Vivian Vance
| Vivian Vance | |
|---|---|
Vance in 1964
|
|
| Born |
Vivian Roberta Jones July 26, 1909 Cherryvale, Kansas, US |
| Died | August 17, 1979 (aged 70) Belvedere, California, US |
| Cause of death | Bone cancer, secondary to breast cancer |
| Education | Independence High School |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1933–78 |
| Spouse(s) | Joseph Shearer Danneck, Jr. (1928–31; divorced) George Koch (1933–40; divorced) Philip Ober (1941–59; divorced) John Dodds (1961–79; her death) |
| Parent(s) | Robert Jones Euphemia Jones |
Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones; July 26, 1909 – August 17, 1979) was an American television and theater actress and singer. 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.
Vance was born Vivian Roberta Jones around July 26, 1909, in Cherryvale, Kansas, the second of Robert and Euphemia Jones' six children. When she was six years old, her family moved to Independence, Kansas, where she eventually began her dramatic studies at Independence High School with drama instructor Anna Ingleman. Her love of acting clashed with her mother's strict religious beliefs. "Viv" soon rebelled, often sneaking out of her bedroom and staying out after curfew. She changed her surname to Vance and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to find work as an actress. Vance performed in the very first show at the Albuquerque Little Theatre in 1930. There she appeared in many other plays, including This Thing Called Love and The Cradle Song. The local theatre community helped pay her way to New York City to study under Eva Le Gallienne.
Starting in 1932, Vance was in a number of shows on Broadway, usually as a member of the chorus. Eventually she graduated to supporting parts after she replaced Kay Thompson in the musical Hooray for What! (1937). Her most successful stage role was that of Nancy Collister in the Cole Porter musical Let's Face It! (1941), in which she starred alongside Danny Kaye and Eve Arden for over 500 performances.
...
Wikipedia