cause of death. AKA: Vivian Vance: Birthplace: Cherryvale, KS, United States: Death: August 17, 1979: Manner of Death: Natural Causes: Nationality: United States Of America Vivian Vance died on August 17, 1979 at the age of 70 years. Vance died only a few days later, on Aug. 17, 1979. Behind the scenes, it took about a year for the hurts to heal and Vivian came back as a guest star and continued to be a guest star on all the shows Lucille did over the years. Vivian Vance was born on July 26, 1909 in Cherryvale, United States. Ball made an entrance on the first day of rehearsal and she walks to Vivian and says, Hello, dear. Vivian started her career as a theater actress and delivered one of her most notable stage performances while playing Nancy Collister in the musical 'Let's Face It!'. Our eyes met in the mirror and we collapsed into laughter," Ball recalled (via Showbiz CheatSheet). She and William Frawley played Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mertz, neighbors of the beautiful, scheming, yet ladylike Lucy played by Miss Ball and her husband. Leigh died in 1967, at the age of 53, after a bout with tuberculosis, a disease she had since 1945, according to an obituary in The New York Times. Following her departure from The Lucy Show at the end of the third season, Vance signed on to appear in a Blake Edwards film, The Great Race (1965); she saw this as an opportunity to restart a movie career, which never really took off. Hassan Vivian Vance biography timelines. [10] On January 16, 1961, Vance married literary agent, editor, and publisher John Dodds. Nelson diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1985. Desiree S. Anzalone died on Sept. 27 at Smilow Cancer Center in . Frawley died of a heart attack on March 3, 1966, in Los Angeles just five days before his 79th birthday. In the durable, enormously successful Lucy series, Miss Vance filled a modest but significant niche in the history of television comedy. Alongside his brother Paul, William decided to leave the business world behind and form a vaudeville duo. Vivian Vance real name was Vivian Roberta Jones. But even though I Love Lucy continues to be a popular comedy series in syndication, the vast majority of the shows cast members are sadly no longer alive to enjoy the fame and praise that they deserve. He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? On a summer day in August 1979, Lucille Ball came to Belvedere, California, to bid farewell to her friend and beloved costar Vivian Vance. 1959. . ", "We had enormous freedom," she adds. Croft continued to act on television for many years after the end of Heres Lucy. It was a sludgy place with barren hills and beautiful dairy farms. Vance's Ethel Mertz character was the landlady of a New York City apartment that she and her husband Fred owned on East 68th Street. The show became about stupid Lucy Carmichael and her overbearing boss. Vivian Vance was in an on-screen matchup with William Frawley in I Love Lucy (1951). He would end up having to fight an even tougher battle [] More, What could be more mysterious than an island filled with buried treasure? Desi Arnaz financed a pilot starring Vance as Hooten titled Guestward, Ho!, which was shot in 1958 by Desilu; however, the show was rejected by CBS and Vance continued playing Ethel Mertz. Hassan Aaron Sorkin Says Only Casting Gay Actors in Gay Roles Is 'Empty Gesture', Barbara Eden Recalls Working with 'Wonderful' Lucille Ball and 'Playboy' Desi Arnaz: 'I'll Never Forget Her', The Best Original Series on Netflix to Stream Now, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen's Relationship Timeline, The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video to Stream Now, Oscars Date Night! By the time that veteran vaudeville actor William Frawley cast on the beloved 1950s series I Love Lucy. Here are little known facts and stories not only about the stormy relationship of Lucy and Ethel, but wonderfully funny vignettes about Vivian Vance. "Lucie and I were the daughters she never had. Just as Fred and Ethel Mertz were always bickering on the series, William and Vivian were always bickering on set. Facts Verse They moved the whole premise of the show to California, got rid of Vivian and all of the kids that were a part of it, but moved Gale Gordons Mr. Mooney with her. He ultimately decided that it needed to be William Frawley. Most attribute their mutual hatred to Vance's vocal resentment of having to play wife to a man 22 years her senior. Vance died a few days later, on Aug. 17, at 70 years old. This was a unique sitcom that managed to combine comedy, romance, science fiction, and fantasy all at once! Whether its the length of his career, the quality, the originality or the variety. When I Love Lucy came to an end and producers began talking about a potential spin-off focusing on the characters of Fred and Ethel, Vivian wasnt having any of it. By the 1950s, it seemed that there was little room in the entertainment industry for the aging performer. Facts Verse "It was a railroad town, nothing glamorous about it. Facts Verse Vivian Vance. She also appeared in the 1958 Warner Brothers film Home Before Dark. Jon Michaels more than 3 years ago. Around that time, she met Desi Arnaz, a Cuban bandleader who quickly won her heart. ! We hear you exclaim), he went on [] More, Did you grow up watching the hilarious romantic sitcom I Dream of Jeannie? "It was an amazing thing to witness. July 2, 2021, 6:38 am, by Suddenly on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at his home. During her childhood in Cherryvale, one of Vivian Vance's playmates included actress Louise Brooks. April 17, 2023, 11:14 am, by Ball and she appeared together one last time in the 1977 CBS special Lucy Calls the President. Bob Hope is truly a one of a kind legend, who we will not see the likes of again. The show starred Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. While the two women were friends until the end, that doesn't mean there wasn't tension on the "I Love Lucy" set as Ball insisted that the best way for Ethel to be relatable to audiences was to be frumpy and a bit overweight. They lived in Stamford, Connecticut, then moved to California in 1974, remaining together until Vance's death. Facts Verse March 28, 2021, 6:21 am, by For six glorious years, according to Britannica, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, Fred and Ethel Mertz, Little Ricky and a host of other side characters gave new life to situation comedies of the era. According to Variety, the two women hash out the weight subject during a memorable fight scene in the movie, with Vance accusing Ball of not wanting any competition in the trim-waistline department. Aug 31, 1919 - Nov 24, 1996 . In response to the news of Williams heart attack, Desi took out a newspaper ad in memory of his dear friend. Son of Hiram H Vickers and Alice Eudocia Weston Vickers. Join Facts Verse to learn more about the i love lucy cast deaths. (The breast cancer she had been diagnosed with in 1973 had metastasized into bone cancer. 0 references. John Dodds (1961 - 1979) her death . In addition to Mr. Dodds, she is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Henry Speer of Farmington, N.M.; Mrs. Ross Graham of San Francisco and Mrs. Walter O'Neal and Mrs. Ralph Boyer, both of Albuquerque, and a brother, Robert Jones of Albuquerque. The co-creator and star of "I Love Lucy," a product of TV's Golden Age that continues via syndication to be viewed by millions around the world, was 77 and died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of a. But because she didnt enjoy having to play the ugly sidekick to Lucille Balls main character. Despite their exceptional chemistry, comedic timing, and musical prowess together onscreen, Vance and Frawley did not get along offscreen. While Robert Urich was famous for doing battle with tough foes on the screen. (1937). And subsequently fired from his role due to the fact that Clifton the far bigger star of the two. Vivian Vance, the Ethel Mertz of I Love Lucy and one of the most beloved comediennes in television, died Friday at her home in northern California after a long fight against cancer. She could talk to Mom like nobody else, and I don't think my mother could confide in many people the way she would with Viv. And had developed a bit of a negative reputation for himself as both an alcoholic and a short-tempered curmudgeon. Fred would have a similar falling out on the set of I Love Lucy over the course of that shows production. breast cancer. Facts Verse She posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. 0 references. April 17, 2023, 11:17 am, by However, this stint as a choirboy was the only predilection for performance that William exuded up until later in his adulthood. William had actively campaigned for the role after hearing about the project. [citation needed]. He later joined the rock group David and the Giants, but after developing a drug problem he was forced to leave the band which inevitably led to their break up. The legendary actor who starred in such films as Spartacus, Paths of Glory, and Detective Story, lived a long and successful life, both personally and professionally. WebWilliam Bramley - William Bramley was born on April 18, 1928 in Runnemede, New Jersey, USA. April 17, 2023, 11:11 am, by Ball recalled in her autobiography, "Love, Lucy," how she and Vance felt like friends almost immediately. Points out Geoffrey, It was one of the saddest shoots Ms. Ball ever did, because, A, her mother had just died and this was the first time since 1951 that her mother was not in the audience when she was doing one of her shows; and, B, during that week they found out that Vivians cancer had returned and that she wasnt going to make it. Doctors later determined that she had succumbed to a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm that wasnt directly related to her surgery. Portrayed by stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley. Unlike William Frawley, Vivian Vance didnt campaign for her role on I Love Lucy. Facts Verse WULWIK. And I enjoy every move that Viv made. Mitchel was a prolific radio and TV actress. Her family moved to Independence, Kansas, and later studied drama under Anna Ingleman and William Inge. The local theatre community helped pay her way to New York City to study under Eva Le Gallienne. She died at 5:47 am at the age of 77. Together, the show's four stars Ball, Arnaz (her real-life husband, who also played her husband Ricky Ricardo), Vance and William Frawley, who played Ethel's cantankerous husband, Fred Mertz created a hit. Click to reveal On the show, Frawley met his on-screen wife, Vivian Vance, who was 22 years younger. "We could never stay cross with each other for very long.". Vivian Vance AKA Vivian Roberta Jones Born: 26-Jul - 1909 Birthplace: Cherryvale, KS Died: 17-Aug - 1979 Location of death: Belvedere, CA Cause of death: Cancer - Bone Remains: Cremated (ashes scattered) Gender: Female Race or Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Actor Nationality: United States Her zodiac sign is Leo. William and Clifton took to disliking each other on the set of the play. Vivian and Lessie were the parents of: What are you here to read for? And Vivian said, What do you mean, read for? Ive been hired to play Ethel Mertz. Ms. Ball said, You cant play Ethel. Although the two actors worked well together, they greatly disliked each other. Facts Verse News Donald Trump Mary Trump GOP Bill O'Reilly. If you find that some photos violates copyright or have unacceptable properties, please inform us about it. He was 83. The band was a favorite of infamous pop artist Andy Warhol. In 1970, shes featured in an episode of ABCs Make Room for Grandaddy. Behind the scenes, this bickering mirrored in the relationship between the stars portraying them. The role of Fred Mertz was played by William Frawley, who was actually 22 years her senior. date of death. He was a legend amongst legends. But the reason the show became a huge success was because of [] More, When it comes to the leading stars of Hollywoods golden age, its hard to think of anyone more iconic than Kirk Douglas. Vivian Vance played Ethel Mertz, Frawley's on-screen wife. By that point, William Frawley had already been working as a performer for a few decades. Hausners body buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. Vivian is saying, 'You have to let me be me, even a little bit. Anyone can read what you share. In 1962, Loren's sister Maria married . [citation needed], She died at age 70 on August 17, 1979 of metastatic breast cancer. Frawley portrayed Fred Mertz, husband of Ethel Mertz, in I Love Lucy for the duration of the series. Vance is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy Show.. Vivian Vance was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame with her I Love Lucy co-star William Frawley in 2012. In 1962, Lucille Ball was planning to return to television in a new series, The Lucy Show. He went to a Catholic school for his early education and also sang in the choir. From left: John Dodds, Vivian Vance and Paige Peterson. Fred and Ethel beloved supporting characters on the series that were always bickering and causing trouble for Lucy and Ricky. And the stars relationship officially began to mirror that of the characters that they portrayed on the series. "It was an amazing thing to witness. (Here are selected photos on this topic, but full relevance is not guaranteed.) April 17, 2023, 10:56 am, by CREDITS Broadway; My Daughter, Your Son (May 14, 1969 - Jun 21, 1969) Starring: Vivian Vance [Maggie Gordon . Although Vivian certainly played the part right, she didnt look it. She starred in and produced numerous sitcoms while she was the head of Desilu Production companies which she owned and operated with Desi Arnaz. In 1974, she appeared in an episode of Heres Lucy entitled Lucy Carter Meets Lucille Ball. . Vance made a number of TV guest appearances in the 1970s, including a 1975 episode of Rhoda, as well as appearing in a number of made-for-TV movies, including The Front Page (1970), Getting Away From it All (1972), and The Great Houdini (1976). She also appeared in shows like The Whistler, The Alan Young Show, and The Adventures of Superman. It was a brilliant show created by writers Seaman Jacobs, Ed James, and Jim Barnett. The Stars of Nickelodeon's 'All That': Where Are They Now? While she isnt well-known, her father Peter Lorre was easily one of cinemas greatest actors. However, many audience members didnt realize that. Flippo asked Parton about what the most outrageous thing shed [] More, Robert Urich was known throughout the world as a tough guy. Death by Smoking. According to Mental Floss, Ball experienced "shooting pains in her chest" while at home in Beverly Hills . reply 58. Dr. Venus Jones and her little sister, Vivian, lived across the street from Brooks. Viv was sensational. April 17, 2023, 10:51 am, Trending And it took Ms. Ball a while, but she realized what she had in Vivian., The Lucy Show came around and things really began to change. In 1914, William married to a fellow vaudeville performer by the name of Edna Louise Broedt. In real life, it was a friendship that lasted decades, and what you saw on-screen often echoed what was happening off-screen. That year she suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed. But now I can. As she watched them perform together, Peterson says, "Viv was so good at setting up the joke. And she went to therapy every morning, five days a week before coming to the set to work so that her head could be in the right place and she could focus on the work in front of her. Once the two women were able to settle their differences and reconcile, Vance made three more guest appearances on the remaining seasons of The Lucy Show. And which featured notable performer Clifton Webb. When I Love Lucy was reformatted into the hour-long Lucy-Desi shows in 1957, Desi Arnaz offered Vance and Frawley the opportunity to star in their own "Fred and Ethel" spin-off show. The show followed astronaut Tony Nelson who finds a beautiful woman [] More, Have you heard about Catherine Lorre? In 1986, Arnaz diagnosed with Lung cancer and passed away several months later on December 2, 1986, at the age of 69. On a summer day in August 1979, Lucille Ball came to Belvedere, California, to bid farewell to her friend and beloved costar Vivian Vance. 1 Year-Later She Realizes Her Huge Mistake, The Tragic Death of Kirk Douglas & His 2 Wives, How Each I Dream of Jeannie Cast Member Died, Catherine Lorre Escaped the Hillside Stranglers to Die Young, The ONE Time Dolly Parton Got Naked in Public, Rare Photos of Lynda Carter Not Suitable for All Ages, The Tragic Death of Robert Urich & His Wife, Aneta Corsauts Untimely Death & Affair with Andy Griffith, How Each Gilligans Island Cast Member Died. His first taste of fame, though not celebrated by contemporary audiences, was in The Velvet Underground. But Vivian was too sick. On April 18, 1989, Ball diagnosed with a dissecting aortic aneurysm after experiencing chest pain while she was resting at her home in Beverly Hills. Check below for more deets about Vivian Vance. Hot Born in Cherryvale, Kansas, Vance was the second of . This month marks 38 years since her passing at age 70, following a battle with breast and bone cancer. He and Gary Morton both died form lung cancer. As Vance learned of his demise, she shouted, "Champagne for everyone!" says Hollywood lore. While Robert Urich was famous for doing battle with tough foes on the screen. And meaning that he had to be let go from the series. In 1957, after the highly successful half-hour I Love Lucy episodes had ended, Vance continued playing Ethel Mertz on a series of hour-long specials titled The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show (later retitled The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour). Before turning his sights to vaudeville performing in his adult years, William worked as a stenographer and a court reporter. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Sr. 's great-granddaughter has died following a battle with stage 4 breast cancer. Filed under aaron sorkin , celebrity feuds , i love lucy , j.k. simmons , lucille ball , oscars , 2/15/22 April 17, 2023, 11:08 am, by Facts Verse And that falling out was with on-screen wife Vivian Vance. By this time in her life, Vance had grown tired of the public addressing her as "Ethel". Desi later claimed that the idea grew on him the more he pictured the actor on the screen. Facts Verse She died at the age of 70 on August 17, 1979, of metastatic breast cancer. But she ended up spilling the beans on one of the most embarrassing chapters of her life instead. The Truth About Lucille Ball And Vivian Vance's Friendship. ", Vance, who was about to go on the road for the touring show, The Marriage Go Round, invited Peterson, then working as a local actress, to audition. She was 71. It followed the life of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), a middle class housewife in 1950s New York City, who either concocted plans with her best friends (Vance & Frawley) to appear alongside her bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz) in his nightclub, or tried numerous schemes to mingle with, or be a part of the upper class. Looking back, Peterson says, "Viv loved living in Belvedere. ", Peterson then relayed what she saw when Ball left. July 2, 2021, 6:38 am, by Vivian Vance, a longtime star of the "I Love Lucy" television series, died of cancer yesterday at her home in Belvedere, a town across the Golden Gate from San Francisco. Mini Bio (1) Born as Vivian Roberta Jones in Cherryvale, Kansas, she had a brother and four sisters. After tying the knot, William and Edna worked together as a vaudeville duo for well over a decade. And before you go, let us know in the comments section why your favorite cast member of I Love Lucy was. Written by Gregg Oppenheimer (son of I Love Lucy creator-producer-head writer Jess Oppenheimer), it was recorded before a live audience for nationwide public radio broadcast, and later, online distribution. And, in the end, that was the constant throughout Ball and Vance's friendship: It all came from love. Vivian did want script input. Sadly, Williams increasingly rampant alcoholism was continuing to take its toll on the aging actors health. They ate lunch and they talked and talked. April 17, 2023, 10:56 am, by She also starred as Vivian Bagley on the spin-off series The Lucy Show from 1962 to 1965. in 1977, Vance suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed. Understudy: Vivian Vance [Reno Sweeney] MusicalComedyOriginal. [2] "Viv" soon rebelled, often sneaking out of her bedroom and staying out after curfew. Williams behavior on the set of the series made it so that she quickly realized she was not a big fan of the performer. Frank Castelluccio, Alvin Walker. There was nothing here, no houses.". [14] Vance and Frawley were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in March 2012. Vivian Bjorgen Vance Ronan - Vivian Bjorgen Vance, of Ronan, passed away on October 21, 2021, at the age of 93 at the St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan. In return, William demanded that he needed to get time off of the series in the event that the New York Yankees played the World Series. Janet G Vance. It was just one of those connections. But it still seems he carried over much of his sour attitude from the past onto the set of I Love Lucy. "She said, 'Come on in, honey,' and I did. Unlike in the past, this was not an uplifting experience. Born Keith Thibodeaux, Richard is an American former child star best known for playing Little Ricky on I Love Lucy and The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Wonderful, Scientists Discovered Evidence That Exposes An Ancient Lie About Woolly Mammoths, Handlers Thought This Owl Was Male For 23 Years Then He Laid An Egg, This Baby Elephant Decided To Spend His Last Days Alongside This Creature, Woman Adpots Tiny, Adorable Puppy. . "We'd make our peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the morning and put it in my bicycle basket, and we wouldn't come home until the 4:30 whistle blew. From a money pit 100 feet deep to Shakespearean manuscripts, the legendary finds on Oak Island have kept it in the news for centuries. "We sat side by side, putting on our makeup. At the conclusion of the third season, Vance requested a new contract giving her more creative control with the opportunity to produce and direct episodes and better pay if she were to continue commuting for the show. The two women had created comedy magic in the legendary '50s sitcom I Love Lucy here, author Paige Peterson recalls their tight bond. He died in Hollywood on September 12, 1986, at the age of 75. Name in native language: Vivian Vance; Date of birth: 26 July 1909 Cherryvale: Date of death: 17 August 1979 Belvedere: Manner of death: natural causes; Cause of death: breast cancer; bone cancer; Work period (start) 1933; Country of citizenship: United States of America; Educated at: Best known as Ethel Mertz from I Love Lucy, Vance was born Vivian Roberta Jones in Cherryville, KS with a brother and four sisters. Desi had found himself at his wits end trying to fill the role when a director recommended Vivian to him. Vivian Roberta Vance (Jones) (26 Jul 1909 - 17 Aug 1979) retrieved. She went to a store and bought her bra, panties, stockings, dress and shoes a size too small, so no matter what weight she actually was, the clothing would look dumpy on her. He was a noted character actor who appeared in great films including M, Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon and Casino [] More, Hank the Drunken Dwarfs Tragic Death Went Unnoticed, The Tragic Death of Paul Orndorff, WWEs Mr. 1.1k Views. Only putting their professional relationship to an end as a result of their divorce in 1927. 7) She and Lucy quickly became friends, however. I'm losing it.' It was this curmudgeon quality that made the actor perfect to portray the character of Fred Mertz on the series. Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance met when their legendary sitcom began, and a lifelong friendship was born. The Lucy Show, the follow-up to I Love Lucy, ran from 1962 to 1968, consisted of a dynamite cast including, obviously, Lucille Ball herself and Vivian Vance, who was her co-star for the first three seasons. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1954. Vivian Vance, a longtime star of the I Love Lucy television series, died of cancer yesterday at her home in Belvedere, a town across the Golden Gate from San Francisco. Vivien Leigh was a bisexual adulterer according to new biography Most watched News videos Embed this Police block park after child tragically dies on Easter Sunday Horrifying moment man killed. Married to Lessie Cole around 1905. [3] She appeared there in many other plays, including This Thing Called Love and The Cradle Song. She was American by nationality. May 6, 2021, 4:05 pm, by The basic structure of the series, the interplay of two couples who are neighbors, served as a prototype for similar programs, including The Honeymooners, The Flintstcones and All in the Family.. Clive. After her family moved to Independence, Kansas, she . She said, Miss Ball, what does Ethel Mertz look like? Miss Ball says, Oh, shes overweight and she has bleached blonde hair with a frizzy permanent and dark roots and she wears tacky clothes. She said, Look, its Monday. And that's how she left the world. Vance is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy Show. Keep watching to see who the only surviving regular cast member of I Love Lucy is as of 2021. Facts Verse Blueeyed, brisk and fond of chatter and laughter, Miss Vance got her start as a performer as a highschool cheerleader, sang in Manhattan nightclubs the Biltmore Roof, the Club Simplon and others and in her later years became widely known in the book world as the wife of John Dodds, an executive of Putnam's and then at Simon & Schuster. 4 August 2021 . On April 26, Ball woke up with severe back pain before losing consciousness. . About. Producers decided not to meet Vance's requests. Her last performance was in 1964s The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Ball would later regret not giving Vance what she requested. Afterward, Peterson would often help her out as a personal assistant. Facts Verse Still, William went on to find work over the following years, including in film. You are interested in: Lucille ball casket photos. 17 August 1979. The actress had carried out her tenure on the aforementioned series out of respect for Lucille and Desi. Vivian is with Lucille Ball in some of or most of these pictures!! Hey, not to get too off-topic, but if youre enjoying this video so far, make sure you show us a little a little bit of support by giving it a like and by subscribing to Facts Verse if you havent already. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Fred and Ethel beloved supporting characters on the series that were always bickering and causing trouble for Lucy and Ricky. Facts Verse In addition to portraying numerous characters on I Love Lucy, Nelson appeared in shows like The Jack Benny Program, The Real McCoys, The Addams Family, Alice, and Sanford and Son. Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones, July 26, 1909 - August 17, 1979) was an American television and theater actress and singer. He was a legend amongst legends. Cause of death Bone cancer, secondary to breast . Following this, the beloved curmudgeon went on to pass away in March of 1966. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Arnaz was a heavy smoker for the majority of his life. Vivian Vance continued performing as Ethel Mertz until I Love Lucys end. (photosinhouse16@gmail.com) The best of all Eras. She appeared on The Lucy Show from 1962 to 1965, as Vivian Bagley, a divorced mother of one son, sharing a house with Ball's character. 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