Vivian VanceVance (center) with Charles Laughton and Jane Wyman in The Blue Veil, 1951Vivian Vance (July 26, 1909-August 17, 1979) was an American actress, born in Cherryvale, Kansas as Vivian Roberta Jones. During the early years of her career she played small roles in a few films, but worked primarily as a stage actress, appearing in a total of thirty-eight productions throughout her career. When casting his new sitcom I Love Lucy, starring himself and wife Lucille Ball, Ball's first choice for the role of landlady Ethel Mertz was Bea Benadaret. Benadaret was unavailable due to a previous commitment so Arnaz went looking for another actress. He found her at the La Jolla Playhouse's production of The Voice of the Turtle. Upon seeing Vance, Arnaz knew he had found the perfect Ethel. Lucille Ball was less than sure; she had envisioned Ethel Mertz as much older and less attractive than Vance. Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz with TV hubby Fred, portrayed by William Frawley, in a scene from I Love LucyA somewhat youthful looking and attractive woman, Vance was required to wear frumpy clothes that were actually a size smaller than Vance usually wore in order to make her appear overweight. Vance's character was the less than prosperous resident of a New York City brownstone owned by her and her husband Fred (William Frawley). She and Frawley were a perfect match as the bickering Mertzes, since they detested each other in real life. (Vance's then real-life husband, Phil Ober, frequently played small supporting roles on the series, most notably as producer Dore Scharey in one of the Hollywood episodes.) Vance paired once again with Ball for The Lucy Show, her first post-Arnaz series, and this time was permitted to look more glamorous as Vivian Bagley, a divorced mother of one son. She remained with the show for three of its six years before retiring to Connecticut. Over the next several years, Vance appeared occasionally alongside Ball on reunion shows and for guest appearances on Here's Lucy. During the mid-1970s she took small roles on sitcoms such as Rhoda. Her final television appearance was on the last CBS Lucy production, Lucy Calls the President, which aired November 21, 1977, and featured many of the cast members from The Lucy Show. She was diagnosed with cancer in 1977 and died in 1979. Vivan Vance played a significant part in the history of television She defined the role of second banana, paving the way for future female sidekicks. She was also the first person to win the Best Supporting Actress Emmy. ReferenceThe Other Side of Ethel Mertz: The Life Story of Vivian Vance by Frank Castelluccio & Alvin Walker, published by Knowledge, Ideas & Trends, Inc. (1998) This page about Vivian Vance includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Vivian Vance News stories about Vivian Vance External links for Vivian Vance Videos for Vivian Vance Wikis about Vivian Vance Discussion Groups about Vivian Vance Blogs about Vivian Vance Images of Vivian Vance |
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(1998). She was diagnosed with cancer in 1977 and died in 1979. Wray has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Her final television appearance was on the last CBS Lucy production, Lucy Calls the President, which aired November 21, 1977, and featured many of the cast members from The Lucy Show. Her autobiography, On the Other Hand (ISBN 0312022654), was published in 1988. During the mid-1970s she took small roles on sitcoms such as Rhoda. She is the mother of Susan Saunders, Victoria Riskin and Robert Riskin Jr. Over the next several years, Vance appeared occasionally alongside Ball on reunion shows and for guest appearances on Here's Lucy. Sanford Rothenberg. She remained with the show for three of its six years before retiring to Connecticut. Wray was married to John Monk Saunders, Robert Riskin, and Dr. Vance paired once again with Ball for The Lucy Show, her first post-Arnaz series, and this time was permitted to look more glamorous as Vivian Bagley, a divorced mother of one son. Later in her career, Wray appeared in Small Town Girl, Tammy and the Bachelor, and Summer Love. (Vance's then real-life husband, Phil Ober, frequently played small supporting roles on the series, most notably as producer Dore Scharey in one of the Hollywood episodes.). She also appeared in Viva Villa, The Texan, The Conquering Horde, and One Sunday Afternoon. She and Frawley were a perfect match as the bickering Mertzes, since they detested each other in real life. Wray also appeared in over a hundred other films, mostly in the 1930s, including The Wedding March (1928), The Four Feathers (1929), Doctor X (1932), The Most Dangerous Game (1932), The Vampire Bat (1933), and Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933). Vance's character was the less than prosperous resident of a New York City brownstone owned by her and her husband Fred (William Frawley). She is best remembered for her role as the blonde seductress of a gigantic, prehistoric gorilla in the classic horror/adventure film King Kong (1933). A somewhat youthful looking and attractive woman, Vance was required to wear frumpy clothes that were actually a size smaller than Vance usually wore in order to make her appear overweight. Wray gained media attention when she was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1926. Lucille Ball was less than sure; she had envisioned Ethel Mertz as much older and less attractive than Vance. They lived in Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah before settling in California. Upon seeing Vance, Arnaz knew he had found the perfect Ethel. Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 - August 8, 2004) was a Canadian-born American actress. Born on a ranch near Cardston, Alberta, her family moved to the United States when she was three. He found her at the La Jolla Playhouse's production of The Voice of the Turtle. The Clairvoyant (1935). Benadaret was unavailable due to a previous commitment so Arnaz went looking for another actress. Viva Villa! (1934). When casting his new sitcom I Love Lucy, starring himself and wife Lucille Ball, Ball's first choice for the role of landlady Ethel Mertz was Bea Benadaret. The Affairs of Cellini (1934). During the early years of her career she played small roles in a few films, but worked primarily as a stage actress, appearing in a total of thirty-eight productions throughout her career. The Vampire Bat (1933).
The Unholy Garden (1931). The Conquering Horde (1931). The Texan (1930). Thunderbolt (1929). The Wedding March (1928). The Four Feathers (1928). |