Unfortunately, her family was about to experience something much worse. Her expulsion from acting school was only a temporary setback. Lucy returned to Jamestown, but wasn’t beaten down. The school was so sure she would never be an actress, they said it was a complete waste of money for her to continue her studies. That blonde turned out to be Bette Davis, so at least they got one thing right.

The teachers all praised a big-eyed blonde in class, yet never cared for her. In her autobiography, Lucy talks about her complete failure at acting school. Lucy’s teenage love couldn’t beat the chance to get into show business, so she left town and left her older boyfriend behind forever. DeDe did not approve and as the relationship got more serious, she decided to stop it.ĭeDe offered to pay for acting school in New York City, partially in hopes that the distance would cool the new relationship.

When she was 14, she started dating a 21-year-old ne’er do well. She wanted to pursue acting, but was temporarily side a boy. Lucy started performing at local shows at an earlier age and clearly loved the stage. DeDe Encouraged Lucy to Start Acting.To Get Away From a Boy Thankfully, DeDe left her second husband, came back to Lucy and her brother, and they formed a home in Jamestown with her beloved grandfather, Fred Hunt.

It was an unhappy home and Lucy just wanted her family back. Lucy was forced to live with her new step grandparents, a puritanical couple that didn’t care for Lucy’s talents. Though she claimed at the time it was to help her stepdad find work in other cities, DeDe later said that the new man didn’t like kids much and wanted his wife to himself. DeDe, Lucy’s mom, was only 23 and wasn’t sure how she’d survive.Īfter living with her grandfather for a few years, DeDe got remarried and left. Her father died of typhoid fever when she was only three, leaving her mother alone without a job and five months pregnant. Want the ultimate Lucy tribute? Check out our Love, Lucy Collection! A Difficult Childhoodīorn in Jamestown, NY, Lucy suffered tragedy at a young age. From childhood tragedies to business milestones, here are some fascinating facts about Lucille Ball. But behind the red curly hair and bright blue eyes, there’s a lot people don’t know about this iconic woman. After almost 70 years of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball is still one of the most recognizable faces in entertainment.

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