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The two women had. Hover to zoom. A few days after Ball's visit, Vance passed away at 66. Vance died a few days later, on Aug. 17, at 70 years old. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? February 15, 2022 | 3:27pm Enlarge Image "I Love Lucy" co-stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley despised each other. There was nothing here, no houses.". Venus Jones and her little sister, Vivian, lived across the street from Brooks. The renowned actress underwent a mastectomy and grueling chemotherapy treatments. Vance credited the writers for producing entertaining content. Try again later. | Source: Getty Images. The film was a moderate success, receiving several Academy Award nominations. The Untold Truth! She also joined various Broadway shows, where she was later discovered by late actor Desi Arnaz. Plot. There was no coffin in the church as cremation was planned. After that, Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance's friendship remained strong for nearly another two decades. As she watched them perform together, Peterson says, "Viv was so good at setting up the joke. [14], The story of how Vance was hired to play Ethel Mertz is told in I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom, a stage comedy that premiered in Los Angeles on July 12, 2018. He was 69. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones; July 26, 1909 August 17, 1979)[1] was an American actress and singer best known for playing Ethel Mertz on the sitcom I Love Lucy (19511957), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, among other accolades. During this period, Vance's agent got her an endorsement deal with Maxwell House coffee. She was 66 years old. ", While Ball and Vance had weathered a few ups and downs, the two shared a tight bond. 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. 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. And back then, there were things I had to doI was in the projection room for some reasonand I just couldn't concentrate on it. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. After the shows cancellation in 1960, the actor found a job in My Three Sons.. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Unfortunately for Vance, her first attempt at a show business career was a failure. 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. Their next move, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, brought her to that city's Little Theatre, which provided her the money she needed to study under Eva Le . Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The character was the first divorcee ever on a weekly American television series. Sadly, Ball passed away in 1989, just ten years after Vance's death. "Viv" soon rebelled, often sneaking out of her bedroom and staying out after curfew. [1] When she was six, her family moved to Independence, Kansas, where she eventually began her dramatic studies at Independence High School with instructor Anna Ingleman. Lucille Ball at Chasens restaurant in Beverly Hills, California on May 16, 1981. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. ", Peterson then relayed what she saw when Ball left. 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.[15]. Late actress Vivian Vance was best known for the TV sitcom "I Love Lucy." Before she passed away in 1979, she shared her final moments with her best friend and co-star, actress Lucille Ball. William Frawley's biggest role came on 'I Love Lucy,' as Fred Mertz, the cantankerous landlord of Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz). Vivian Vance became a huge star on TV in the 1950s and beyond thanks to her role as Ethel Mertz onI Love Lucy, but one thing forgotten through the passage of time is the fact that she was a true icon of the theater world as well. Rather than talent, she claimed she owed her success to a combination of guts and good support players. Arnaz Jr. was best known for several TV shows, including "Automan" and "Being with the Ricardos. The I Love Lucy star hated the man who played her husband, for one. The TV star's death broke the hearts of fans, who sent her thousands of greeting cards at the hospital. Try again later. 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. Their antics are some of the most famous, and funniest, scenes in TV history. In the mid-1960s, Frawleys age and alcohol took a toll on him, and he began forgetting his lines and falling asleep during takes. As played by Arianda, Vance emerges more like her real-life. "Vivian was one of the only ones that knew." Vance died from bone cancer in 1979. Fast forward six decades, and it's now a posh commuter town with incomparable views of the San Francisco Bay. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. There is a problem with your email/password. as Kay Thompson's last minute replacement. Thanks to her discretion, she was able to achieve fame in the theater world. This is a woman who had an extensive and successful theater career. If youre ready, were going to see some rare photos of Vivian !! gaara last name; how to find someone's phone number in italy; average areola size for d cup; deutsche bank analyst internship programme; mount sinai corporate office 42nd street; william brewster van zandt; when is the next wimberley market days; national police and troopers association; Community. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Knowledge, Ideas & Trends, 320 pages, $24.95. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? I cant play his wife. Oops, we were unable to send the email. "Lucie and I were the daughters she never had. She was born Vivian Roberta Jones on July 26, 1909 in Cherryvale, Kansas, the second of six children. [citation needed]. In the third season, Vance did not appear in seven of the season's 26 episodes. Vivian is saying, 'You have to let me be me, even a little bit. Mark went on, This came from Vivian, so it is not me being witty, but she only married gay men. "I decided to divorce Desi. She was 66. In a 1986 interview, Lucille Ball talked about watching I Love Lucy reruns and her feelings about Vance's performance: "I find that now I usually spend my time looking at Viv. "[6] Others recall that they practically loathed each other on sight and that Vance was put-off by Frawley's cantankerous attitude.[7]. Accurate . Both Ball and Vance felt betrayed by the other and Vance left the series. Arnaz, who later became one of Hollywoods most successful producers, pioneered use of mutiple cameras in stituation comedies. Vance returned the favor by offering strength and support to Ball when she divorced her husband Desi Arnaz. Select from premium A Female Actor In A Drama Series of the highest quality. 22 Dec 2012 (aged 87) Burial. [3] Lucille Ball had wanted either Bea Benaderet or Barbara Pepper, both close friends, to play the role. Please try again later. She was born Vivian Roberta Jones on July 26, 1909, in Cherryvale, Kansas, and her family moved to Albuquerque only in 1928, in hopes that the climate . And who can forget how they were always with each other through thick and thin, no matter the trouble they got into while trying to make Lucy a star? Although she had become a top performer, the demands of the onstage life took their toll on Vance, and in 1945 she suffered a mental collapse. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. Many know Frawley as the television actor in the hit series I Love Lucy and My Three Sons who made people laugh endlessly with his profound humor, but behind his comedic spiels was a loathed man who drank alcohol like water. 1) Vivian Vance The I Love Lucy star hated the man who played her husband, for one. Her ashes were picked up August 28, 1979 and scattered at sea off the coast of Marin County. The love of these two women.". It also caused a strain in her marriage to publishing executive John Dodds. Vivian Vance was married four times: The Kansas native married her first husband, Joseph Shearer Danneck Jr., in 1928. Born in Cherryvale, Kansas, Vance was the second of . Arnaz later retooled the show with model and actress Joanne Dru taking the lead role, selling the series to ABC, where it was subsequently cancelled after one season. Vance reluctantly agreed to be her co-star on the condition that she be allowed to appear in more glamorous clothes and have her character be named "Vivian". Despite her career accomplishments, having two children was the most outstanding achievement of her life. Sell now . Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce in 1927, leaving him single for the rest of his life. direct and indirect speech past tense exercises Search above to list available cemeteries. The stars tell all about their relationship off-camera and on in an excerpt from the rich new oral history, Your guide to the movie and TV races that make Hollywood run . ", Desi Arnaz embraces his pregnant wife,Lucille Ball while watching a televised football game at the Racquet Club in Palm Springs, California in 1953. In 1954, she became the first actress to be awarded an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Advertisement Vivian Vance took the world by storm with her exceptional acting skills. Getty Images 2/14 2) She was a rebellious teen. According to the book I Love Lucy: The Untold Story by Gregg Oppenheimer, the son of the show's producer and head writer Jess Oppenheimer, Vance did not appreciate the age difference between herself and her co-star. mesurer votre utilisation de nos sites et applications. Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz in the second season of "I Love Lucy" aired on January 12, 1953. "You don't look like a landlady," observed Lucy, who expected someone older, heavier and much less attractive than the former. Today I was searching about rare photos of Lucille Ball and I realized that Ive never seen many photos of Vivian Vance shared online. On that day in 1979, Peterson remembers, "We had brought Viv down and she was lying on the couch in the living room. Mid-1951, Frawley received a call from Lucille Ball who invited him to take on a role in her comedy series, I Love Lucy, together with her husband and co-star, Desi Arnaz. Then having known that, it makes so much sense, this sort of frustration and struggle that she has in the story and the film and then playing Ethel., On this weeks Little Gold Men podcast, Arianda gets into her experience on the set of Being the Ricardos and working with her on-screen faux husband J.K. Simmons, who plays William Frawley. Vance starred in the hit sitcom with actress Lucille Ball, who played Lucy Ricardo. She died in 1979 from bone cancer. "Viv and I were extraordinarily compatible. Paired with William Frawley as 'Fred and Ethel Mertz,' Vance and Frawley made a convincing couple despite their twenty-five year age difference. (The breast cancer she had been diagnosed with in 1973 had metastasized into bone cancer. Luch and Ethel truly exemplify what friendship is all about, and that early television magic happened because the two actors behind the beloved characters hit it off from day one. When the network wanted Ball to star in a television version of the same series, it eventually morphed into "I Love Lucy," and Ball insisted that her own husband, Desi Arnaz, play her TV husband (via Vulture). She was in tears. And, in the end, that was the constant throughout Ball and Vance's friendship: It all came from love. | Source: Getty Images. Search instead in Creative? Love and the Medium" - Airdate December 29, 1969. Ad Choices, The 42 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, The 25 Best Shows on Netflix to Watch Right Now, We take stock of the best rom-coms everfrom. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Before his Hollywood fame, he would perform with his brother a vaudeville act. Try again later. Both actresses starred in the 1962 "The Lucy Show" series, but Vance left in 1965 due to long-distance commutes. "I knocked and Ethel answers and I was stunned," Peterson says with a laugh. We both believe wholeheartedly in what we call 'an enchanted sense of play,' and use it liberally in our show.". Average for the last 12 months. Come 1933, Vivian married her second. I didnt know that. So, when former dancer Vance dropped some weight suddenly, as portrayed in the film, Ball was not happy at all. Frawley starred in silent films produced by Paramount Studios in 1916, and for the next 35 years, had over 100 films including Gentleman Jim, Going My Way, Miracle on 34th Street, and Verdoux.. Viv knew she was dying." Required fields are marked *. Although hesitant, they hired him under several conditions, including only having three chances of screw-ups in his career with them. According to some reports, things first went sour when Frawley overheard Vance complaining about his age, stating that he should be playing her father instead of her husband. Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball were like sisters in almost every sense of the word. Learn more about merges. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Both Ball and Arnaz commented on her death. Advertisement Since then, the two developed a hatred for each other, throughout their time working together. In 1914, he married the love of his life, Edna Louise Broedt, whom he performed comedic stints with. Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance met when their legendary sitcom began, and a lifelong friendship was born. The show was produced at Arnaz and Miss Balls Desilu Studios, and from that series, the couple developed Desilu into a major TV production company that in its prime produced more than 19 TV programs, including The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, The Untouchables, December Bride, Willy, Our Miss Brooks, Make Room for Daddy, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, The Web and shows starring Ray Bolger and George Gobel. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Lucille Ball pictured in a photo studio in 1955. But they formed one of TV's great comedy duos. Since this theater stage-TV mix was new, the show had a learning curve. 3.3K 144K views 11 months ago Did you know that Vivian Vance was said to have broken out the champagne upon hearing the news of former on-screen husband William Frawley's passing and that Desi. "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. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. Yet all of that success was haunted by her upbringing, beginning with the fact that her father created a lifelong fear of men that affected her marriages. Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones; July 26, 1909 - August 17, 1979) [1] was an American actress and singer best known for playing Ethel Mertz on the sitcom I Love Lucy (1951-1957), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, among other accolades. "'Well we weren't speaking, and I'd be damned if I'd tell you!' She said, I was so afraid of men that I spent my life hiding underneath them. She stopped performing because of her breakdown. During her stay in Los Angeles, Vance appeared in two films: as streetwise chambermaid Leah in The Secret Fury (1950), and as Alicia in The Blue Veil (1951). Additionally, the actor grew a love for drinking, which added to the many reasons his career was slowed down and almost put to a halt. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. . Celebrate Lucille Ball with These Gorgeous Vintage Photos, Pluto TV Launches Classic Channels Streaming 'Happy Days,' 'The Love Boat,' 'Laverne & Shirley' and More, See'' the 'Being the Ricardos' Cast Side-by-Side with Their Real-Life Counterparts, How Lucille Ball Said Goodbye to Desi Arnaz Days Before He Died: 'They Loved Each Other Until the End', Barbara Eden Recalls Working with 'Wonderful' Lucille Ball and 'Playboy' Desi Arnaz: 'I'll Never Forget Her', See Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball Announce She's Pregnant in 'Being the Ricardos' Scene, They Love Lucy! "The pain on her face shook me to my core. Desi, who found a friend in the comedian, mourned Frawleys death. They ate lunch, and they talked and talked. I will never ever, ever forget his tremendous help to me. "These were two people that were best friends and begging to be seen by one another," Arianda explained. Why Lucille Ball wanted to name her daughter Susan ? Lucille Ball in the "Lucy is a Sax Symbol" episode of the "Life With Lucy" aired on October 25, 1986. In 1948, Lucille Ball starred in a CBS radio sitcom "My Favorite Husband." (P.s I dont own any of the photos), vivian vance was a lovely lady. Looking back, Peterson says, "Viv loved living in Belvedere. The local theatre community helped pay her way to New York City to study under Eva Le Gallienne. It was a sludgy place with barren hills and beautiful dairy farms. Vivian Vance blazed her fire in the sky as a frumpy housewife and made her hometown proud. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance interview in 1975 joycollector 33.1K subscribers Subscribe 18K Share Save 3M views 10 years ago The iconic stars were reunited and interviewed on the popular talk show. Vance's breast cancer metastasized into bone cancer. Lucille Ball said her final goodbye to Vivian Vance Vance was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1973, which then metastasized to bone cancer. She loved the simplicity and the quiet of living here. She was born Dec. 18, 1938, to James and Ruth (Davis) Hill in. All rights reserved. But there's more to the real Vivian Vance. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? I think its impossible not to love him. In 1962, Lucille Ball was planning to return to television in a new series, The Lucy Show. Her mother could talk to Vance like no one else, and since she passed, her mom could not confide in as many people as she could with Vance. Elsewhere on the episode, hosts David Canfield, Rebecca Ford, Richard Lawson, and Katey Rich look back at 1961s West Side Story, both assessing it next to Steven Spielbergs remake and its status as one of the most widely loved best picture Oscar winners of all time. RELATED: Why Lucy And Vivian Vance Parted Ways On The Lucy Show: Vivian Was Trying To Take Control!, But even during this time of fame, not everything went smoothly. She changed her surname to Vance and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to find acting work, performing in the first show at the Albuquerque Little Theatre in 1930. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Love and Basketball (DVD MOVIE 2000 Sanaa Lathan, Vivian Vance at the best online prices at eBay! [9] On January 16, 1961, Vance married literary agent, editor, and publisher John Dodds. She spent most of her time in Belvedere and away from the public eye. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Photo: pinterest.com The last time Vivian and Lucy appeared together was Ball's special Lucy Calls the President in 1977. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Im sure not so many. Toward the end of the series' run, both Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance made personal decisions that mirrored each other. Vivian was very much not is Ethel, Arianda says. The comedy icon died from a ruptured abdominal aorta after undergoing emergency heart surgery in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 02 victoria warehouse manchester. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Ball's life was a textbook example of a rags-to-riches story, from her star-struck childhood through her struggle as a movie star in the 1930s and 1940s to her TV career that made her a legend. Miss Ball is the sole survivor of the shows regular foursome. Thanks for your help! Salary (6) See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro Over the next several years, she appeared in numerous commercials for Maxwell House. ", "We had enormous freedom," she adds. The Truth About Lucille Ball And Vivian Vance's Friendship. Vance, originally from Kansas, was already a Broadway star when she was asked to play Ethel Mertz. On the same day a Reddit user posted a photo of the lovely Vivian Vance believed to be from the '40s, looking more glamorous than we ever saw her as landlady and Lucy's hijinks companion Ethel Mertz. She couldn't speak.". And then there's Vivian Vance, Ball's real-life friend and co-star as Ethel Mertz, the dowdy counterpart to fireplug Lucy. Although Frawley was very interested, Vance declined, mainly because she did not want to work on a one-on-one basis with Frawley, as they already had an acrimonious relationship. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Peterson, who lived in an adjacent room in the house, described Ball and Vance's reunion as an amazing moment to witness. 2023 Cond Nast. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Birth. 237 Vivian Vance Photos Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images EDITORIAL All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 237 vivian vance photos stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Eventually, she graduated to supporting parts after she replaced Kay Thompson in the musical Hooray for What! Vivian Vance Reinke. Nicknamed "Bill," the actor was best known for his supporting role as Fred Mertz, the Ricardos' sarcastic landlord of 623 E. 68th Street in . Viv was sensational. [2] She appeared there in many other plays, including This Thing Called Love and The Cradle Song. Late actress Vivian Vance was best known for the TV sitcom "I Love Lucy." "She said, 'Come on in, honey,' and I did. She said in a past interview: "As an actress, I'm so beholden to writers; without the word, we are nothing. 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. Lets focus on Vivian. Advertisement "I can't play his wife. Vivian Vance was best known for her role as Ethel Mertz on the TV sitcom "I Love Lucy." Lou Ann Graham still remembers seeing her sister Vivian relaxing in her Albuquerque Little Theatre . Actress Vivian Vance is pictured in about 1930. Your email address will not be published. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Vance was married four times; her first three marriages ended in divorce. She was nominated an additional three times (for 1954, 1956, and 1957) before the series ended. . This month marks 38 years since her passing at age 70, following a battle with breast and bone cancer. Known as a tough-talking actress, Ball also used her stardom and show business skills to establish with Arnaz the Desilu productions, one of the premier studios in Hollywood. The first house they [she and her fourth husband literary agent John Dodds] rented was my mother's house. The role of Fred Mertz was played by William Frawley, who was actually 22 years her senior. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Vance died only a few days later, on Aug. 17, 1979. There was a problem getting your location. And that's how she left the world. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. She got her first break in the musical "Music in the Air," and after understudying for Ethel Merman in "Anything Goes," she starred with comic actor Ed Wynn in "Hooray for What!" I Love Lucy was the first show to use three cameras instead of one. Vance made her final television appearance with Lucille Ball on the CBS special Lucy Calls the President, which aired November 21, 1977. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. My favorite episode of I Love Lucy is Episode #113 Ethels Hometown when the Riccardos and Mertzs visit Ethels dad in Albuquerque, NM. In 1973, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Marra Shubyann Lindstrom Steininger Has Faced Many Difficulties - Facts about Jeffree Star's Mother, Single Dad Phil Donahue Prayed 5 Kids Would Accept Childless Marlo Thomas in the Family At First It Was a 'Disaster', Blake Lively's Dating History before She Married Ryan Reynolds, I Love Lucys Vivian Vance Was Afraid of Men & Rumored to Be a Lesbian - Meet Her 4 Spouses, Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz's Kids Lived Different Lives after Parents Thrust Them into the Spotlight, Patty Duke Caused 25-Year Confusion between Famous 3 Dads of Her Son - Real Dad Was Discovered via DNA Test. She received several positive notices for her performances, but the films did little else to further her screen career. We all know her as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ballbut how many of us has actually searched about Vivian ? Today, were going to change that ! On January 20, 2010, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a local antique dealer had inherited many of Vance's photos and scrapbooks and a manuscript of her unpublished autobiography when John Dodds died in 1986. ", Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's Great-Granddaughter Dies of Breast Cancer at Age 31. We have set your language to In 1932, she headed for the Broadway stage, where she struggled as a chorus girl. The relationship between Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance became more familiar to modern audiences via the film "Being the Ricardos," starring Nicole Kidman as Ball and Nina Arianda as Vance. Click to enlarge. When Vance was dying from bone cancer in 1979, Ball visited her old co-star and partner-in-slapstick-crime to say her goodbyes. After "I Love Lucy" ended in 1957, the four main performers still appeared together on "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" until 1960. Her most successful stage role was that of Nancy Collister in the Cole Porter musical Let's Face It! The below image of Vivian Vance, found on Wikimedia Commons, is the very definition of elegance. Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones, July 26, 1909 - August 17, 1979) was an American television and theater actress and singer. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Actress. But according to Alanna Nashwho spent time with the real Colonel in the 90sthere were times when he was just as scary as what you see onscreen. We loved each other. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Vivian Vance (1487)? The email does not appear to be a valid email address. When I Love Lucy premiered, Vance was 42 years old and Frawley was 64. At that time, she was known as the "unquestioned queen of television comedy.". She would often act as the peacemaker whenever tempers or disagreements would flare up on the set. That's when Ball met Vivian Vance, a former theater actor who had appeared in a few movies without yet finding her fortune and fame (via The Famous People). While the contract demanded weight gain, the actress suffered from weight loss, not exactly lost, but the gain wasn't significant. Vivian Vance took the world by storm with her exceptional acting skills. Her family moved to Independence, Kansas, and later studied drama under Anna Ingleman and William Inge.