In 1953, Lucille Ball gifted her on-screen partner Vivian Vance an extraordinary Christmas present, a deeply personal scrapbook titled This Is Your Life — Vivian Vance. Filled with cherished photos and memories, it was a testament to their bond. Recalling the gift years later, Vivian said, “Lucille spent weeks gathering everything herself, reaching back into my childhood for pictures and mementos—things like high school dance programs. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and it showed how much she cared.”
It didn’t take long for Lucille, the star of I Love Lucy, and Vivian, who played the lovable landlady Ethel Mertz, to form a connection that went beyond their professional relationship. Within two years, these two women went from being strangers to becoming lifelong friends. Their friendship endured through the highs and lows of their careers, personal challenges like divorce and illness, and the test of time. “You could see the love they had for each other,” says Michael Stern, author of I Had a Ball: My Friendship With Lucille Ball. “Lucille respected Vivian’s opinions deeply, whether it was about work or life in general.”
But it wasn’t love at first sight. When Vivian was first cast as Ethel Mertz in 1950, Lucille had certain expectations about the actress playing the role. She imagined someone older and less glamorous. Author Stefan Kanfer reveals in Ball of Fire that Lucille initially bristled at Vivian’s polished appearance. “Lucille famously said, ‘Only one person wears false eyelashes on set — me.’ But Vivian didn’t let that deter her. She knew the value of this opportunity and vowed to make it work. And she did — they became inseparable.”
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As filming progressed, Lucille began to see what she had in Vivian. Geoffrey Mark Fidelman, author of The Lucy Book, explains, “It took a few months for Lucille to fully appreciate what Vivian brought to the table. Once she realized it, the character of Ethel Mertz became more central to the show. In fact, Lucille often felt that Lucy and Ethel made a stronger comedic duo than Lucy and Ricky.”
From Co-Stars to Sisters: The Unbreakable Bond Between Lucille and Vivian
Lucille always acknowledged the differences between herself and her on-screen persona, Lucy Ricardo. She famously said, “I’m not funny. The writers are funny, the directors are funny, the situations are funny.” But what Lucille had was an extraordinary talent for understanding what makes a scene work, a quality she quickly recognized in Vivian as well. Michael Stern notes, “Vivian had a knack for improving scripts. She could read a line and instinctively know how the audience would react.”
Lucille’s longtime assistant, Wanda Clark, agrees. “Lucille considered Vivian the best script doctor in town,” she told Closer. “If something wasn’t clicking, those two would huddle together and figure it out.” Whether their characters were dealing with a runaway candy conveyor or tearing each other’s dresses while singing “Friendship,” Lucille and Vivian crafted some of I Love Lucy’s most iconic moments.
Building a Sisterhood on the Set of 'I Love Lucy'
Once Lucille set aside her initial reservations, the two women forged a deep friendship. Keith Thibodeaux, the child actor who played Little Ricky, remembers, “Vivian and Lucille got along beautifully. You’d often see them chatting in makeup or getting their hair done, just like two ladies at the beauty salon.”
Their friendship extended beyond the set. Vivian opened up about her past, including a nervous breakdown in 1945 and the therapy that helped her regain control of her life. Wanda Clark recalls, “They shared a mutual appreciation for the joy and importance of working. It brought them closer together.”
Lucille also supported Vivian when she decided to leave her troubled marriage to actor Philip Ober, who resented both Vivian’s success and her closeness with Lucille. “He’d say things like, ‘People are talking about you two,’ or ‘You ought to be careful about all that hugging and kissing on the show,’” Vivian recalled. Lucille was relieved when Vivian finally left Ober in 1959. “He was a terrible man,” Lucille said. “He used to beat her and embarrass her. It was a nightmare.”
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Vivian, in turn, became a confidante for Lucille during her own struggles. Lucie Arnaz, Lucille and Desi’s daughter, says, “Viv was like a sister to my mom. She was one of the few people my mother could confide in completely.”
Life After 'I Love Lucy': A Continued Partnership
In 1962, when Lucille returned to television with The Lucy Show, she insisted on creating a role for Vivian. For the first three seasons, Vivian played Viv Bagley, the divorced best friend of Lucille’s widowed Lucy Carmichael. “I wouldn’t have done this show without Viv,” Lucille admitted. “The studios had great ideas and offered fabulous deals, but the real reason I agreed was Viv.”
This new dynamic allowed the pair to build on the chemistry they had developed during I Love Lucy. “Before, we were always scheming to keep things from Ricky or Fred,” Lucille explained. “Now, we’re dealing with new kinds of challenges—weather, loneliness, our kids.”
Vivian became an honorary aunt to Lucille’s children, Lucie and Desi Jr. “She was always encouraging Lucie to pursue theater,” says Stern. “And if you look at Lucie’s career, it’s clear how much Vivian inspired her.”
Vivian married book editor John Dodds in 1961 and enjoyed a happy marriage. However, the frequent trips to California for filming took their toll, and she eventually left her weekly role on The Lucy Show after 81 episodes. She continued to appear at reunions and made guest appearances on Here’s Lucy, Lucille’s third sitcom.
In 1977, Lucille invited Vivian to join her for the TV special Lucy Calls the President. By then, Vivian had been battling breast cancer for years, but she made the trip to reunite with her friend one last time. Stern, who was there, says, “Even after decades of comedy, Lucille still wanted Vivian by her side. She was incredibly protective of her, making sure she felt comfortable and supported. It was a beautiful moment, and a fitting farewell.”
