Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

Discovering My Distant Cousin: The Legendary Lucille Ball

Although I’m only a very distant cousin to this extraordinary and talented woman, discovering our family connection brought a huge smile to my face — I’ve always adored Lucille Ball. Our shared ancestor was King Edward I “Longshanks” Plantagenet, King of England and famously known as the Hammer of the Scots for his harsh treatment of the Scots and Welsh. (He also expelled the Jewish population from England.) Not the proudest of relatives, but this medieval monarch — my 22nd paternal great-grandfather — is the common link between Lucille Ball and me.

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Lucille Ball’s Early Life and Family

Lucille Désirée Ball was born on August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York, to Henry Durrell Ball and Desirée Evelyn “DeDe” Hunt. She was the first of two children. Her brother, Fred, was born shortly after their father’s tragic death from typhoid fever when Lucille was just three years old.

Four years later, DeDe remarried, and Lucille’s stepfather encouraged her to audition for a local Shriner’s show at age 12. She was accepted into the chorus line — and the “acting bug” bit hard. The joy of performing and the attention from audiences set her on a path that would define her life.

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The Early Struggles and First Steps into Show Business

In 1926, DeDe enrolled Lucille in the John Murray Anderson School for the Dramatic Arts in New York City — the same school attended by Bette Davis. However, the instructors didn’t believe Lucille had much potential. Lucille later joked that the only thing she learned there was “how to be frightened.” Determined to prove them wrong, she set out to make a career in acting on her own terms.

By 1928, Lucille returned to New York City to chase her dream while supporting herself as an in-house model for Hattie Carnegie, a well-known fashion icon. Under Hattie’s direction, Lucille dyed her naturally brunette hair blonde and began a successful modeling career. Unfortunately, she was soon struck with rheumatic fever, forcing her to pause her ambitions for two years.

In 1932, fully recovered, Lucille resumed modeling and became the face of Chesterfield Cigarettes, appearing in many national advertisements. She also landed small chorus roles on Broadway, though none lasted long.

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Lucille Ball’s Hollywood Breakthrough

Lucille’s big break came in 1933 when she was cast as an uncredited Goldwyn Girl in the film Roman Scandals. That same year, she permanently moved to Hollywood to pursue film acting.

Throughout the 1930s, Lucille worked as a contract player for RKO Studios, appearing in films alongside comedy legends like The Three Stooges, The Marx Brothers, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and even Katharine Hepburn — another distant relative of mine.

Her first credited role arrived in 1936 in Chatterbox. She famously auditioned for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind but lost the part to Vivien Leigh, whose performance went on to win an Oscar.

In 1940, Lucille landed the lead role in the musical Too Many Girls, where she met Desi Arnaz, who played one of her bodyguards. Their chemistry was instant — the couple eloped later that year.

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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz: A Tumultuous Love Story

In 1942, Cuban-born Desi Arnaz was drafted into the U.S. military but remained in Los Angeles due to a knee injury, organizing USO shows for returning servicemen.

Lucille and Desi’s marriage was famously passionate yet volatile. Their deep love often clashed with Desi’s infidelities and their fiery tempers. Lucille filed for divorce in 1944 but later reconciled with Desi.

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The Birth of “I Love Lucy” and Television Stardom

On October 15, 1951, the world was introduced to I Love Lucy — a groundbreaking sitcom starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The show evolved from Lucille’s earlier radio program, My Favorite Husband. Lucille insisted that Desi play her on-screen husband, and CBS agreed.

The show became an instant hit and remains one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history — still airing in reruns more than 60 years later.

Lucille and Desi’s first child, Lucie Désirée Arnaz, was born on July 17, 1951. Their son, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz Jr. (Desi Arnaz Jr.), was born on January 19, 1953 — the very same day the episode aired where Lucy Ricardo gave birth to a baby boy. That episode was watched by an incredible 44 million viewers.

Despite their success, Lucille filed for divorce again on March 3, 1960, the day after filming their final I Love Lucy episode. The divorce was finalized two months later, though the two remained close friends until Desi’s death in 1986.

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Life After “I Love Lucy”

After the divorce, Lucille purchased Desi’s shares of Desilu Productions in 1962, becoming one of the first female studio heads in Hollywood history. She continued acting in television hits such as The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy, both featuring her children as co-stars.

Lucille remarried in 1962 to Gary Morton, and they remained together until her death in 1989. Although she continued acting into the 1980s, her final attempt at a sitcom comeback — Life With Lucy (1986) — failed to capture the same magic as her earlier work.

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The Final Curtain

A lifelong smoker, Lucille was hospitalized on April 18, 1989, with a dissecting aortic aneurysm. After successful surgery, she suffered a fatal rupture on April 26, 1989, passing away at 5:47 a.m. She was 77 years old.

Her death came just one day before my 23rd birthday. I didn’t know at the time that I had lost a distant relative — but like millions of others, I felt as though I’d lost family. Lucille Ball wasn’t just a television star; she was a part of our homes and hearts.

At her memorial service, actor Gale Gordon summed it up perfectly when he said,

“Everybody loved Lucy.”

He was right — everyone still does.

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Remembering Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball was more than a comedic genius. She was a woman of grace, intelligence, and determination, whose laughter disguised immense strength. Her legacy continues to inspire actors, comedians, and dreamers around the world.

Thank you for the laughs, Lucille Ball — my distant cousin, and a timeless legend. ❤️