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Vivian Vance Biography (1913-1979)

Born Vivian Jones, July 26, 1913, in Cherryvale, KS; died of cancer, August 17, 1979, in Belvedere, CA; daughter of Robert A. and Mae (Ragan) Jones; married Philip Ober (an actor; marriage ended); married John Dodds (a publishing executive), January 16, 1961.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Birth Details

July 26, 1913

Cherryvale, Kansas, United States

Death Details

August 17, 1979

Belvedere, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Ethel Mertz, I Love Lucy, CBS, 1951-57.
• Ethel Mertz, Westinghouse Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Shows (aired as part ofWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse), CBS, 1958-60.
• Ethel Mertz, Lucy in Connecticut, CBS, 1960.
• Ethel Mertz, The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, CBS, 1962-67.
• Vivian Bagley, The Lucy Show (also known as The Lucille Ball Show), CBS,1962-65.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• "High Pitch," Shower of Stars, CBS, 1955.
• "Land Greed," The Deputy, NBC, 1959.
• "Viv Visits Lucy," The Lucy Show, CBS, 1967.
• "Lucy and the Lost Star," The Lucy Show, CBS, 1968.
• "Lucy, the Matchmaker," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1968.
• "Love and the Medium," Love, American Style, ABC, 1969.
• "Lucy and Lawrence Welk," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1970.
• "Lucy and Viv Visit Tijuana," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1970.
• "Lucy Goes Hawaiian," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1971.
• "With Viv as a Friend, Who Needs an Enemy?," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1972.
• "Rhoda's New Neighbor," Rhoda, CBS, 1975.
• Sam, CBS, 1978.
• Also appeared on The Jack Paar Show.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Mrs. Grant, The Front Page, syndicated, 1970.
• May Brodey, Getting Away from It All, ABC, 1972.
• Minnie, The Great Houdini, ABC, 1976.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• CBS Salutes Lucy--The First 25 Years, CBS, 1976.
• A Lucille Ball Comedy Special, CBS, 1977.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• Leah, The Secret Fury, RKO, 1950.
• Alicia, The Blue Veil, RKO, 1951.
• Hester Goodbody, The Great Race, Warner Bros., 1965.
• Credits; Stage Appearances
• Mrs. Mister, The Cradle Will Rock, Mansfield Theatre, New York City, 1947-48.
• Appeared in New York City productions of Anything Goes, 1934; Red, Hot and Blue, 1936; Hooray for What, 1937; Skylark, 1939; Let's Face It, 1941; Music in the Air, Out from Under, and It Takes Two.
• Also appeared in Voice of the Turtle, Chicago and San Francisco, 1946-47,and Kiss the Boys Goodbye, 1939.

Further Reference

Periodicals:

• Newsweek, August 27, 1979.
• New York Times, August 18, 1979, p. 24.
• Time, August 27, 1979.