Little Ricky Actor reflects on I Love Lucy Success | News, Sports, Jobs

For Keith Thibodeaux, the actor who played Little Ricky and the last living cast member, the series has stood the test of time due to its main cast and groundbreaking television endeavor. Having Lucille Ball at the center of the sitcom also helped.

“The acting and the charisma of Lucille Ball and Desi, and all of those factors – the directors, the writers, the actors – came together perfectly,” Thibodeaux told the Post-Journal on Wednesday by phone. “The show has had such a big influence on sitcoms today. It would be hard to imagine today’s I Love Lucy show about how she connects with people. “

The show – named after the local icon – first aired on October 15, 1951 and included 180 episodes spanning six seasons. Ball and Desi Arnaz took a pay cut in order to have the show produced in Hollywood, a deal that also gave 100% ownership to the couple’s Desilu Productions.

The show made production in Hollywood so acceptable that in 1961 just about all of the major prime-time TV shows were filmed on the West Coast.

Pants Keith Thibodeaux wore as Little Ricky in I Love Lucy are now on display in Jamestown. Thibodeaux appeared in 23 episodes of the show.

Thibodeaux appeared in 23 episodes of I Love Lucy, in addition to 13 episodes of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. He auditioned for the role in 1955, chosen from 200 boys after demonstrating he could play drums at Ball’s request.

Even today, Thibodeaux said he was surprised by the endurance of the series and its reach to new generations of fans.

“I am surprised,” he said. “When a 10 year old, 12 year old, 14 year old, they come to me and tell me how much they are fans and how much they enjoyed the show. During such a creative time in everything that was going on, I Love Lucy took care of it all – it’s just a quality thing that holds up.

Thibodeaux and his wife have visited Jamestown, Ball’s birthplace and home to the National Comedy Center and Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, on several occasions.

He salutes efforts to keep the show’s legacy alive and honor Ball for his career in comedy.

“It’s cool to be part of the memory, to keep the memory alive,” he said. “The museum is a great place. This is a gem in Jamestown that people can come and see all the different memorabilia from the center and museum.

Among the memorabilia on display at the museum are pants that Thibodeaux wore during the show. He was shown a photo from the exhibit on Wednesday.

“It was back then,” He said of the clothes, pointing out that he kept other items from the show, including drums Ball gave him in the 1950s.

As for the show, Thibodeaux said it remains an important part of his life. “It continues to be this little common thread” he said to discuss his role on the show as well as other notable moments and endeavors in his life.

Thibodeaux and his wife continue to be part of Ballet Magnificat !, a professional Christian ballet company founded in Mississippi. He is also part of the Christian rock band David and the Giants; they released their last album, “What are you waiting for?” in 2019.

I LOVE LUCY DAY

The National Comedy Center and the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum today recognize “I love Lucy Day” to commemorate the anniversary of CBS’s first show of I Love Lucy. The recognition includes a variety of events and updated tours.

A free Lucy’s trivia event will take place online tonight at 8 p.m. at ComedyCenter.org/LucyTrivia and feature classic moments from the I Love Lucy episodes and special appearances from family, friends and colleagues from Ball and Arnaz. The trivia event will feature six rounds led by pub quiz expert Geeks Who Drink with trivia questions developed by museum archivists Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz.

The National Comedy Center will also feature reminder presentations from two exclusive online conversations, “Desi Arnaz: Homage to Father’s Day with Lucie Arnaz” with Oscar Nunez, special guest and hosted by David Bianculli, and “Debra Messing: A Conversation with the National Comedy Center” organized by Frank DeCaro. Programs are now available on demand at ComedyCenter.org/LucyTrivia.

A new gallery has opened in the museum to celebrate “Lucy in the movies”, featuring a timeline of over 90 Lucille Ball theater films, a video presentation produced in partnership with Turner Classic Movies, and on-screen wardrobe displays from fan favorite movies.

In addition, a new “LucyTown” Driving Tour for Visitors to Jamestown was launched online, showcasing important and historic places and places in the Jamestown area that represent aspects of Ball’s life and career. The tour is available free of charge at ComedyCenter.org/LucyTownTour.