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Ethel Mae Mertz (née Potter) (alternately Ethel Louise, Ethel May, and Ethel Roberta), played by Vivian Vance, is one of the four main fictional characters in the highly popular 1950s American television sitcom I Love Lucy. Ethel is the middle-aged landlady of the main character, Lucy Ricardo, played by Lucille Ball.
Vance's Ethel Mertz character was the landlady of a New York City apartment that she and her husband Fred owned on East 68th Street. The role of Fred Mertz was played by William Frawley, who was actually 22 years her senior. Despite their exceptional chemistry, comedic timing, and musical prowess together onscreen, Vance and Frawley did not get ...
The role of Ethel Mertz also took quite some time to cast. Since Lucy's Husband co-star Bea Benaderet was not available, Mary Wickes, a longtime friend, was offered the role but declined because she did not want to strain her friendship with Ball. Actress Barbara Pepper, who was a close friend of Ball, was also considered for the role. The two ...
Their landlords (soon to be best friends) were Fred and Ethel Mertz. Lucy and Ethel quickly became best friends, even though Ethel is older than Lucy. Upon moving to the city, Ricky (referred to as Rick by Fred and sometimes by Ethel) ends up getting a job headlining the Tropicana where he and his band are held over indefinitely.
Vance won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1953 as Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance as Ethel Mertz on the popular TV sitcom "I Love Lucy," which aired from 1951 to 1957. Vance died in 1979.
The character of Ethel (Vivian Vance) is absent from this episode; Fred says that she is visiting her mother. The central sketch was originally created by Red Skelton and had been part of his vaudeville routine since the 1930s. Skelton granted Ball permission to use it in I Love Lucy. [7]
“I have to tell you, what we talked about was Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz,” he said to IndieWire, referencing the “I Love Lucy” pals. Of course, McKay admits that he would probably also ...
Gale Gordon and Bea Benaderet, who played the Atterburys, were both given first consideration for the roles that would become Fred and Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy, but both had contract conflicts that forced them to turn down the roles. [11] Writers Bob Carroll Jr., Madelyn Pugh Davis and Jess Oppenheimer all agreed to continue with I Love Lucy.