Lucille Ball, known as “Lucy”, was born in 1911 in New York. She pursued acting after dropping out of high school and found success as a model before starring in over 70 feature films. Her radio show “My Favorite Husband” led to her breakout role as Lucy Ricardo in “I Love Lucy”, which remained at number one in TV ratings for four of the six years it aired. Ball won five Emmy Awards and was the first woman inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. She produced three more “Lucy” series and died in 1989.
Lucille Ball, born August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York, is known and loved throughout the world as “Lucy”. Lucille Ball has done everything in the entertainment industry from feature films to radio, television and even some modeling and vaudeville. Her situation comedy “I Love Lucy” remained at number one in television ratings for four of the six years it aired.
Ball was struck by the acting bug as a teenager and dropped out of high school at age 15 to pursue her dream. She didn’t find much work as an actress in her early years, but she instead found success as a model. By age 18, however, she would begin a career that would include over 70 feature films. Early on, she Ball had unbilled parts, then she was billed as Diane Belmont before being known as Lucille Ball. She was signed first to Columbia in 1934 and then to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in 1943. She quickly became an established film actress, but not yet the breakout star she would later become.
Three years before “I Love Lucy” premiered on October 15, 1951, Lucille Ball played a housewife on the radio show “My Favorite Husband.” Radio work has showcased her talents, such as her distinctive and humorous voice. Lucille Ball made her role as a radio housewife fun and interesting, but it was television that made the most of her talent.
Before Lucille Ball, the world had never seen such a beautiful woman act so stupid on television. Physical comedy was the domain of one man, with the likes of Dick Van Dyke and The Three Stooges. But the sight of Lucille Ball’s Lucy Ricardo character stomping grapes in a vat up to her knees, trying to mimic Italian women squashing grapes, was hilarious. How Lucy tried to keep up with the conveyor belt in a chocolate factory by stuffing sweets in her hat, mouth, down both cheeks, with bulging eyes was definitely one of the funniest and most remembered scenes in the history of the television.
Lucille Ball, as Lucy Ricardo, had the endearing quality of being larger than life and yet very down to earth. For example, Lucy’s laughter, screams and physical movements were often exaggerated and her personality was definitely over the top. Lucy was always planning how to get into show business or she thought her husband was trying to trick her. Yet even with the bright red cartoonish hair, Lucille Ball never really made the character flat cartoonish, but rather as a well-rounded, believable, lovable character.
Lucille Ball’s Lucy Ricardo was as real to her audience as a very welcome old friend. He brought an emotional sincerity to Lucy that the audience felt. For example, the almost childish wails and sobs that were the character’s common reaction when her plans went awry, which they always did, was certainly exaggerated, but at the same time hilarious and believable.
Ball has won five Emmy Awards and was the first woman inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984. She and Desi Arnaz, who played Lucy’s husband Ricky on the show, were married for 20 years and had two children, Lucie and Desi Jr.
Lucille Ball received ownership of Desilu Productions after her and Desi’s divorce in 1970 and went on to produce three more “Lucy” series: “The Lucy Show”, “Here’s Lucy” and “Life with Lucy”. The latter was a flop and was pulled after eight weeks on the air, but fans of her loved and still love Lucille Ball. “I Love Lucy” is still seen in syndication reruns by many people around the world today. Lucille Ball died on April 26, 1989 of an acute aortic aneurysm.
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