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Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball

Actor and producer · Died April 26, 1989, aged 77 · Jamestown, New York, USA

5 Primetime Emmys · Golden Globe winner

Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy. One of the most popular and influential stars in America during her lifetime, with one of Hollywood's longest careers, especially on television, Ball began acting in the 1930s, becoming both a radio actress and B-movie star in the 1940s, and then a television star during the 1950s. She was still making films in the 1960s and 1970s. Ball received thirteen Emmy Award nominations and four wins. In 1977 Ball was among the first recipients of the Women in Film Crystal Award. She was the recipient of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986 and the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1989. In 1929, Ball landed work as a model and later began her performing career on Broadway using the stage name Dianne Belmont. She appeared in many small movie roles in the 1930s as a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures. Ball was labeled as the "Queen of the Bs" (referring to her many roles in B-films). In 1951, Ball was pivotal in the creation of the television series I Love Lucy. The show co-starred her then husband, Desi Arnaz as Ricky Ricardo and Vivian Vance and William Frawley as Ethel and Fred Mertz, the Ricardos' landlords and friends. The show ended in 1957 after 180 episodes. They then changed the format a little - lengthening the time of the show from 30 minutes to 60 minutes (the first one went 75 mins), adding some characters, altering the storyline somewhat, and renaming the show from "I Love Lucy" to "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour", which ran for three seasons (1957–1960) and 13 episodes. Ball went on to star in two more successful television series: The Lucy Show, which ran on CBS from 1962 to 1968 (156 Episodes), and Here's Lucy from 1968 to 1974 (144 episodes). Her last attempt at a television series was a 1986 show called Life with Lucy - which failed miserably after 8 episodes aired although 13 were produced. Ball met and eloped with Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz in 1940. On July 17, 1951, almost 40 years old, Ball gave birth to their first child, Lucie Désirée Arnaz. A year and a half later, Ball gave birth to their second child, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV, known as Desi Arnaz, Jr. Ball and Arnaz divorced on May 4, 1960. On April 26, 1989, Ball died of a dissecting aortic aneurysm at age 77. At the time of her death she had been married to her second husband, standup comedian and business partner Gary Morton, for twenty-eight years.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 6, 1911
Died
April 26, 1989 (aged 77)
From
Jamestown, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and producer
Titles
64 on MovieCove · 148 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 32% in 30 days

What are Lucille Ball's films like?

Across their 54 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy30 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
34%
Self
20%
Society
20%
Morality
14%
Power
4%
Ideas
4%
Survival
4%
Romantic love13 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity13 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage9 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition11 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 52 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 39 · Serious 9 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 30 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 7

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 34 · Charged 15 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 36 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 21 · Funny 20

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 25 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 45 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 52 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

38 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 13 of 38 analyzed roles.

Hero
13 of 38
Shapeshifter
10 of 38
Ally
7 of 38
Herald
3 of 38
Trickster
2 of 38
Mentor
2 of 38
Shadow
1 of 38
Show the 38 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
35
Warm
27
Tense
10
Romantic
14
Melancholic
7
Other
41

How their films linger

Feel-good37 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy36
  • Bittersweet15
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lucille Ball's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 64 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lucille Ball's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

148 credits, 64 with a MovieCove page; 72 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Lucy Ricardo (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • I Love Lucy Christmas Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Lucy

  • Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration(2015)

    as Lucy Ricardo / I Love Lucy (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Lucy Ricardo (archive footage)

  • Pioneers of Primetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years(2004)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Funny World of Lucy: Volume 1(1993)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • That's Entertainment! III(1994)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Chicago Joe and the Showgirl(1990)

    In Memory Of

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as (archive footage)

  • A Tribute to Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Life with Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 8 episodes · as Lucy Barker

  • Stone Pillow(1985)

    as Florabelle

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • All the Right Moves(1983)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bungle Abbey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Lucy Moves to NBC(1980)

    Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Cher... and Other Fantasies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Cleaning Lady

  • Lucy Calls the President(1977)

    Producer · as Lucy Whittaker

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • NBC: The First Fifty Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Actor

  • What Now, Catherine Curtis? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Executive Producer · as Catherine Curtis

  • The Practice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Three for Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Executive Producer · as Sally / Rita / Pauline

  • Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Columbia Pictures 50th Anniversary Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Producer

  • Lucy Gets Lucky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Executive In Charge Of Production · Executive Producer · as Lucy Collins

  • Happy Anniversary and Goodbye(1974)

    Executive Producer · as Norma Michaels

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Mame(1974)

    as Mame

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Janet (uncredited)

  • Swing Out, Sweet Land(1970)

    as Statue of Liberty (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Mission Impossible Versus the Mob(1969)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Here's Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 144 episodes · Director · as Lucy Carter

  • Yours, Mine and Ours(1968)

    Producer · as Helen North Beardsley

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Guide for the Married Man(1967)

    as Technical Adviser

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Lucy in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Lucy Carmichael

  • Star Trek: The Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Executive Producer

  • The Big Parade of Comedy(1964)

    as Julie Hampton in 'Meet the People' (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour(1964)

    as Bonnie Blakely

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • General Foods Opening Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Actor

  • The Greatest Show on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Kate Reynolds

  • Surf Scene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Executive Producer

  • Critic's Choice(1963)

    as Angela Ballantine

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 156 episodes · Executive In Charge Of Production · as Lucy Carmichael

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Password (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dragon by the Tail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Executive Producer

  • Alcatraz Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Executive Producer

  • The Facts of Life(1960)

    as Kitty Weaver

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Gun of Zangara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Executive Producer

  • NBC Sunday Showcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucy Ricardo

  • The Ann Sothern Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucy Ricardo

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Strange Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Producer

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 13 episodes · Producer · as Lucy Ricardo

  • The Bob Hope Chevy Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Lucy Ricardo

  • U.S. Marshall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Producer's Assistant

  • Forever, Darling(1956)

    as Susan Vega

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Lucy's Really Lost Moments(1956)

    as Lucy Ricardo

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Long, Long Trailer(1954)

    as Tacy Collini

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • I Love Lucy: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Lucy Ricardo / Self

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Executive Producer

  • Ellis in Freedomland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as The Laundromat (voice)

  • The Magic Carpet(1951)

    as Princess Narah

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 180 episodes · as Lucy Ricardo

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Jack Benny Program (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Rachel Revere

  • The Fuller Brush Girl(1950)

    as Sally Elliot

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Fancy Pants(1950)

    as Agatha Floud

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Miss Grant Takes Richmond(1949)

    as Ellen Grant

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Easy Living(1949)

    as Anne, Lenahan's Secretary

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Sorrowful Jones(1949)

    as Gladys O'Neill

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Her Husband's Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Margaret Weldon

  • Lured(1947)

    as Sandra Carpenter

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Easy to Wed(1946)

    as Gladys Benton

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Lover Come Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Kay Williams

  • Two Smart People(1946)

    as Ricki Woodner

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Corner(1946)

    as Kathleen Stewart

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Ziegfeld Follies(1945)

    as Lucille Ball (segment "Here's to the Ladies")

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Without Love(1945)

    as Kitty Trimble

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Meet the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Julie Hampton

  • Best Foot Forward(1943)

    as Lucille Ball

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Thousands Cheer(1943)

    as Lucille Ball

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Du Barry Was a Lady(1943)

    as May Daly / Madame Du Barry

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Seven Days' Leave(1942)

    as Terry Havalok-Allen

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Big Street(1942)

    as Gloria Lyons

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Valley of the Sun(1942)

    as Christine Larson

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Look Who's Laughing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Julie Patterson

  • A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob(1941)

    as Dot Duncan

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Too Many Girls(1940)

    as Connie Casey

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Dance, Girl, Dance(1940)

    as Bubbles

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • You Can't Fool Your Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Clara Fields Hinklin

  • The Marines Fly High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Joan Grant

  • That's Right – You're Wrong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Sandra Sand

  • Five Came Back(1939)

    as Peggy Nolan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Panama Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Lucy

  • Beauty for the Asking(1939)

    as Jean Russell

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Twelve Crowded Hours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Paula Sanders

  • Next Time I Marry(1938)

    as Nancy Crocker Fleming

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Annabel Takes a Tour(1938)

    as Annabel Allison

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Room Service(1938)

    as Christine Marlowe

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Affairs of Annabel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Annabel Allison

  • Having Wonderful Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Miriam

  • Joy of Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Salina Garret Pine

  • Go Chase Yourself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Carol Meeley

  • Stage Door(1937)

    as Judith

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Don't Tell the Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Annie Howell

  • That Girl from Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Claire Williams

  • Winterset(1936)

    as Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • One Live Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Maxine

  • So and Sew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Sally Curtis

  • Dummy Ache (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Actress

  • Swing It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mary (uncredited)

  • Bunker Bean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Rosie Kelly

  • The Farmer in the Dell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Gloria Wilson

  • Follow the Fleet(1936)

    as Kitty Collins

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Muss 'em Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Departing Train Passenger (uncredited)

  • Chatterbox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Lillian Temple

  • Foolish Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)

  • I Dream Too Much (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Gwendolyn Dilley

  • The Three Musketeers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as (uncredited)

  • Top Hat(1935)

    as Flower Shop Clerk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Old Man Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as College Girl

  • A Night at the Biltmore Bowl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Lucille Ball

  • Hooray for Love(1935)

    as Chorine (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • I'll Love You Always (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Lucille (uncredited)

  • Roberta(1935)

    as Fashion Model (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Whole Town's Talking(1935)

    as Bank Employee (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Carnival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Nurse (uncredited)

  • His Old Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Actor

  • Behind the Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Secretary (uncredited)

  • Fugitive Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Beauty Operator (uncredited)

  • Three Little Pigskins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Daisy Simms

  • Broadway Bill(1934)

    as Blonde Telephone Operator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Jealousy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as (uncredited)

  • Men of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Peggy (uncredited)

  • Perfectly Mismated (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Actor

  • Kid Millions(1934)

    as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Affairs of Cellini(1934)

    as Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back(1934)

    as Bridesmaid

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Murder at the Vanities(1934)

    as Earl Carroll Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Bottoms Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Chorine (uncredited)

  • Hold That Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Girl (uncredited)

  • Nana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Chorus Girl (uncredited)

  • Moulin Rouge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Show Girl (uncredited)

  • Roman Scandals(1933)

    as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Blood Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Davy's Girlfriend (uncredited)

  • Broadway Thru a Keyhole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Chorine / Girl at the Beach

  • The Bowery(1933)

    as Blonde (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 145 titles, 144 of them dated from 1933 to 2025; peak year 1967.

Biggest box office

All the Right Moves (1983)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

Top Hat (1935)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

I Love Lucy (1951)

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19332025

Peak 1967 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 2 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting134 of 145: 127 only acting, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndDirecting2 of 145: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleProducing15 of 145: 9 only producing, 6 with another roleOther crew3 of 145: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

145 titles, 8 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1930s56 · acting1940s24 · acting1950s18 · 15 acting · 4 crew1960s18 · 13 acting · 7 crew1970s13 · 12 acting · 5 crew1980s5 · 4 acting · 1 crew1990s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew2000s2 · acting2010s3 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 22% of 18 roles
354050

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

5 Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe from 21 major nominations, 1952–1989.

WinNomination
  1. 1989
    • Primetime Emmy, won
  2. 1979
    • Golden Globe, won
  3. 1975
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  4. 1972
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best TV Actress - Comedy or Musical
  5. 1970
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best TV Actress - Comedy or Musical
  6. 1969
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
  7. 1968
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best TV Star - Female
  8. 1967
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
Show 10 earlier years
  1. 1966
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series
  2. 1963
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Series (Lead)
  3. 1961
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
  4. 1958
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · 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
  5. 1957
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Best Continuing Performance by a Comedienne in a Series
  6. 1956
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Best Actress - Continuing Performance
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Best Comedienne
  7. 1955
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Best Actress Starring in a Regular Series
  8. 1954
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Best Female Star of Regular Series
  9. 1953
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Best Comedienne
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Most Outstanding Personality
  10. 1952
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Best Comedian or Comedienne

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Lucille Ball's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 62; across their 52 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Reach · how many have seen their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 52

Midcredits score across 64 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th27
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

35 of their 64 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser35
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)

93rd percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Top Hat (1935)

Midcredits 95th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lucille Ball's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 10 · minimalMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles5–51 · median 13 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 8 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles26–38 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 2 · minimalMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lucille Ball work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lucille Ball's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Desi Arnaz shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles