Lucille Ball | Lucille Ball's life and career timeline | American Masters

July 2024 ยท 3 minute read

1911

Lucille Ball is born on August 6th in Celeron, New York.

1911

1915

Family moves to Butte, Montana, where her father contracts and dies of typhoid fever. The family returns to Celeron.

1915

1926

Lucille is active in the Drama Club in high school until she drops out and moves to Manhattan to study acting.

1926

1930

Becomes Chesterfield cigarette's Poster Girl under the name of "Diane Belmont."

1930

1933

Signs movie contract with Samuel Goldwyn who brings her to Hollywood to be a Goldwyn Girl.

1933

1934

Signs with Columbia Pictures and takes drop in pay. Biggest role is in "Three Little Pigskins" starring the Three Stooges.

1934

1937

Lucille plays small but memorable role in "Stage Door" starring Ginger Rogers and Kathryn Hepburn.

1937

1938

Stars in B-Movies "The Affairs of Annabel" and "Annabel Takes a Tour."

1938

1940

Meets Desi Arnaz, on set of "Too Many Girls," in which they are co-stars. Within the year they are married.

1940

1942

Acts in "The Big Street," a Damon Runyon story costarring Henry Fonda and Agnes Moorehead.

1942

1943

Stars in MGM musicals "Dubarry Was a Lady" and "Best Foot Forward."

1943

1944

Divorces Desi but cohabits with him before the decree can become final. They resume their marriage.

1944

1948

Begins work on "My Favorite Husband," a radio sitcom co-staring Richard Denning.

1948

1950

Lucille and Desi form Desilu Productions and travel around the country with vaudeville routine.

1950

1951

"I Love Lucy" premieres on CBS on Monday nights at 9pm.

1951

1952

Lucille and Desi sign an $8,000,000, 2-year contract with CBS for continuation of the series.

1952

1953

Desi Arnaz Jr. is born. Little Ricky is born on "I Love Lucy" making front page headlines.

1953

1955

Lucille wins Emmy for Best Actress (Continuing Performance).

1955

1957

May 6 - The 180th and final new episode of "I Love Lucy" is aired. Nov. 6 - The first Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show is aired.

1957

1960

March 3 - Lucille Ball files for divorce from Desi Arnaz. April 1 - The 13th and final episode of Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show is aired.

1960

1961

Ball (50) marries comedian Gary Morton (44).

1961

1962

The 1st episode of "The Lucy Show" is broadcast.

1962

1963

Lucille purchases Desi Arnaz' half of Desilu Studios and becomes the first female in history to head a Hollywood studio.

1963

1966

William Frawley dies.

1966

1967

Sells Desilu to Paramount/Gulf and Western for $17 million.

1967

1968

Stars in her last movie blockbuster "Yours, Mine and Ours" with Henry Fonda.

1968

1971

Designated "Comedienne of the Century" at a benefit show "To Lucy with Love" at the LA Music Center.

1971

1974

Stars in her last theatrical film, "Mame."

1974

1979

Vivian Vance dies.

1979

1985

Stars in CBS dramatic TV film "Stone Pillow" about a homeless woman.

1985

1986

Short lived new TV series "Life with Lucy" lasts only six weeks. December 2 - Desi Arnaz dies of lung cancer.

1986

1989

Lucille Ball dies at age 78.

1989

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