Vivian Vance

Vivian Vance (July 26, 1909 – August 17, 1979) was an American actress and singer, born in Cherryvale, Kansas as Vivian Roberta Jones.

Early career and I Love Lucy

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 38 productions throughout her career. When Desi Arnaz was 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 Benaderet. Benaderet 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.

A 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, who was 22 years her senior, hated each other. (Vance's then real-life husband, Phil Ober, frequently played small supporting roles on the series, most notably as producer Dore Schary in one of the Hollywood episodes.) The two were given the opportunity to begin their own Fred and Ethel spin-off once Lucy had run its course in 1959. Although Frawley was interested, Vance stated she had no interest in working with Frawley. However, she did consent to play Ethel Mertz on the Lucy and Desi Comedy Hour. Perhaps unbeknownst to Vance, every time her aggressive agent negotiated a salary increase for her, boss Desi Arnaz would give her nemesis Frawley the same pay hike.

The Lucy Show

In 1962, when Ball was planning to return to television in a new series, she asked Vance to once again join her onscreen. Vance agreed with the stipulation that she be allowed to appear in more glamorous clothes, and that her character be named "Vivian". (She was tired of the public addressing her as "Ethel".) She appeared on The Lucy Show (1962-68), as Vivian Bagley, a divorced mother of one son, sharing a house with Ball's character. Vance remained with the show for three of its six years before retiring to Connecticut. She made a handful of guest appearances on The Lucy Show's remaining seasons.

Later years and impact

Over the next several years, Vance appeared occasionally alongside Ball on reunion shows and for guest appearances on Here's Lucy (1968-74). 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.

It was during this period Vivian played the part of Maxine, who wheeled around a catering truck, dispensing "Maxwell House Coffee" to office workers in a set of television commercials.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1977, and died two years later, aged 70.

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.

Emmy Awards

1954: Won - Best Series Supporting Actress for: "I Love Lucy"
1955: Nominated - Best Supporting Actress in a Regular Series for: "I Love Lucy"
1957: Nominated - Best Supporting Performance by an Actress for: "I Love Lucy"
1958: Nominated - Best Continuing Supporting Performance by an Actress in a Dramatic or Comedy Series for: "I Love Lucy"

Trivia

A common misconception is that Vance was contractually obligated to be 20 pounds overweight during her entire run on I Love Lucy due to Lucille Ball's concern that she would not appear as attractive if Vance was allowed to appear as she naturally was. This misconception is fueled by Vance's natural weight gain and loss through the years on the show; It is, however, only an urban legend.^*

Reference

The Other Side of Ethel Mertz: The Life Story of Vivian Vance by Frank Castelluccio & Alvin Walker, published by Knowledge, Ideas & Trends, Inc. (1998)

External links

The Vivian Vance Tribute