Time I Marry, RKO, 1938.
- Salina, Joy of Living, RKO, 1938.
- Jean Russell, Beauty for the Asking, RKO, 1939.
- Peggy, Five Came Back, RKO, 1939.
- Lucy, Panama Lady, RKO, 1939.
- Sandra Sand, That's Right--You're Wrong, RKO, 1939.
- Paula Sanders, Twelve Crowded Hours, RKO, 1939.
- Bubbles, Dance, Girl, Dance, RKO, 1940.
- Joan Grant, The Marines Fly High, RKO, 1940.
- Connie Casey, Too Many Girls, RKO, 1940.
- Clara Hinklin/Mercedes Vasquez, You Can't Fool Your Wife, RKO, 1940.
- Dot Duncan, A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob (also known as The Navy Steps Out),RKO, 1941.
- Julie Patterson, Look Who's Laughing, RKO, 1941.
- Gloria, The Big Street, RKO, 1942.
- Terry, Seven Days' Leave, RKO, 1942.
- Christine Larson, Valley of the Sun, RKO, 1942.
- May Daly/Madame du Barry, Du Barry Was a Lady, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),1943.
- as herself, Best Foot Forward, MGM, 1943.
- guest star, Thousands Cheer, MGM, 1943.
- Julie Hampton, Meet the People, MGM, 1944.
- Kitty Trimble, Without Love, MGM, 1945.
- Kathleen, The Dark Corner, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1946.
- Ricki Woodner, Two Smart People, MGM, 1946.
- Gladys Benton, Easy to Wed, MGM, 1946.
- Kay Williams, Lover Come Back (also known as When Lovers Meet), Universal, 1946.
- Sandra Carpenter, Lured (also known as Personal Column), United Artists,1947.
- Margaret Weldon, Her Husband's Affairs, Columbia, 1947.
- Gladys O'Neill, Sorrowful Jones, Paramount, 1949.
- Anne, Easy Living, RKO, 1949.
- Ellen Grant, Miss Grant Takes Richmond (also known as Innocence Is Bliss), Columbia, 1949.
- Sally Elliot, The Fuller Brush Girl (also known as The Affairs of Sally),Columbia, 1950.
- Agatha Floud, Fancy Pants, Paramount, 1950.
- guest, A Woman of Distinction, Columbia, 1950.
- Narah, The Magic Carpet, Columbia, 1951.
- Tracy Collini, The Long, Long Trailer, MGM, 1954.
- Susan Vega, Forever Darling, MGM, 1956.
- Kitty Weaver, The Facts of Life, United Artists, 1960.
- Angela Ballantine, Critic's Choice, Warner Brothers, 1963.
- technical advisor, A Guide for the Married Man, Twentieth Century- Fox, 1967.
- Helen North, Yours, Mine, and Ours, United Artists, 1968.
- title role, Mame, Warner Brothers, 1974.
- Also appeared in Blood Money, Twentieth Century-Fox/United Artists, 1933;The Bowery, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1933; Moulin Rouge, Twentieth Century-Fox/United Artists, 1934; Bottoms Up, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1934; Hold That Girl, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1934; The Affairs of Cellini, Twentieth Century-Fox/United Artists, 1934; Broadway Bill (also known as Strictly Confidential), Columbia, 1934; Three Little Pigskins (short film), Columbia, 1934; PerfectlyMismatched (short film), Columbia, 1934; The Three Musketeers, RKO, 1935; OneLive Ghost (short film), Columbia, 1936; So and Sew (short film), RKO, 1936;Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, MGM, 1945; "Meet the Ladies" in Ziegfeld Follies, MGM, 1945.
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Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
- Lucy Ricardo, I Love Lucy, CBS, 1951-57.
- Lucy Ricardo, "The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show," The Westinghouse DesiluPlayhouse, CBS, 1958-60.
- Lucy Carmichael, The Lucy Show, CBS, 1962-68.
- Lucy Carter, Here's Lucy, CBS, 1968-74.
- Lucy Barker, Life with Lucy, ABC, 1986.
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Credits; PILOTS
- Sister Hitchcock, The Music Mart, NBC, 1980.
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Credits; EPISODIC
- "K.O. Kitty," The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, CBS, 1958.
- host, "The Desilu Revue," The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, CBS, 1959.
- The Phil Silvers Show, CBS, 1959.
- The Ann Sothern Show, CBS, 1959.
- The Danny Thomas Show, CBS, 1959.
- The Greatest Show on Earth, ABC, 1963.
- Make Room for Granddaddy, ABC, 1971.
- The Practice, NBC, 1976.
- The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, CBS, 1979.
- Also The Tonight Show, NBC; The David Frost Revue, syndicated; The Ed Wynn Show, CBS; Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet, CBS; Lineup,CBS; December Bride, CBS; Those Whiting Girls, CBS; Whirlybird, syndicated; The Milton Berle Show,ABC; Body Language.
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Credits; MOVIES
- Florabelle, Stone Pillow, NBC, 1986.
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Credits; SPECIALS
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1950.
- Show of the Year, NBC, 1950.
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1956.
- The Milton Berle Special, NBC, 1959.
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywood, NBC, 1960.
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1961.
- Twelve Star Salute, ABC, 1961.
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1962.
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1963.
- Have Girls--Will Travel, NBC, 1964.
- A Salute to Stan Laurel, CBS, 1965.
- The Wonderful World of Burlesque I, NBC, 1965.
- Lucy in London, CBS, 1966.
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1966.
- Carol + 2, CBS, 1967.
- Bonnie Barton, The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour, CBS, 1967.
- The Jack Benny Special, NBC, 1968.
- Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love, CBS, 1969.
- The Dinah Shore Special--Like Hep, CBS, 1969.
- Jack Benny's Birthday Special, NBC, 1969.
- Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special, NBC, 1970.
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1970.
- Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Jack Benny and Were Afraid toAsk, NBC, 1971.
- host, Super Comedy Bowl I, CBS, 1971.
- Swing Out, Sweet Land, NBC, 1971.
- A Salute to Television's 25th Anniversary, ABC, 1972.
- Show Business Salute to Milton Berle, NBC, 1973.
- Steve and Eydie ... On Stage, NBC, 1973.
- The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1973.
- Norma Michaels, Happy Anniversary and Goodbye, CBS, 1974.
- Lucy Collins, A Lucille Ball Special Starring Lucille Ball and Dean Martin, CBS, 1975.
- A Lucille Ball Special Starring Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason, CBS, 1975.
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy, NBC, 1976.
- host, CBS Salutes Lucy--The First 25 Years, CBS, 1976.
- Catherine Curtis, A Lucille Ball Special: What Now Catherine Curtis?, CBS, 1976.
- Gypsy in My Soul, CBS, 1976.
- The Lucille Ball Special, CBS, 1977.
- ringmaster, Circus of the Stars, CBS, 1977.
- The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1977.
- Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Tribute to Vaudeville, NBC, 1977.
- Lucy Comes to Nashville, CBS, 1978.
- General Electric's All-Star Anniversary, ABC, 1978.
- CBS: On the Air, CBS, 1978.
- Gene Kelly ... An American in Pasadena, CBS, 1978.
- The American Film Institute Salute to Henry Fonda, CBS, 1978.
- Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart, NBC, 1978.
- TV: The Fabulous '50s, NBC, 1978.
- A Tribute to "Mr. Television" Milton Berle, NBC, 1978.
- Happy Birthday, Bob!, NBC, 1978.
- Cher and Other Fantasies, NBC, 1979.
- Lucy Moves to NBC, NBC, 1980.
- Sinatra--The First 40 Years, NBC, 1980.
- Bob Hope's 30th Anniversary, NBC, 1981.
- Bob Hope's Road to Hollywood, NBC, 1983.
- Happy Birthday, Bob!, NBC, 1983.
- Bob Hope's Hilarious Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars, NBC, 1984.
- Bob Hope in Who Makes the World Laugh?, Part II, NBC, 1984.
- Bob Hope Buys NBC?, NBC, 1985.
- The Night of 100 Stars II, ABC, 1985.
- All Star Party for Clint Eastwood, CBS, 1986.
- The 38th Annual Emmy Awards, NBC, 1986.
- The American Film Institute Salute to Billy Wilder, NBC, 1986.
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1986.
- ABC Fall Preview Special, ABC, 1986.
- Bob Hope's High Flying Birthday Extravaganza, NBC, 1987.
- A Beverly Hills Christmas, syndicated, 1987.
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1987.
- The Television Academy Hall of Fame, Fox, 1987.
- America's Tribute to Bob Hope, NBC, 1988.
- Happy Birthday Bob--50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC, NBC, 1988.
- Hollywood: The Golden Years, Arts and Entertainment, 1988.
- 61st Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1989.
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Credits; TELEVISION WORK; SERIES
- Producer (with Desi Arnaz), I Love Lucy, CBS, 1951-57.
- executive producer and producer (with Arnaz), The Lucy Show, CBS, 1962-68.
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Credits; PILOTS
- Producer, The Music Mart, NBC, 1980.
- executive producer and director, Bungle Abbey, NBC, 1981.
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Credits; SPECIALS
- Producer, "The Desilu Revue," Desilu Playhouse, CBS, 1959.
- executive producer, A Lucille Ball Special Starring Lucille Ball and DeanMartin, CBS, 1975.
- executive producer, A Lucille Ball Special Starring Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason, CBS, 1975.
- executive producer, A Lucille Ball Special: What Now Catherine Curtis?, CBS, 1976.
- executive producer, The Lucille Ball Special, CBS, 1977.
- executive producer, Lucy Moves to NBC, NBC, 1980.
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Credits; RADIO APPEARANCES; SERIES
- Liz Cooper, My Favorite Husband, CBS, 1947-51.
- Lucy Ricardo, I Love Lucy, CBS, 1952.
- Also a regular on Phil Baker's and Jack Haley's comedy-variety shows, CBS, late 1930s and early 1940s.
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Credits; EPISODIC
- Ford Theatre, CBS, 1948.
- "A Foreign Affair," Screen Directors' Playhouse, NBC, 1950.
- The Martin and Lewis Show, NBC.
- Screen Guild Theatre, CBS.
- Suspense, CBS.
- Leave It to the Girls, Mutual.
Further Reference
OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:
- New York Times, April 27, 1989.
- Variety, May 3-9, 1989.
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