Discovering Lucille Ball: Just How Tall Was She?

Otto Bruen 10 Jul 2025

Lucille Ball, a name that pretty much brings a smile to anyone who hears it, remains a true icon of American entertainment. She was a powerhouse on screen, bringing so much joy and laughter to millions, and still does today. People often remember her fiery red hair and those incredible facial expressions, which, you know, really made her comedy something special. But there's a question many folks often wonder about her physical presence.

It's interesting, isn't it, how certain details about famous people spark our curiosity? We see them on our screens, bigger than life, and sometimes, you just start to wonder about the little things. Like, was she really as tall as she seemed? Her stature, in some respects, played a part in her comedic timing and how she carried herself.

So, let's get right to it and clear up this bit of curiosity. Just how tall was Lucille Ball, the woman who pretty much defined an era of television? We'll look at her actual height and, in a way, see how it shaped her remarkable career, giving her that unique on-screen presence we all remember.

Lucille Ball: A Life in Comedy
Personal Details and Bio Data
Her Actual Stature: The Numbers
How Her Height Played a Part in Her Roles
Comparing Her Physical Presence
Beyond the Physical: Her Impact and Legacy
Frequently Asked Questions About Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball: A Life in Comedy

Lucille Désirée Ball was a truly amazing person, born way back on August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York. She started out, you know, wanting to be a serious actress, doing dramatic roles. But fate, or perhaps just her natural gifts, had a very different path for her. It turned out she had this incredible knack for making people laugh, a talent that, you know, she couldn't really hide for long.

Before she became a household name, she spent some time as a model and, in a way, slowly worked her way into movies during the 1930s and 1940s. She was in a good number of films, but it was really television where she found her true calling. That's where she, like, absolutely shined. The small screen was where she could, in some respects, truly be herself, or at least a very exaggerated version of herself.

Her most famous work, obviously, is "I Love Lucy," which debuted in 1951. This show, pretty much, changed television forever. She starred alongside her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, and together they created something quite special. The show was, you know, a huge success, pioneering so many things in television production, and it's still loved by people today. It's almost incredible, actually, how much influence that show still has.

Beyond "I Love Lucy," she continued to work in television, producing and starring in other shows like "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy." She was, in fact, a very shrewd businesswoman, co-founding Desilu Productions with Desi Arnaz. This company, you know, made not just her own shows but also, for example, other well-known productions. Did Lucille Ball act in any Desilu production besides Lucy-related stuff? Well, the only other Desilu shows I've watched are 'The Untouchables' and Andy Griffith, so she was definitely part of a bigger picture there, even behind the scenes.

She had a career that spanned decades, leaving behind a truly massive legacy. Her impact on comedy, on television production, and on the entertainment industry as a whole is, quite frankly, hard to overstate. She was a true pioneer, someone who, you know, really broke new ground for women in Hollywood.

Personal Details and Bio Data

Detail	Information
Full Name	Lucille Désirée Ball
Born	August 6, 1911
Birthplace	Jamestown, New York, USA
Died	April 26, 1989 (aged 77)
Spouse(s)	Desi Arnaz (m. 1940; div. 1960), Gary Morton (m. 1961; died 1989)
Children	2 (Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr.)
Occupation	Actress, Comedian, Model, Studio Executive
Years Active	1933–1989
Notable Works	I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy

Her Actual Stature: The Numbers

So, the big question: lucille ball how tall was she? For someone with such a commanding presence on screen, you might expect her to be, you know, quite tall. And in fact, she was. Lucille Ball stood at a height that was, for her time, rather above average for women. She was, in some respects, quite a striking figure.

Lucille Ball's height was typically listed as 5 feet 7 inches, or about 170 centimeters. This height, you know, gave her a certain physical advantage in her comedic work. It allowed her to, like, physically dominate a scene when she needed to, which was often. She could really use her whole body for laughs, and her height, in a way, helped with that.

This measurement, 5 feet 7 inches, is pretty consistent across various sources that talk about her life and career. It's not, you know, a secret or a mystery. It's just a simple fact about her physical build. And it's a detail that, actually, helps us understand a little bit more about her on-screen persona.

Think about it: for many women back then, 5'7" was a good bit taller than average. This meant she would often appear, you know, quite statuesque next to her co-stars, especially in a world where camera angles could also play tricks. It gave her an air of, like, authority and also a bit of awkward grace, which was perfect for her brand of comedy.

Her height, you know, was just one part of her overall look. She had those expressive eyes and that incredible smile. But her stature, too, it's almost, contributed to the larger-than-life character she often played. It made her, in some respects, seem even more imposing and, at the same time, more prone to those fantastic physical gags.

How Her Height Played a Part in Her Roles

Lucille Ball's height was, you know, more than just a number; it was a tool in her comedic arsenal. Her physical comedy, which was a huge part of her appeal, often relied on her ability to stretch, contort, and, like, really use her whole body for a laugh. Her height gave her a certain reach and presence that shorter comedians might not have had.

For example, think about those famous scenes where she's struggling with something, maybe a giant vat of grapes or a conveyor belt of chocolates. Her height allowed for broader, more exaggerated movements. She could, you know, really flail her arms and legs in a way that looked completely ridiculous and, at the same time, perfectly timed. It was, actually, a beautiful thing to watch.

Her height also contributed to her ability to appear, you know, slightly out of place or awkward, which was a key element of her Lucy Ricardo character. Lucy was often getting into situations that were too big for her, or trying to do things she wasn't quite suited for. Lucille's height, in a way, made those struggles even more visually amusing. It added to the physical humor, creating a contrast between her somewhat tall, elegant frame and the messy, chaotic situations she found herself in.

She could, you know, look down on people or, conversely, be looked up to, depending on the comedic situation. This visual dynamic was something she, obviously, used to her full advantage. It's like, she knew exactly how to use every part of her being to get a laugh, and her height was definitely a significant component of that.

It's interesting to consider how much of her comedic genius was tied to her physical attributes. Her height, her expressive face, her incredible timing – they all worked together. She was, in fact, a master of physical comedy, and her stature was, in some respects, a foundational element of that mastery. It allowed her to, you know, create these very memorable, very visual gags that still hold up today.

Comparing Her Physical Presence

When you think about Lucille Ball, her height often comes into play when comparing her to others. Her husband and co-star, Desi Arnaz, was about 5 feet 9 inches tall, so he was just a little bit taller than her. This difference, or lack thereof, meant that on screen, they often appeared to be, you know, very similar in height, especially depending on her footwear. This visual balance, in a way, worked well for their comedic partnership.

It's interesting to see how she, like, carried herself. She always had this strong, confident bearing, which made her seem even taller than she was. She had a way of, you know, making her presence known, whether she was in a scene with Desi or with other actors. Her posture and how she moved, actually, amplified her natural height.

Think about other actresses of her era. Many leading ladies were, you know, typically a bit shorter. Lucille Ball's height gave her a distinct look, setting her apart. She wasn't petite; she was, in a way, a woman of substance, both physically and in her acting. This physical presence, you know, really helped her stand out in a crowd of performers.

Her height also meant that she could, in some respects, easily play characters who were a bit more forceful or, like, dominant when the script called for it. She could look down at someone, or, you know, physically push them around in a comedic way, and it would look natural. This was, actually, a really effective tool for her.

It's pretty clear that her physical build, including her height, was a big part of her unique appeal. She wasn't just a voice or a face; she was, in fact, a complete physical performer. And her height, you know, was a key element in creating that unforgettable persona we all remember so well.

Beyond the Physical: Her Impact and Legacy

While we've talked a good bit about lucille ball how tall she was, it's really just one small piece of a much larger, more incredible story. Her height, you know, was a physical characteristic, but her true impact came from her talent, her drive, and her vision. She was a force of nature, in some respects, both on and off the screen.

She wasn't just an actress; she was a trailblazer. As the head of Desilu Productions, she became the first woman to run a major Hollywood studio. That's, you know, a pretty big deal. She made decisions that shaped the future of television, paving the way for so many others. It's like, she really broke down barriers that, you know, people thought were unbreakable.

Her personality, too, was a topic of much discussion. Some accounts say Lucille Ball was notoriously rude; she wouldn’t look anyone in the eye or communicate to staff, so they had to ask everything to her assistant who would then turn to her. This sort of strong, no-nonsense approach, you know, might have been part of what made her such a powerful figure in a male-dominated industry. She had to be tough, actually, to get things done.

She was also, in a way, very dedicated to her craft. She worked incredibly hard, always striving for perfection in her comedic timing and her performances. Her commitment to making people laugh was, you know, absolute. She understood comedy on a very deep level, and that understanding, actually, shone through in every single one of her performances.

Her legacy isn't just about the laughs she gave us; it's also about the doors she opened for women in entertainment. She proved that a woman could be a star, a producer, a studio head, and, you know, a very successful businesswoman all at once. She was, in fact, a pioneer in every sense of the word, leaving behind a path for future generations to follow.

The idea that Lucille would blow up her life like that is also super out of character, you know, when you think about her drive and ambition. She was always moving forward, always building something. I do suspect that the exit was kept super vague, in case s13 was lucky last, and there could have been a new direction. This shows her foresight, actually, and how she thought about the future of her work and her company.

Her story is, you know, one of resilience and incredible achievement. She faced challenges, but she always found a way to overcome them, often with a laugh. She truly was, in some respects, an inspiration, showing us all what's possible when you combine talent with determination.

Learn more about Lucille Ball's incredible life on our site, and link to this page to see her career highlights.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lucille Ball

Was Lucille Ball really a redhead?

She was not, you know, a natural redhead. Lucille Ball was actually a natural blonde. That famous fiery red hair was, in fact, a signature look she adopted and maintained throughout much of her career. It became, in a way, such an iconic part of her image that many people just assume it was her natural hair color. It really suited her personality, actually.

What was Lucille Ball's most famous role?

Her most famous role, by far, was playing Lucy Ricardo on the television show "I Love Lucy." This character, you know, a zany, well-meaning housewife who constantly gets into trouble, became incredibly beloved by audiences. It's the role that, actually, cemented her place in television history and is still, in some respects, what most people remember her for.

Did Lucille Ball have children?

Yes, she did. Lucille Ball had two children with her first husband, Desi Arnaz. Their daughter, Lucie Arnaz, was born in 1951, and their son, Desi Arnaz Jr., was born in 1953. Both of her children, in a way, also went on to have careers in entertainment, following in their famous parents' footsteps. It's pretty cool, actually, to see that family legacy continue.

Lucille Ball in a fright wig | Who2

Lucille Ball - Lucille Ball Fan Art (34541138) - Fanpop

Lucille Ball Facts | Britannica

MetroScope

Discovering Lucille Ball: Just How Tall Was She?

Table of Contents