It ran from 1951 to 1961 . [1] When she was six, her family moved to Independence, Kansas, where she eventually began her dramatic studies at Independence High School with instructor Anna Ingleman. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Moreover, Vance didn't exactly relish playing the role of a frumpy "older" neighbor, since in reality she was only 2 years Lucille Ball's senior. Off the set of 'I Love Lucy' (and 'My Three Sons') he was known as a big drinker and a hothead who'd lost many an acting job for being . Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Arnaz, who later became one of Hollywoods most successful producers, pioneered use of mutiple cameras in stituation comedies. Vance's working relationship with Ball was also becoming strained. As played by Arianda, Vance emerges more like her real-life selfglamorous and self-assured, but constantly overshadowed in the second banana role that has made her famous. Please reset your password. "She cried about losing Viv for months after that," says Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Failed to remove flower. The Cuban-born bandleader was best-known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy, which set several precedents for modern television situation comedy. During this period, Vance's agent got her an endorsement deal with Maxwell House coffee. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. In 1979, Lucille Ball came to Belvedere, California with a solemn task. direct and indirect speech past tense exercises Specifically: Cremated by the Neptune Society at Bahia Valley Memorial Park Crematory in Novato, Marin County, California. In 1954, she became the first actress to be awarded an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress. As the eulogies were delivered, Miss Ball gripped Mortons hand and dabbed tears from her eyes with a hankerchief. ", Man Opens Door and Girl Greets Him with Note in Hand Saying, Hello, Dad! It was just one of those connections. ", Meanwhile, Ball, who was married to Arnaz from 1940 to 1961, could not credit herself as the star of their show. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. While the two women were friends until the end, that doesn't mean there wasn't tension on the "I Love Lucy" set as Ball insisted that the best way for Ethel to be relatable to audiences was to be frumpy and a bit overweight. 237 Vivian Vance Photos Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images EDITORIAL All Sports Entertainment News Archival Browse 237 vivian vance photos stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Although hesitant, they hired him under several conditions, including only having three chances of screw-ups in his career with them. Cherryvale, Montgomery County, Kansas, USA. She said in a past interview: "As an actress, I'm so beholden to writers; without the word, we are nothing. "We sat side by side, putting on our makeup. Add to your scrapbook. Death. Lucie said Ball treated Vance like a sister. Lets focus on Vivian. Leigh died in 1967, at the age of 53, after a bout with tuberculosis, a disease she had since 1945, according to an obituary in The New York Times. Fast forward six decades, and it's now a posh commuter town with incomparable views of the San Francisco Bay. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Lucille Ball in the "Lucy is a Sax Symbol" episode of the "Life With Lucy" aired on October 25, 1986. And, in the end, that was the constant throughout Ball and Vance's friendship: It all came from love. Venus Jones and her little sister, Vivian, lived across the street from Brooks. Growing up in Independence, Kansas, Vivian Jones's love of. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Vivian Vance, the Ethel Mertz of I Love Lucy and one of the most beloved comediennes in television, died Friday at her home in northern California after a long fight against cancer. . Before entering the church with her husband, Gary Morton, Miss Ball remembered Arnaz, whom she divorced in 1960, as a great, great showman., Just look at the stuff hes done over the years, Miss Ball said. Find A Female Actor In A Drama Series stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Accurate . Vivian A. Vance, 82, of Punxsutawney, peacefully passed away on Friday July 9, 2021, at Christ the King Personal Care in DuBois. Four years later, she had a role in The Voice of the Turtle. After the shows cancellation in 1960, the actor found a job in My Three Sons.. By Frank Casteluccio and Alvin Walker. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. During her stay in Los Angeles, Vance appeared in two films: as streetwise chambermaid Leah in The Secret Fury (1950), and as Alicia in The Blue Veil (1951). Kansas, U.S., State Census Collection, 1855-1925, Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Although information about Vivian Vances mother is more readily available, whatisknown about her father is that his name was Robert Andrew, Sr., and that he had a total of six children with Euphemia Mae (Ragan) Jones. She was 66. Before she passed away in 1979, she shared her final moments with her best friend and co-star, actress Lucille Ball. ", Desi Arnaz embraces his pregnant wife,Lucille Ball while watching a televised football game at the Racquet Club in Palm Springs, California in 1953. John Dodds, a longtime book editor, died of cancer Oct. 9 at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco. [13] Vance and Frawley were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in March 2012. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. ", Vance then asked why she hadn't mentioned this before. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! 20 rare photos of Vivian Vance - Old Hollywood fans 20 rare photos of Vivian Vance sophia7gr May 21, 2019 I love Lucy, old hollywood, Uncategorized, vivian vance Previous Next Today I was searching about rare photos of Lucille Ball and I realized that I've never seen many photos of Vivian Vance shared online. "These were two people that were best friends and begging to be seen by one another," Arianda explained. Peterson's book, which contains many archival photos, is published by the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmark Society, where all proceeds will be donated. [citation needed], She died at age 70 on August 17, 1979 of metastatic breast cancer. Lucille Ball said her final goodbye to Vivian Vance Vance was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1973, which then metastasized to bone cancer. [5], Ultimately, the 42-year-old Vance won the role on the new television program, which debuted October 15, 1951, on CBS. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Vivian was very much not is Ethel, Arianda says. Fred could be unpleasant, but also had redeeming qualities -- but actor William Frawley was a different story. and I speak not only about what he did for me but what he has done for the entire industry, actor Danny Thomas said in a eulogy. Please try again later. based on information from your browser. Vance died only a few days later, on Aug. 17, 1979. William Frawleys death may have come as a shock and heartbreak to many, but some of those who knew his lousy character celebrated his demise, including his on-screen wife in I Love Lucy.. Required fields are marked *. Her mother could talk to Vance like no one else, and since she passed, her mom could not confide in as many people as she could with Vance. Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance met when their legendary sitcom began, and a lifelong friendship was born. This account has been disabled. On January 20, 2010, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a local antique dealer had inherited many of Vance's photos and scrapbooks and a manuscript of her unpublished autobiography when John Dodds died in 1986. Learn more about managing a memorial . This time, Vance's character was named Vivian Bagley because as she once explained, "I was tired of people calling me Ethel.". "The pain on her face shook me to my core. Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz in the second season of "I Love Lucy" aired on January 12, 1953. Failed to report flower. | Source: Getty Images. She appeared on The Lucy Show from 1962 to 1965, as Vivian Bagley, a divorced mother of one son, sharing a house with Ball's character. Viv knew she was dying.". Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. When I Love Lucy was reformatted into the hour-long Lucy-Desi shows in 1957, Desi Arnaz offered Vance and Frawley the opportunity to star in their own "Fred and Ethel" spin-off show. Jul 19, 2017 - This is a REAL 7 X 9 Black and White Photograph NOT a digital computer print. Written by Gregg Oppenheimer (son of I Love Lucy creator-producer-head writer Jess Oppenheimer), it was recorded before a live audience for nationwide public radio broadcast, and later, online distribution.[15]. Failed to delete memorial. Vivian Vance took the world by storm with her exceptional acting skills. Following her appearance in a revival of The Cradle Will Rock in 1947, Vance decided to move to California to pursue other theatre projects and opportunities in film. Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz and William Frawley as Fred Mertz in 'I Love Lucy', circa 1954. On that day in 1979, Peterson remembers, "We had brought Viv down and she was lying on the couch in the living room. She played the fictional character Vivian for one last time when she appeared in a TV special titled 'Lucy Calls the . She was a leading lady. Mark elaborated, attributing the breakdown to Vivian Vances father. In the early stage of filming "I Love Lucy," Ball was dubious on Vance playing Ethel as she did not look "dumpy" to play as the wife of Fred, played by actor William Frawley. [14], The story of how Vance was hired to play Ethel Mertz is told in I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom, a stage comedy that premiered in Los Angeles on July 12, 2018. "You could hear them laughing, and towards the end there was a lot of sobbing," Peterson said. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Lorsque vous utilisez nos sites et applications, nous utilisons des, authentifier les utilisateurs, appliquer des mesures de scurit, empcher les spams et les abus; et. Vance credited the writers for producing entertaining content. At the conclusion of the third season, Vance requested a new contract giving her more creative control with the opportunity to produce and direct episodes and better pay if she were to continue commuting for the show. Her family moved to Independence, Kansas, and later studied drama under Anna Ingleman and William Inge. Ball had been famous for several monikers, including "Technicolor Tessie" and "The First Lady of Television.". Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia Show Map. Her most successful stage role was that of Nancy Collister in the Cole Porter musical Let's Face It! Vivian Vance (1955), (Archive Photos/Moviepix/Getty Images) When the network wanted Ball to star in a television version of the same series, it eventually morphed into "I Love Lucy," and Ball insisted that her own husband, Desi Arnaz, play her TV husband (via Vulture). Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. When speaking with Variety, Arianda maintained that she and Kidman were determined to show the love between the two women in that scene, despite the animosity they felt at that moment. 10 Dec 1925. Listen to the episode above, and find Little Gold Men on Apple Podcasts or anywhere else you get your podcasts. She moved to a home [the Farr Cottages] that was cantilevered over the bay and would sit and read for hours on the deck, where she could look at the most beautiful view in the world. And Julie Miller shares her interview with Spencer director Pablo Larrain and star Kristen Stewart, who walk her through the making of some of the films standout scenes and surprising ending, as well as what they learned about the real behind-the-scenes machinations of royal life. Our eyes met in the mirror and we collapsed into laughter," Ball recalled (via Showbiz CheatSheet). Known as a tough-talking actress, Ball also used her stardom and show business skills to establish with Arnaz the Desilu productions, one of the premier studios in Hollywood. Ball's life was a textbook example of a rags-to-riches story, from her star-struck childhood through her struggle as a movie star in the 1930s and 1940s to her TV career that made her a legend. 46 Rare Photos of Lucille Ball That You've Probably Never Seen Before See inside her life with family, friends and her adorable cocker spaniels. Yet all of that success was haunted by her upbringing, beginning with the fact that her father created a lifelong fear of men that affected her marriages. Besides Luckinbill, Ball shared with Arnaz a son named Desiderio "Desi" Alberto Arnaz Jr., who is also an actor. Paired with William Frawley as 'Fred and Ethel Mertz,' Vance and Frawley made a convincing couple despite their twenty-five year age difference. Top restaurants are now charging customers more to sit at their best TABLES: Chicago steakhouse offers booth where Frank Sinatra sat for an extra $25. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Vance is best known for her role as Ethel Mertz, sidekick to Lucille Ball on the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, and as Vivian Bagley on The Lucy Show. So, when former dancer Vance dropped some weight suddenly, as portrayed in the film, Ball was not happy at all. February 15, 2022 | 3:27pm Enlarge Image "I Love Lucy" co-stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley despised each other. Nearby were Miss Balls and Arnazs two children, actress Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill and actor Desi Arnaz Jr. very classy.Love the old old photos. "We'd make our peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the morning and put it in my bicycle basket, and we wouldn't come home until the 4:30 whistle blew. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Vance was married four times; her first three marriages ended in divorce. Si vous souhaitez personnaliser vos choix, cliquez sur Grer les paramtres de confidentialit. She couldn't speak. Also, she felt the Mertz characters would be unsuccessful in a show without the Ricardos. In fact, Vance was not a native of the city. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Hover to zoom. She also had small parts in two movies made in Hollywood, The Secret Fury and The Blue Veil., Why Lucy And Vivian Vance Parted Ways On The Lucy Show: Vivian Was Trying To Take Control!, Former Two And A Half Men Actress Conchata Ferrell Dies At 77, This Is Why Elvis Presley Demanded That Ann-Margret Was Signed By His Manager. 02 victoria warehouse manchester. However, their offstage relationship was less than cordial, a situation exacerbated by Frawley's heavy drinking. But according to Alanna Nashwho spent time with the real Colonel in the 90sthere were times when he was just as scary as what you see onscreen. "I decided to divorce Desi. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Im sure not so many. On the show, Frawley met his on-screen wife, Vivian Vance, who was 22 years younger. When Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball were casting their new television sitcom I Love Lucy in 1951, director Marc Daniels, who had previously worked with Vance in a theater production, suggested her for the role of landlady Ethel Mertz. Vivian Vance, a longtime star of the "I Love Lucy" television series, died of cancer yesterday at her home in Belvedere, a town across the Golden Gate from San Francisco. She was paid $250,000 for her three-year contract. And so once a week, the entire family would gather at his house and they would watch I Love Lucy. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Today, were going to change that ! Born in Cherryvale, Kansas, Vance was the second of . Desi Arnaz financed a pilot starring Vance as Hooten titled Guestward, Ho!, which was shot in 1958 by Desilu; however, the show was rejected by CBS and Vance continued playing Ethel Mertz. four in a bed contestant dies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Producers decided not to meet Vance's requests. Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball were like sisters in almost every sense of the word. In 1991, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "You could hear them laughing, and towards the end there was a lot of sobbing," says Paige Peterson, who'd grown close to Vance after the actress rented her mother's home in Belvedere. She credited her comedic chops to the writers and directors who made their shows funny for their audience. She became a household name in Hollywood for her impeccable performance in the classic TV series "I Love Lucy" opposite actress Lucille Ball. Picture Information. There was no coffin in the church as cremation was planned. "Viv and I were extraordinarily compatible. Agents and studio executives misinformed Ball regarding Vance's desires, believing she wanted to be Ball's equal. Have one to sell? She was nominated an additional three times (for 1954, 1956, and 1957) before the series ended. Vivian Vance was previously married to John Dodds (1961 - 1979), Philip Ober (1941 - 1959), George Koch (1933 - 1940) and Joseph Shearer Danneck, Jr. (1928 - 1931).. About. 2023 Cond Nast. By 1951, Ball and Arnaz began looking for performers to play their two best friends, a couple named Fred and Ethel Mertz who owned the Manhattan building that Lucy and Ricky Ricardo live in. ", While Ball and Vance had weathered a few ups and downs, the two shared a tight bond. Over the next several years, she appeared in numerous commercials for Maxwell House. Both actresses starred in the 1962 "The Lucy Show" series, but Vance left in 1965 due to long-distance commutes. We loved each other. Ball went on to live another 10 years and died on April 26, 1989, from a ruptured aorta after open-heart surgery (via Biography). The I Love Lucy star hated the man who played her husband, for one. According to Variety, the two women hash out the weight subject during a memorable fight scene in the movie, with Vance accusing Ball of not wanting any competition in the trim-waistline department. The stakes are high! Try again later. "I had lost my good humor and sense of proportion," Ball wrote in her memoir (via Showbiz CheatSheet). It should be' And I gave her my interpretation. The TV star and her husband moved to Belvedere, California, to start a new healthy lifestyle. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Their antics are some of the most famous, and funniest, scenes in TV history. Vance and Frawley famously clashed on the set of I Love Lucy, and for Arianda, Simmons provided his own challenge: It really is difficult to dislike J.K. At the height of his career, he developed a misanthropic, horrible attitude which his colleagues could not stand. "She had become a mother to me and she loved 'little Lucie' [Lucie Luckinbill]," notes Peterson. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. William Clement Frawley (February 26, 1887 - March 3, 1966) was an American vaudevillian and actor best remembered for playing landlord Fred Mertz in the American television sitcom I Love Lucy, "Bub" O'Casey in the television comedy series My Three Sons, and the political advisor to the judge character in the film Miracle on 34th Street.. Frawley began his career in vaudeville in 1914 with . He was a great part of our innovation in this business.. "It was a railroad town, nothing glamorous about it. ", At the time, Peterson's mother, an interior designer, told her daughter to bring some fabric swatches over to the new tenant (without telling her who she was). Vivian Vance Reinke. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Here's a look at their remarkable friendship. | Source: Getty Images. She also starred alongside Lucille Ball in The Lucy Show from 1962 until she left the series at the end of its third season in 1965. (The breast cancer she had been diagnosed with in 1973 had metastasized into bone cancer. Despite their exceptional chemistry, comedic timing, and musical prowess together onscreen, Vance and Frawley did not get along offscreen. "It was an amazing thing to witness. Sorry! Your email address will not be published. Vance returned the favor by offering strength and support to Ball when she divorced her husband Desi Arnaz. My favorite episode of I Love Lucy is Episode #113 Ethels Hometown when the Riccardos and Mertzs visit Ethels dad in Albuquerque, NM. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Home; Features; Services; About; Contact; Login; Get Free Demo She was born Dec. 18, 1938, to James and Ruth (Davis) Hill in. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. At that time, she was known as the "unquestioned queen of television comedy.". Vivian Vance became a huge star on TV in the 1950s and beyond thanks to her role as Ethel Mertz onI Love Lucy, but one thing forgotten through the passage of time is the fact that she was a true icon of the theater world as well. In 1973, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to her discretion, she was able to achieve fame in the theater world. Try again. It's all coming from love.". It was a sludgy place with barren hills and beautiful dairy farms. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Vance, originally from Kansas, was already a Broadway star when she was asked to play Ethel Mertz. Search above to list available cemeteries. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. There was an error deleting this problem. Mid-1951, Frawley received a call from Lucille Ball who invited him to take on a role in her comedy series, I Love Lucy, together with her husband and co-star, Desi Arnaz. Many know Frawley as the television actor in the hit series I Love Lucy and My Three Sons who made people laugh endlessly with his profound humor, but behind his comedic spiels was a loathed man who drank alcohol like water. Years after starring in "I Love Lucy," Ball said she still loved her iconic TV character, Lucy Ricardo. No one will believe I'm married to that old coot," Frawley heard Vance say. But her father, Robert Andrew, Sr., left his mark in an equally, if not worse, manner. If youre ready, were going to see some rare photos of Vivian !! She received several positive notices for her performances, but the films did little else to further her screen career. The first house they [she and her fourth husband literary agent John Dodds] rented was my mother's house. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Birth. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance interview in 1975 joycollector 33.1K subscribers Subscribe 18K Share Save 3M views 10 years ago The iconic stars were reunited and interviewed on the popular talk show. They feuded at times and bickered. There was nothing here, no houses.". She was this ingenue. ", She added: "Vivian and I have always been extraordinarily compatible, so we were especially close during this time of misery. I think its impossible not to love him. She got her first break in the musical "Music in the Air," and after understudying for Ethel Merman in "Anything Goes," she starred with comic actor Ed Wynn in "Hooray for What!" Through her work with the Little Theatre, she left such an impression on local audiences that they raised money to send her to New York to pursue an acting career. "You don't look like a landlady," observed Lucy, who expected someone older, heavier and much less attractive than the former. Vivian Vance was an American actress, best known for playing the role of Ethel Mertz in the long-running American sitcom 'I Love Lucy.' This biography profiles her childhood, family, personal life, career, etc. All rights reserved. He was 64 years old and lived in Belvedere, Calif. Mr. Dodds was editor in chief of Belvedere Books, an imprint he founded in 1983 as part of the Arbor House Publishing Company. Vivian Vance (born Vivian Roberta Jones; July 26, 1909 August 17, 1979)[1] was an American actress and singer best known for playing Ethel Mertz on the sitcom I Love Lucy (19511957), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, among other accolades. How Lin-Manuel Miranda Pulled Off Tick, TickBoom!s Thrilling Cameo Nine Oscar Front-Runners You Can Watch Right Now Bruised: How Halle Berry Channeled the Fight of Her Career Nightmare Alley Is Another Strong Oscar Contender for Guillermo del Toro Is West Side Story the Best-Picture Front-Runner? Sign up for the Awards Insider newsletter for must-read industry and awards coverage. Besides being a professional actress, Vance earned admiration for her sense of calmness. Advertisement "I can't play his wife. Si vous ne souhaitez pas que nos partenaires et nousmmes utilisions des cookies et vos donnes personnelles pour ces motifs supplmentaires, cliquez sur Refuser tout. Arnaz Jr. was best known for several TV shows, including "Automan" and "Being with the Ricardos. This is a carousel with slides. On the same day a Reddit user posted a photo of the lovely Vivian Vance believed to be from the '40s, looking more glamorous than we ever saw her as landlady and Lucy's hijinks companion Ethel Mertz. They lived in Stamford, Connecticut, then moved to California in 1974, remaining together until Vance's death. Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno will play their old-soul roots music at the historic Octagon Barn Center next Thursday, March 9 (7 p.m.; $20 presale at eventbrite . [citation needed]. Vance died a few days later, on Aug. 17, at 70 years old. Ball recalled in her autobiography, "Love, Lucy," how she and Vance felt like friends almost immediately. "She said, 'Come on in, honey,' and I did. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Love and Basketball (DVD MOVIE 2000 Sanaa Lathan, Vivian Vance at the best online prices at eBay! This browser does not support getting your location. When Vance was dying from bone cancer in 1979, Ball visited her old co-star and partner-in-slapstick-crime to say her goodbyes. Vance starred in the hit sitcom with actress Lucille Ball, who played Lucy Ricardo. Desi, who found a friend in the comedian, mourned Frawleys death. When Vance was dying from bone cancer in 1979, Ball visited her old co-star and partner-in-slapstick-crime to say her goodbyes. She was so talented, and Lucy and Desi really loved her.". "Viv was, in many ways, like a sister to my mother. As played by Arianda, Vance emerges more like her real-life. The two women had. Lucille Ball pictured in a photo studio in 1955. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. The AFI Life Achievement recipient discusses her most memorable filmsand what moviegoers actually misremember. "[11], For her achievements in the field of television, Vance was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame February 14, 1991, at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard. American Actress Vivian Vance was born Vivian Roberta Jones on 26th July, 1909 in Cherryvale, Kansas and passed away on 17th Aug 1979 Belvedere, California aged 70. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Vivian Vance I found on Findagrave.com. From left: John Dodds, Vivian Vance and Paige Peterson. She changed her surname to Vance and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to find acting work, performing in the first show at the Albuquerque Little Theatre in 1930. Rather than talent, she claimed she owed her success to a combination of guts and good support players.