Comedic Icons:
Lucille Ball &
Robin Williams
Phoebe Gydesen
World History- H Pd. 6
Semester Presentation
I was born on August
6, 1911.
I starred in a comedy
I was kicked out of
that dominated
the John Murray
television for six years
Anderson School for
and is still considered a
the Dramatic Arts.
classic.
Who Am I?
I have two children.
I’m a red-head.
My father died when
I was only three.
I’ve appeared in over
75 different films
spanning several
decades.
I was one of the first
women to pioneer the
filming industry by
becoming an executive
producer.
I married Desidario
Alberto Arnaz y de
Acha III.
I’m The Queen of Comedy:
Lucille Desiree Ball.
I was born on July 21,
1951.
I’ve played a pirate,
nanny, genie, and dead
president.
I was bullied during
much of my
childhood.
I got my first big
break as “Mork” on
Happy Days.
Who Am I?
I won a full scholarship
I’m an actor,
to Julliard.
comedian, and father.
I’ve starred in
numerous films and
been nominated for a
great deal of awards.
I was best friends with
Christopher Reeves.
I’ve received an
Oscar for best
supporting actor.
I’m Robin McLaurin
Williams.
Lucille Ball
Early Childhood
• Born- August 6 1911,
– Jamestown, New York
• Daughter of Henry
Durrell Ball and Desiree
Evelyn Hunt Ball
• February 1915-Lucy’s
father dies of typhoid
fever
• Lucy and brother
Frederick raised by her
mother and
grandparents
Adolescent Years
• Frequently attended
vaudeville shows
with her family
• Her grandfather
encouraged her to
participate in school
plays and her own
Lucy’s Career Beginning
• 1927- Lucy sent to the
John Murray Anderson
School for the Dramatic
Arts in New York City
• Sent home a few weeks
later when drama
coaches told her that
she "had no future at all
as a performer”
Lucy’s Career
• 1933 - Went to
Hollywood as movie
showgirl
• Later, became
successful actress
appearing in more than
75 films
– Under contract with Sam
Goodwin, Columbia and
RKO
• 1940 - Married
Desiderio Alberto
Arnaz y de Acha III
(Desi Arnaz)
– Cuban percussionist
she met while filming
the movie Too Many
Girls
• 1948- Lucille cast in
CBS Radio program
– Cast as Liz Cugat in
“My Favorite
Husband”
I Love Lucy
• 1951 – Desi and Lucy
formed Desilu
Productions with
$5,000.
• I Love Lucy began six
year domination of TV
comedy.
• Lucie Desiree Arnaz
born on July 17, 1951.
• 1953 - I Love Lucy
episode in which Lucy
Ricardo gave birth to
Little Ricky in telecast
on January 19, 1953,
– Same day that Lucille
gave birth to second
child Desiderio Alberto
Arnaz y Acha IV (Desi,
Jr.).
Lucy’s Career Continues
• 1957 - Desilu purchased
RKO Studios and began
producing other TV
programs
• 1960 - The Arnaz’s
divorce and Desi sold
his share of the studio
to Lucy for 3 million
dollars.
• 1961 - Lucy married
Morton Goldapper
(Gary Morton), who
became her executive
producer
• 1962 - Lucille returned
to the airwaves with a
successful solo launch
of The Lucy Show
• 1967 - Lucy sold Desilu
to Gulf and Western
Industries for 18 million
dollars.
• 1974 - Lucille played the
title role in the movie
version of Mame
• 1985 – In first dramatic
role in years, Lucy played
a New York City bag lady
in the CBS teleplay Stone
Pillow
• 1986 - Life With Lucy was
launched by ABC
– Despite hard work, was
not successful
Accomplishments
• 1953- Received first two
Emmy Awards, for Best
Comedienne and Best
Situation Comedy on the Air
• December 17, 1986,
honored with an award for
life-long achievement at
Kennedy Center by
President Reagan.
Lucille’s Legacy
• 1989 - On April 18,
Lucille underwent
emergency heart
surgery
• She died a week later
on April 26, 1989.
• Presidential Medal of
Freedom by President
George H. W. Bush on
July 6,1989
• Time Magazine’s “100
Most Influential People
of the Century”
• Inducted into the
National Women’s Hall
of Fame
• 2007- Awarded the
Legacy of Laughter
Award at the fifth
Annual TV Land Awards
• I Love Lucy was named
the Greatest TV Series
by Hall of Fame
Magazine
• Chosen second out of
the 50 Greatest TV
Icons
Lucille
Desiree
Ball
“The Queen
of Comedy”
Robin
Williams
Early Childhood
• Robin McLaurin
Williams
• Born- July, 21 1951
– Chicago, Illinois
• Father, Robert, executive
for Ford Motor Company
• Mother, Laurie, retired
fashion model
• Robin was bullied
during his much of his
childhood
• Had weight problems
– Spent most of his time in his
parents’ house
Adolescent Years
• Eventually conquered his
“fat” label
– Went out for track and
wrestling
• Realized that his ability to
make others laugh could
help him gain respect from
kids
• When Robin was 16,
his father retired
early
• The family moved to
California
– Graduated from
Redwood High
School in 1969
• After high school,
attended Claremont
Men’s College
– Studied political
science & played
soccer
• Took improvisation
classes
• Entered College of
Marin to study
acting
• Won a full
scholarship to
Juilliard College
• While at Julliard:
– Studied with
Christopher Reeve &
became lifelong
friends
– Met his first wife,
Valerie Velardi
Robin’s Career Beginning
• Practiced stand up comedy
& left acting in pursuit of a
career as a comedian
• In 1977, Williams won a
spot on The Richard Pryor
Show
• Got his first big break as
“Mork” on Happy Days
• Sparked the show Mork and
Mindy
– Show earned him his first
Golden Globe in 1979
• 1980- Took the title role
in Robert Altman's
“Popeye”
• 1982- Williams battle
with drugs and alcohol
had negative effects on
his personal life
Robin’s Career
• Robin did five more
films before his first
break-through role
• “Good Morning,
Vietnam”
– Earned first Academy
Award nomination &
second Golden Globe
win
• 1987- Valerie and
Robin separate
• 1989- Williams marries
Marsha Garces
• The same year Williams
starred in “Dead Poet’s
Society”
– This earned him his
second Oscar
nomination
Movie Madness
• 1991- Stars in “The
Fisher King”acclaimed as his best
film to date
• Also starred in Steven
Spielberg’s “Hook”
• Williams proved his
skill as a voice actor
in the 1992 film
“Aladdin” as the
Genie
Mrs. Doubtfire
• Wife Marsha runs
across “Mrs. Doubtfire”
script & suggests it to
Robin
• Earned 200 million in
the box office and a
Golden Globe Award for
Williams
• 1995- Received an Emmy
nomination for a brief role
in the TV programme
Homicide: Life On The
Streets
• Filmed “Jumanji” the same
year
• Starred in the 1996 film
“The Birdcage”
• The same year, Williams
played the lead in
“Jack”
• 1997 was a superb
year for Robin
• The hit film “Flubber”
started off the 1997
year
• “Good Will Hunting”
earned Williams his
first Academy Award
– Best Actor in a
Supporting Role
Accomplishments
• Academy Award
– Best Actor in a Supporting
Role
• “Good Will Hunting”
• Emmy Award
– Best Individual Role in a
Variety or Music Program
• Carol and Carl and Whoopi and
Robin
• Golden Globe Awards
– Best Actor- Motion Picture,
Musical, or Comedy
• Good Morning Vietnam
• The Fisher King
• Mrs. Doubtfire
• Golden Globe Awards
– Best Actor in a Television
Comedy or Musical
• Mork and Mindy
– Cecil B. DeMille Award
• Grammy Awards
– Best Comedy Album
• Reality…What a Concept
• A Night at the Met
• Good Morning, Vietnam
• Grammy Awards
– Best Spoken Comedy
Album
• Robin Williams- Live 2002
• Screen Actors Guild Awards
– Best Cast in a Motion
Picture
• The Birdcage
– Best Supporting ActorMotion Picture
• Good Will Hunting
• Numerous American
Comedy Awards spanning
three decades
Robin’s Legacy
• Robin Williams is known
around the world for his
entertaining skills.
• He is also involved in
many philanthropic
projects, including the
Christopher and Dana
Reeve Foundation.
• His works will
undoubtedly continue to
be enjoyed by
generations to come.
Robin
McLaurin
Williams