Vance, Vivian (1909–1979)

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Vance, Vivian (1909–1979)

American actress. Born Vivian Roberta Jones in Cherryvale, Kansas, July 26, 1909; died Aug 17, 1979, in Belvedere, California; dau. of Robert A. and Mae (Ragan) Jones; grew up outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico; m. Philip Ober (actor), 1941 (div. 1959); m. John Dodds (literary agent and publishing executive), 1961.

Played Ethel Mertz on tv series "I Love Lucy" (1951–59); featured on Broadway in Hooray for What (1937) and Let's Face It (1941); films include The Secret Fury (1950), The Blue Veil (1951) and The Great Race (1965); was chair of the Connecticut Mental Health Association. Won Emmy (1953) and Genii Award (1964).

See also Frank Castelluccio and Alvin Walker. The Other Side of Ethel Mertz: The Life Story of Vivian Vance (1998); and Women in World History.

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