Lucille Ball was an American actress, comedienne, model, film-studio executive, and producer. She was best known as the star of the self-produced sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, and Life with Lucy.

In 1962, Ball became the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions, which produced many popular television series, including Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.

Ball did not back away from acting completely, appearing in film and television roles for the rest of her career.

Ball was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four times.

In 1979, Ball was the recipient of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979, inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1984, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986, and the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1989.