Remembering the iconic and influential Lucille Ball born 113 years ago today
With “I Love Lucy” she became one of TV’s biggest stars ever and also went on to take another historically important role for TV history
Remembering the iconic and influential Lucille Ball born 113 years ago today
One of the brightest TV stars of all time, Lucille Désirée Ball was born on August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York. Raised by her mother, Désirée, and her grandparents after her father, Henry Durrell Ball, died of typhoid fever when she was three, Ball’s early life was marked by financial hardship. Her love for performing became evident during her teenage years, leading her to enroll in the John Murray Anderson School for the Dramatic Arts in New York City at the age of 15.
Ball began her career as a model in the 1920s before transitioning to Broadway under the stage name Diane Belmont. Her Broadway career was short-lived, but it opened doors to Hollywood, where she signed a contract with RKO Radio Pictures in the 1930s. Ball’s early film career included a mix of small roles in B-movies and chorus girl parts. Despite the lack of leading roles, she gained valuable experience working with top directors and actors of the time.
Her big break came in the late 1930s and early 1940s with roles in films such as “Stage Door” (1937) and “The Big Street” (1942). Ball’s comedic talent began to shine through, earning her the nickname “Queen of the B’s” for her prolific work in B-movies.
Ball’s transition from film to television in the 1950s marked the beginning of her legendary career. In 1951, she starred in the groundbreaking sitcom “I Love Lucy,” alongside her husband, Desi Arnaz, whom she had married in 1940. The show was revolutionary, featuring Ball’s unmatched comedic timing, physical comedy, and the couple’s real-life dynamics. “I Love Lucy” became a massive hit, making Ball a household name and earning her four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Ball’s portrayal of Lucy Ricardo, a zany housewife with dreams of stardom, resonated with audiences and set new standards for television comedy. The show’s innovative use of a live studio audience and multiple cameras became the industry standard.
After “I Love Lucy” ended in 1957, Ball and Arnaz continued to work together on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” until their divorce in 1960. Ball then starred in two more successful sitcoms: “The Lucy Show” (1962-1968) and “Here’s Lucy” (1968-1974).
In 1962, Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions, which produced popular series such as “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible.” Her leadership at Desilu demonstrated her business acumen and vision for the future of television.
Ball made occasional film appearances, including a critically acclaimed performance in “Yours, Mine and Ours” (1968) and the musical “Mame” (1974). She also returned to television in the 1980s with the short-lived series “Life with Lucy.”
Ball’s marriage to Desi Arnaz was marked by both passionate collaboration and personal strife, leading to their divorce in 1960. They had two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. In 1961, Ball married comedian Gary Morton, who remained her husband until her death.
Lucille Ball continued to perform as an actress, both on film and TV for the rest of her career until her death in 1989 from an abdominal aortic dissection at the age of 77. Today, Lucille Ball is still regarded as one of the biggest influences in comedy, keeping her legacy intact more than 70 years of debuting the iconic “I Love Lucy”. Among some of the awards and recognition for her career, Lucille Ball was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four times and received two stars for her work in film and television on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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