VIVIAN VANCE

July 26, 1909

Vivian Vance was born Vivian Roberta Jones in Cherryvale, Kansas in 1909, although her family quickly moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she was raised. She had extensive theatre experience, co-starring on Broadway with Ethel Merman in Anything Goes. She was acting in a play in Southern California when she was spotted by Desi Arnaz and hired to play Ethel Mertz, Lucy Ricardo’s neighbor and best friend. The pairing is credited with much of the success of “I Love Lucy.”  She won a 1954 Emmy Award for playing the role and was nominated three more times. 

Not know for her film work, she did two films pre “I Love Lucy” and one major film – The Great Race (1965) – after it. 

Vance was convinced to join the cast of “The Lucy Show” in 1962, but stayed with the series only through season three, making occasional guest appearances afterwards. She made a total of six appearance on “Here’s Lucy.” She also joined Lucy for a TV special “Lucy Calls the President” in 1977.  Vance died two years later.

Here’s a collection of screen shots in honor of the greatest second banana television has ever known – Vivian Vance.