Barbara Pepper

Barbara Pepper and Lucille Ball were friends from their showgirl days and also appeared in six films together. She was one of Lucy’s top choices to play Ethel Mertz. Lucy stayed true to her friend by keeping her gainfully employed. She was seen (or heard) in ten episodes of “I Love Lucy”:

1. “Breaking the Lease” (S1;18) – Party Guest [top right]
2. “The Freezer” (S1;E29) – Woman in Butcher Shop
3. “The Anniversary Present” (S2;E3) – Voice of the Woman in 4B   
4. “Ricky Loses His Voice” (S2;E9) – Chorus Girl [top left]
5. “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (S2;E16) – Nurse [below]
6. “Lucy’s Last Birthday” (S2;E25)  – Member of Friends of the Friendless [bottom right]
7. “The Girls Go Into Business” (S3;E2) – Hanson’s Dress Shop Customer
8. “Sentimental Anniversary” (S3;E16) – Party Guest 
9. “The Homecoming” (S5;E6) – Neighbor [bottom left]
10. “The Tour” (S4;E30)  – Woman on Bus 

Pepper is perhaps best remembered for her role as the first actor to play Doris Ziffel (‘mother’ to Arnold the pig) on “Green Acres.” She died in 1969 at the age of 54.