On “Here’s Lucy,” more than any other series, Lucille Ball used her vast network of Hollywood celebrities as guest stars! It became a great honor to be asked to guest star on “Here’s Lucy,” and even the most accomplished actors were nervous about appearing with the great Lucille Ball. Here are some of the great stars of Hollywoodland who braved Lucy’s comedy Olympics!
HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY: LEGENDS!
JACK BENNY
Lucille Ball’s neighbor and friend was the first to accept her invitation to guest star on “Here’s Lucy.” He made three appearances as himself on the show, one of which was a musical biography with Lucy as all the women in his life. That episode was capped off by a cameo appearance by…
GEORGE BURNS
Burns had guest-starred on “The Lucy Show” as himself. “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” was competition for “I Love Lucy” in the 1950s, even stealing away Lucy’s first choice for the role of Ethel Mertz, Bea Benadaret, who signed with Burns to play his neighbor Blanche.
GINGER ROGERS
Lucille Ball did five films with Rogers and was very excited to get her to guest star. Rogers’ mother Lela was Lucy’s acting coach when she first got to Hollywood. In this episode, Rogers gets to show her acting skills as well as her dancing and comedy chops!
MILTON BERLE
Called “Mr. Television” Berle’s ground-breaking variety show competed with “I Love Lucy” during most of the 1950s. He played himself on a 1959 episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” and on two episodes of “The Lucy Show.” His first “Here’s Lucy” episode he played an unscrupulous used car dealer, but in his last appearance he returned to playing himself.
VAN JOHNSON
Came to Hollywood with Desi Arnaz to star in the film version of TOO MANY GIRLS (1939) where it is said that he introduced Desi to Lucille Ball. Johnson guest-starred as himself in “The Dancing Star” on “I Love Lucy.” Here he plays both himself and an imposter looking to con Lucy Carter.
SHELLEY WINTERS
Winters essentially played herself – a movie star dealing with over-eating, but declined to use her own name! Her character was named Shelley Summers. Lucy was her diet and exercise coach.
MARILYN MAXWELL
Maxwell appeared in four films with Lucille Ball between 1943 and 1963. It was rumored the Maxwell and Bob Hope were romantically linked, despite both being married to others.
VINCENT PRICE
Was considered the king of the low budget horror flicks. He played himself here, even though the premise asked him to be pretty outrageous and play into his film persona.
ELSA LANCHESTER
The original Bride of Frankenstein was first seen as a possible hatchet murderess on “I Love Lucy.” She won an Oscar for “Come to the Stable” in 1949. A true eccentric.
RICHARD BURTON & ELIZABETH TAYLOR
Possibly the most impressive “get” by Lucille Ball on “Here’s Lucy” was the real-life Hollywood couple Liz and Dick – and her million dollar diamond ring! The much-anticipated episode was used to kick off season three.
THE TV SET: SMALL SCREEN STARS!
JACKIE GLEASON
A star of the Golden Age of Television, Jackie Gleason did a wordless cameo as his most famous character, bus driver Ralph Kramden. This photo of Ball, Benny, and Gleason shows three icons of 1950s television in one scene!
CAROL BURNETT
Lucille Ball’s friend and protege was seen on many episodes of both “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy” – as both herself and a character. During “Here’s Lucy” Burnett got her own series and was launched into TV history. For every episode Burnett did of “Here’s Lucy,” Ball did one of “The Carol Burnett Show.”
ROBERT CUMMINGS
A favorite of Lucille Ball’s, Cummings first appeared on a Japan-set episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.” On “Here’s Lucy” he played Bob Collins, a character from one of his television shows.
ANDY GRIFFITH
Griffith was the star of his own show, one shot on the Desilu backlot. Here he played Andy Johnson, a fundraiser helping young people go to camp. His character of Andy Taylor on “The Andy Griffith Show” was first seen on another Desilu show, “Make Room for Daddy.”
DANNY THOMAS
Thomas was the star of the Desilu series “Make Room for Daddy” where he played a father and stand-up comic named Danny Williams. The Williams family met the Ricardos in a rare cross-over episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Show.” Thomas previously played himself on “The Lucy Show,” but here he plays a painter named Danny Gallupi!
HANS CONRIED
Conried appeared as grammar teacher Percy Livermore on “I Love Lucy,” as well as playing Uncle Tonoose on “Make Room for Daddy.” Here he plays art gallery owner William Barkley again teamed with Danny Thomas.
DON KNOTTS
Was Andy Griffith’s co-star on “The Andy Griffith Show” as the bumbling deputy Barney Fife. Here he plays eccentric swinger Ben Fletcher, Lucy’s last blind date!
FLIP WILSON
One of the first African American television stars and a versatile comic. He plays himself with Lucy, but plays characters as well – even Prissy from “Gone With the Wind”!
DAN DAILEY
Dailey was known for stage and screen, as well as his TV show “The Governor and J.J.” Here he played himself.
RICARDO MONTALBAN
Another film star who crossed over to television success with “Fantasy Island.” Montalban was just one of Lucy’s “Latin Lovers.” Here he plays Prince Phillip Gregory Hennepin of Montalbania!
EDDIE ALBERT
Albert was a film star who found great success as Oliver Wendell Douglas, a lawyer turned farmer on “Green Acres,” a show that also starred….
EVA GABOR
Gabor had played a romance novelist in her first “Here’s Lucy” appearance, but then played herself, Lucy’s hospital roomie.
PAUL WINCHELL
Winchell played himself on “The Lucy Show,” but on “Here’s Lucy” he was seen as a variety of crazy characters. He was the only character actor to play two different roles on one episode!
MIKE CONNORS
Connors was famous for playing “Mannix”, a Desilu show Lucille Ball saved from cancellation. It ran on CBS concurrently with “Here’s Lucy.” He was nominated for 5 Emmys and six Golden Globes for the role. To thank Lucy, Connors played Joe Mannix on this episode.
LLOYD BRIDGES
Bridges is probably best remembered for his starring role in TV’s “Sea Hunt” (1958-61) which was often mentioned on “The Lucy Show.” In 1959 he starred in an episode of the “Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse” hosted by Desi Arnaz. Bridges had his own show on CBS from 1962 to 1963. Here’s he plays Lucy’s doctor, Paul Murray.
JACKIE COOGAN
A film star since childhood, Coogan is probably best remembered as Uncle Fester on “The Addams Family.” Here he plays a disagreeable tenant that Lucy tries to get to move out!
VICTOR BUONO
Another hefty screen star who made good on television was Victor Buono, who played “Batman” villain King Tut after earning an Oscar nomination for “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.” Here he played a greeting card writer who Lucy thought was a spy!
TONY RANDALL
Randall started in films, but found success on the small screen as Felix Unger in “The Odd Couple.” Here he plays a fitness freak who goes into business with Harry.
KAYE BALLARD
Ballard was a stage star who was cast by Desi Arnaz in his series “The Mothers-in-Law” with Eve Arden. Here she plays an Italian femme fatale who has her sights set on her old flame Harry.
JAYNE MEADOWS
Between 1977 and 1995 Jayne was nominated for three prime time Emmy Awards. Meadows was a panelist on “I’ve Got a Secret” for three of Lucille Ball’s appearances on the quiz show. She was married to TV host Steve Allen.
CHUCK CONNORS
Connors was also seen in action films, he came to fame as “The Rifleman” and used this appearance as himself to promote his stunt documentary series “ThrillSeekers” – even wearing the show’s distinctive jacket on the show.
CHARLES NELSON REILLY
His first TV regular role was as Claymore Gregg in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” but he is perhaps best remembered as a panelist on the game show “Match Game.” Here he plays a store returns clerk named Elroy P. Clunk!
WALLY COX
Cox was one of Lucille Ball’s favorite performers. He is best remembered for as a panelist on TV’s “The Hollywood Squares” (1965-73) as well as his hit series “Mr. Peepers” (1953-55). He played two quirky characters on “The Lucy Show” and two more on “Here’s Lucy.”
ARTE JOHNSON
RUTH BUZZI
Although airing on another network, both Johnson and Buzzi were emerging stars of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.” Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. both also went on the variety show, which was frequently quoted and mentioned on “Here’s Lucy.”
TIM MATHESON
Played Lucy’s son in the film “Yours, Mine and Ours” and here plays Kim’s boyfriend Peter. He is probably best known as Eric Stratton in the 1978 film “Animal House,” although he also received two Emmy nominations for his work on “The West Wing” (1999-2006).
EVE PLUMB
Plumb guest-starred as Lucy’s niece while also playing Jan Brady on “The Brady Bunch.”
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