Lucille Ball
Born 1911 · Age 114
American actress, comedian, producer and studio executive; star of I Love Lucy and first woman to run a major Hollywood television studio (Desilu).
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Jamestown, New York
Lucille Désirée Ball is born at 69 Stewart Avenue, Jamestown, New York.
Father dies of typhoid fever
Henry Durrell 'Had' Ball dies at age 27 in Wyandotte, Michigan; family returns to New York.
Early adolescent romance and interest in performing
At age 14 she dates Johnny DeVita; concurrently begins performing in local shows and develops interest in acting.
Enrolls at John Murray Anderson School for Dramatic Arts
Leaves high school and enrolls in the John Murray Anderson School for the Dramatic Arts in New York City (classmate: Bette Davis).
Begins modeling for Hattie Carnegie
Works as an in‑house model for Hattie Carnegie, adopts blonde hair on employer's orders and gains fashion-industry experience.
Professional career begins as a model
Career officially begins (Wikipedia): lands modeling work and continues pursuit of performing.
Signs with Samuel Goldwyn / Goldwyn Girl in Roman Scandals
Signs a movie contract with Samuel Goldwyn and appears (uncredited) as a Goldwyn Girl in Roman Scandals (1933); moves permanently to Hollywood.
Films with Three Stooges and Columbia work
Appears in comedy short Three Little Pigskins (1934) and signs with Columbia for additional work; rising film credits in B-pictures.
First credited film role (Chatterbox) and Broadway attempt
Receives first credited role in Chatterbox (1936); stars in the Bartlett Cormack play Hey Diddle Diddle (premiered Jan 21, 1937) — stage work mixed success.
Appears in Stage Door and begins radio work
Notable larger film role in Stage Door (1937); joins radio cast of The Phil Baker Show and later The Wonder Show, beginning long professional relationship with Gale Gordon.
Final episode of The Wonder Show (radio)
The Wonder Show, on which Ball performed, ends its run (final episode April 7, 1939).
Co-stars in Too Many Girls; meets Desi Arnaz
Plays lead in Too Many Girls (1940) where she meets Cuban bandleader/actor Desi Arnaz; romance begins.
Marries Desi Arnaz (elopes)
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz elope at the Byram River Beagle Club, Greenwich, Connecticut.
Purchase of Desilu ranch in Chatsworth
Ball and Arnaz purchase a 5‑acre ranch they name 'Desilu' in Chatsworth, California.
Miscarriage during Valley of the Sun production
Discovers pregnancy during Valley of the Sun but suffers a miscarriage several weeks later.
Stars in Du Barry Was a Lady and Best Foot Forward
Featured in MGM musicals Du Barry Was a Lady and Best Foot Forward; continues film career through 1940s.
Files for divorce from Desi (interlocutory decree) then reconciles
Ball files for divorce citing Arnaz's infidelity and drinking; obtains interlocutory decree but reconciles before final decree entered.
Cast as Liz Cooper on My Favorite Husband (radio)
Stars as Liz Cooper in CBS Radio's My Favorite Husband (character later evolved into I Love Lucy television premise).
Forms Desilu Productions with Desi Arnaz
Ball and Arnaz create Desilu Productions to produce their projects and retain rights to filmed episodes.
Birth of daughter Lucie Arnaz
Lucie Désirée Arnaz is born (July 17, 1951) a few weeks before Ball's 40th birthday.
I Love Lucy premieres on CBS
I Love Lucy debuts nationally on CBS (Oct 15, 1951); becomes immediate ratings hit and cultural phenomenon.
Major CBS contract reported ($8,000,000)
PBS timeline states Lucille and Desi sign an $8,000,000, 2‑year contract with CBS for continuation of the series (1952); reflects I Love Lucy's commercial success.
Birth of Desi Arnaz Jr.; Lucy's pregnancy aired on I Love Lucy
Desi Arnaz Jr. is born Jan 19, 1953 — the same evening the 'Lucy Is Enceinte' episode aired; 44 million viewers watched Lucy Ricardo give birth on TV.
Stars in feature film The Long, Long Trailer
Ball and Arnaz star together in the successful feature comedy The Long, Long Trailer (1954).
Wins Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress (I Love Lucy era)
Wins an Emmy (one of multiple wins across her career); 1956 listed as Emmy win year for Best Actress–Continuing Performance.
CBS buys back syndication rights for $1,000,000; funds Desilu studio purchase
CBS bought post-broadcast rights for $1,000,000 in 1957; the funds helped finance Ball and Arnaz's purchase of the former RKO Pictures lot, becoming Desilu Studios.
Final original episode of I Love Lucy airs
Last new episode of I Love Lucy airs May 6, 1957; cast continues in The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour specials until 1960.
Produces and stars in Broadway musical Wildcat
Ball produces and stars in Wildcat on Broadway (1960–61); show ends early due to illness.
Files for divorce from Desi Arnaz
Lucille Ball files legal papers claiming married life with Desi was 'a nightmare'; step leading to divorce finalized in May.
Divorce from Desi Arnaz finalized
Ball and Arnaz legally divorce (May 4, 1960); they remain friends thereafter.
Marries comedian Gary Morton
Ball marries Gary Morton, a Borscht Belt comedian 13 years her junior; Morton later becomes producer at her company.
The Lucy Show premieres
Ball reunites with Vivian Vance for The Lucy Show (premiered 1962), running through 1968; Gale Gordon featured as regular.
Becomes first woman to run a major TV studio (Desilu)
Following separation from Arnaz and internal corporate moves, Ball becomes the head of Desilu Productions — first woman to run a major TV studio.
Purchases Desi Arnaz's share of Desilu (approx. date reported)
PBS timeline and other sources note Ball purchased Arnaz's half of Desilu (commonly reported 1963), consolidating ownership and control.
Sells Desilu to Gulf+Western / Paramount Television for $17,000,000
Ball sells Desilu to Gulf+Western (Paramount) for $17,000,000 (reported figure).
Here's Lucy premieres (1968–1974)
Begins new sitcom Here's Lucy featuring Gale Gordon and her real-life children; show runs through 1974.
Stars in film 'Yours, Mine and Ours'
Co-stars with Henry Fonda in the family comedy Yours, Mine and Ours (1968).
Last theatrical film of era: Mame (1974)
Appears in the musical film Mame (1974); television work continues through early 1970s before a semi-retirement.
CBS tribute 'CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years'
CBS airs a two-hour tribute honoring her first 25 years in television; both Ball and Arnaz appear together, first time in 16 years.
Named assistant professor at California State University, Northridge
Takes an academic role at CSUN, reflecting broader involvement in mentoring and teaching.
Signs deal with NBC for comedy specials
After 28 years with CBS, Ball signs a deal with NBC under Fred Silverman to develop specials; only one airs as part of agreement.
Hosts Three's Company retrospective
Hosts a two-part retrospective on Three's Company, showcasing her continued television presence and curatorial work.
Forms production partnership with Gary Morton at 20th Century Fox
Ball and husband Gary Morton set up a film and TV production house at 20th Century Fox to produce films, television and plays.
Stars in dramatic TV film Stone Pillow
Plays an elderly homeless woman in Stone Pillow (1985); receives mixed reviews but strong viewership.
Stars in Life with Lucy (canceled quickly)
Launches sitcom Life with Lucy (1986), co-produced with Aaron Spelling; show is canceled after less than two months.
Receives Kennedy Center Honor
Recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors (December 7, 1986); Desi Arnaz had been scheduled to introduce her but had just died days earlier.
Death of Desi Arnaz
Desi Arnaz dies of lung cancer on December 2, 1986; Ball had remained on friendly terms with him since their divorce.
Named Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year
Receives Hasty Pudding Theatricals' Woman of the Year award (February 1988).
Hospitalized for mild heart attack
Hospitalized in May 1988 after suffering a mild heart attack.
Last public appearance at Academy Awards
Makes final public appearance at the 61st Academy Awards; receives a standing ovation with Bob Hope four weeks before her death.
Admitted for dissecting aortic aneurysm; aortic surgery
Admitted to Cedars-Sinai with chest pains; undergoes 7-hour surgery to repair aorta and install an aortic valve (April 18, 1989).
Dies from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
Lucille Ball dies on April 26, 1989 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; cause: ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm secondary to arteriosclerotic heart disease.
Posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously by President George H. W. Bush on July 6, 1989.
Universal Studios Florida opens 'Lucy – A Tribute' attraction
A walk-through attraction honoring Lucille Ball opens at Universal Studios Florida (June 7, 1990); it operates until August 17, 2015.
Autobiography published posthumously
An autobiography, originally covering life until 1964 (collaboration with Betty Hannah Hoffman), is discovered and published by Berkley Publishing Group in 1997.
Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame (posthumous)
Recognized for contributions to entertainment and women's advancement; inducted in 2001.
U.S. Postal Service commemorative stamp
USPS issues a commemorative Lucille Ball stamp on what would have been her 90th birthday as part of the Legends of Hollywood series.
Remains reinterred at Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown, NY
In accordance with Ball's wishes, her and her mother's ashes are moved to the Hunt family plot at Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown.
Posthumous TV Land Legacy of Laughter Award
Receives the Legacy of Laughter Award at the 5th Annual TV Land Awards (posthumous recognition).
I Love Lucy ranked second-best US TV program by TV Guide
TV Guide names I Love Lucy the second-best television program in American history (2008).
Google Doodle commemorates 100th birthday
Google's homepage features an interactive doodle celebrating what would have been Ball's 100th birthday; large public celebrations held in Jamestown.
Time names Ball one of the most influential women of the 20th century
Time recognizes Lucille Ball in 2020 as one of the most influential women of the 20th century for contributions as actress, comedian, producer, and studio executive.
Being the Ricardos film produced; Nicole Kidman portrays Ball
Aaron Sorkin's film Being the Ricardos (2021) features Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and receives critical attention; Kidman later earns major award nominations and wins.
Key Achievement Ages
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