Born in Jamestown, NY, Lucille Desiree Ball left her hometown at the age of fifteen to study drama in New York City and began her entertainment career with stints as a model and Goldwyn Girl.

In 1951, Lucy and her husband, Desi Arnaz, launched a comedy television series, I Love Lucy, based on their own lives. The show pioneered technical aspects of a comedy show, using three cameras, a set, and a live audience. It also became the launching pad for the endearing comic talents of Ball.

Lucy went on to win four Emmy Awards for her work. Proving that her talents extended beyond the realm of comedy, the entrepreneur became the first female studio head in Hollywood. As president of Desilu Productions, she broke the glass ceiling for women executives in the film and television industry.

In 1986, Ball received a Kennedy Center Honor for her work and her shows live on in syndication even today.

Additional Resources:
Brady, Kathleen. Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball. Watson-Guptill Publications, 2001.

Karol, Michael. Lucy A-Z Writer's Showcase Press, 2001.

Fidelman, Mark Geoffrey and Steve Allen. The Lucy Book: A Complete Guide to Her Five Decades on Television. Renaissance Books, 1999.

Love, Lucy Berkeley Publishing Group, 1996.

With Jess and Greg Oppenheimer (contributor). Laughs, Luck...And Lucy: How I Came to Create the Most Popular Sitcom of All Time. Syracuse University Press (Trade), 1999.