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Lucille Ball Biography

Birth Name:Lucille Desiree Ball

Birth Place:Jamestown, New York, United States

Profession Actress, Producer, Soundtrack, Production manager, Director

Fast Facts

Became the first woman in history to own her own production company in 1962 when she founded Desilu Production with her ex-husband Desi Arnaz
Received the Women's International Center's Living Legacy Award in 1989
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989
Trained alongside Bette Davis at the John Murray Anderson School for the Dramatic Arts
As a young child, she was left in the care of her step-father's parents who were so opposed to vanity that they banned mirrors in their home
Quote: "Knowing what you can not do is more important than knowing what you can do․ In fact, that's good taste․"
Quote: "The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age!"
Quote: "[on "I Love Lucy"] "I liked being an innovator, but people told us we were crazy, that we were committing career suicide․ I didn't listen ․․․ I liked creating a show from scratch․""
Before becoming an actress, she worked at an ice cream parlor where she was eventually fired for forgetting to put bananas on the banana splits

Awards

1942Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (November): winner
1949Photoplay Award-Best Performances of the Month (December): winner
1951Golden Laurel-Top Female Comedy Performance: winner
1954Primetime Emmy-Best Female Star of Regular Series: nominated
1955Golden Laurel-Top Female Comedy Performance: winner
1955Primetime Emmy-Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series: nominated
1956Primetime Emmy-Best Actress - Continuing Performance: winner
1957Primetime Emmy-Best Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a Series: nominated
1958Primetime Emmy-Best Continuing Performance (Female) in a Series by a Comedienne, Singer, Hostess, Dancer, M.C., Announcer, Narrator, Panelist, or any Person who Essentially Plays Herself: nominated
1961Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1961Golden Laurel-Top Female Comedy Performance: nominated
1963Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead): nominated
1966Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: nominated
1967Gold Medal-Favorite TV Program: nominated
1967Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: winner
1968Golden Globe-Best TV Star - Female: nominated
1968Golden Laurel-Female Comedy Performance: winner
1968Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series: winner
1969Golden Globe-Best Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1970Golden Globe-Best TV Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1972Golden Globe-Best TV Actress - Comedy or Musical: nominated
1975Golden Globe-Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2021OFTA TV Hall of Fame-Character: winner