The Biography Of Lucille Ball — Supporter, Rebel, Mother, And Hero

Jun 25, 2020 by apost team

Lucille Ball was one of the most legendary and iconic performers of the twentieth century, and her comedic genius provided entertainment to countless individuals around the world. She is probably best remembered for the I Love Lucy television program that entertained millions when it first aired and has continued to do so ever since in the form of reruns.

Though she will always be remembered by how she was able to make people laugh, many do not realize some of the events of her past that shaped the person that she would become.

Lucille Ball made a career out of making her audience burst out in hysterical laughter but what many of her fans never knew was that her family background presented her with a unique set of challenges. Her ability to rise to the occasion and to persevere is what allowed her to become the iconic entertainment personality that she became.

Lucille had what can only be described as a difficult early life. Her father lost his life when she was only three years old as a result of catching typhoid fever, according to Biography.com. From that point on, her grandparents assisted her mother in raising her and her brother.

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It was on the 4th of July in 1927 that an event occurred that would dramatically shape the outlook of the actress, as The Huffington Post reports. Her grandfather purchased a gun and allowed the kids to have fun shooting at cans behind the house. An accidental discharge of the weapon turned the scene somber when their young neighbor was hit with a bullet and left paralyzed.

Lucille's family lost virtually everything they had as a result of the lawsuit that was filed by the boy's parents. Soon their home and possessions were gone. Perhaps worse was the fact that her grandfather was left mentally broken. Things would never be the same for her when it comes to the topic of her family life. It would be an experience that left a lasting impression and perhaps provided some kind of fuel for her career as a performer.

From losing her father at a young age to the tragedy that occurred involving her grandfather, there was much to overcome. She was not the type to allow the past to beat her down, and she was willing to stir up some trouble when the moment was appropriate. One of the ways that she was unafraid to stir up the established order was in both her personal and professional life with her husband Desi Arnaz, as detailed by History Collection. At the time, racial attitudes still had a long way to go and a woman of British/Irish descent being in a relationship with a man of Cuban descent was considered controversial.

Lucille fearlessly thumbed her nose at these sentiments with her marriage to Desi and their portrayal as husband and wife in the world of television and film. This fearlessness is truly one of the aspects that made her an icon of the entertainment world. The TV studio executives tried to push back against Lucille when it came to working with Desi on screen, but she would not hear of it. The stand that she made on this issue turned out to be a point of entertainment genius as the American audiences that CBS feared would react badly to a mixed-race couple instead fell in love with them.

Lucille had a political affiliation that ended up landing her in some hot water as well. She was a registered communist during a time when the western world was terrified about the rise of the political ideology.

This political affiliation led to her being questioned in 1953 but she came out ok on the other end because she informed the investigators that she was not an active member and had no intention of casting a vote for a communist candidate. Lucille admitted that it was her grandfather's urging that had led her to register as a communist, and she claimed that her doing so was simply an act of appeasement to him.

Lucille and her husband Desi Arnaz portrayed an idealized concept of a happy marriage, but the reality is that it was not necessarily the case behind the scenes and off-camera. It was a marriage that sometimes devolved into a nightmarish state for Lucille and Desi's trouble with remaining faithful, combined with his struggles addiction, according to History Collection.

A positive note that should be brought up is the fact that the two would always speak positively about each other after the separation occurred. Lucille would recover from the eventual split with Desi when she fell in love with a comedian named Gary Morton, according to Biography.com.

The legacy left by Lucille Ball is an impressive one that helped to change the world of entertainment for the better. She was a true trendsetter and her ability to overcome the trauma of her past is a point that anyone can find inspiration from.

When this inspirational factor is combined with her undeniable talent as a performer, it is no surprise that she continues to be one of the most fondly remembers personalities of the twentieth century.

Did you find the story of some of the more personal details of the life of Lucille Ball inspiring? Let us know. And if you did, then let others know about this inspirational story that is worthy of celebration.