Lucille Ball was an American actress, comedian, and producer. She was one of the most popular and beloved entertainers of all time, and she is best known for her role as Lucy Ricardo in the television sitcom "I Love Lucy."
Ball was born in Jamestown, New York, in 1911. She began her career in show business in the early 1930s, appearing in films and on radio. In 1940, she married Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz, and they co-starred in the radio show "My Favorite Husband."
Jump to:
The show was adapted for television in 1951 as "I Love Lucy," which became one of the most popular and successful television shows of all time.
Ball was a pioneer in television comedy. She was one of the first women to be a major star on television, and she helped to break down the barriers that existed for women in the industry.
She was also a talented producer, and she co-founded the production company Desilu with Arnaz. Desilu produced many successful television shows, including "The Untouchables" and "Star Trek."
Ball was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times. She also received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. She was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1986.
Ball died in 1989 at the age of 77. She is still considered one of the greatest entertainers of all time, and her legacy continues to inspire and entertain people around the world.
Family Overview
Lucille Ball grew up as a Baptist and has ties to original settlers in the 13 original colonies. Specifically, her ancestors could be traced to Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bay Colony.
She lost her father when she was three years old. She always spoke well of him, but she did not have many memories with him. Her mother then moved, and she and her brother were helped raised by her grandparents.
Her mother eventually married again, and Lucy seemed to have a decent relationship with her stepfather (although some conflict with her step-grandparents). Her stepfather encouraged her to audition for a play, and this would light a spark in Lucille that would lead her into show business.
She had two children and two husbands that are well-documented.
Her children still live today.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Henry Durrell "Had" Ball (1887 – 1915) - He was a lineman for Bell Telephone. She did not get to live with him long since he tragically died, and her mother was left to carry on throughout the 1920s and the Great Depression. He died of typhoid fever when Lucille was only three years old.
Désirée Evelyn "DeDe" Hunt (1889 – 1977) - She raised Lucille and her younger brother, Fred, on her own. She worked as a secretary and a saleswoman to support her family. Lucille never forgot her parents, and she often spoke about them with fondness. She once said that her father was her "first hero" and that her mother was "the strongest woman I've ever known."
Spouse:
Desi Arnaz (1940-1960) - Arnaz and Ball met in 1940 while they were both working on the radio show "Too Much Johnson." They eloped in November 1940 and had two children together, Lucie and Desi Jr. They were married for 20 years and starred together in the hit television sitcom "I Love Lucy." The marriage was often turbulent, and they divorced in 1960.
Gary Morton (1961-1989) - Ball met Morton in 1960, shortly after her divorce from Arnaz. They were married in 1961 and remained together until Ball's death in 1989. Morton was a successful comedy writer and producer, and he helped Ball to manage her career in the years after "I Love Lucy."
Children:
Lucie Arnaz (1951 - still living) - Lucie is an actress, singer, and producer. She is best known for her roles in the television series "Here's Lucy" and "Life Goes On." She is also the author of several books, including "Lucy and Desi: My Life with My Parents" and " Lucie Arnaz: A Life in Progress."
Desi Arnaz Jr. (1953 - unknown) - Desi is a musician and actor. He is the lead singer of the band The Four Freshmen. He has also appeared in several films and television shows, including "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island."
Siblings:
Fred Ball (1917 - 2007) - He left Jamestown, along with his mother and grandfather, to join his sister in California in the 1930s, working as a page boy at Cafe Trocadero. He was the road manager for Desi Arnaz's band in the 1940s and 1950s. Later, he was on the Board of Directors of Desilu Productions (the studio that Desi and Lucy purchased in 1951 and that produced I Love Lucy, as well as Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and The Untouchables). After managing administration at Desilu Productions, he instead managed restaurants and hotels, such as the Palm Desert Hotel, and mobile-home parks. He was a real estate agent and broker in Arizona.