The Ricardos And The Mertzes: What The I Love Lucy Cast Is Doing In 2025 (And Who Is Still Alive)

The enduring legacy of the *I Love Lucy* cast continues to captivate audiences worldwide, more than 70 years after its debut. As of December 13, 2025, the show’s original stars—Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley—have all passed away, yet their groundbreaking work on the classic sitcom remains a cornerstone of the Golden Age of Television. The biggest news keeping the show’s spirit alive right now is the development of a major new series by the Arnaz family, ensuring the story of Lucy and Desi will be told for a new generation. This article provides a comprehensive look at the iconic cast, their full biographies, the only surviving major actors, and the exciting new projects that are keeping the *I Love Lucy* universe fresh and relevant in 2025.

The Core I Love Lucy Cast: A Complete Biography

The principal cast of *I Love Lucy* created four of the most beloved and recognizable characters in television history: the scatterbrained housewife Lucy Ricardo, her Cuban bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo, and their landlords/best friends, the Mertzes. Their real-life stories are as dramatic and compelling as their on-screen antics.

Lucille Ball (Lucy Ricardo)

• Full Name: Lucille Désirée Ball
• Born: August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York, U.S.
• Died: April 26, 1989 (aged 77), in Los Angeles, California.
• Career Highlights: Before television, Ball was a model and film star, earning the nickname "Queen of the B's." She became a television icon with *I Love Lucy* (1951-1957) and later starred in *The Lucy Show* and *Here's Lucy*. She was also the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions, after her divorce from Desi Arnaz.
• Post-Lucy Life: Ball continued to work in television and film, later marrying comedian Gary Morton. She was a powerhouse producer, overseeing shows like *Star Trek* and *Mission: Impossible*.

Desi Arnaz (Ricky Ricardo)

• Full Name: Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III
• Born: March 2, 1917, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
• Died: December 2, 1986 (aged 69), in Del Mar, California.
• Career Highlights: Arnaz was a Cuban-born musician and bandleader who popularized the conga line in the U.S. Alongside Lucille Ball, he co-founded Desilu Productions, pioneering the use of the three-camera setup and syndication reruns, fundamentally changing the business of television.
• Post-Lucy Life: After the end of *The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour* and his divorce from Ball, Arnaz sold his shares of Desilu, retired from acting, and focused on breeding horses and his production work.

Vivian Vance (Ethel Mertz)

• Full Name: Vivian Roberta Jones
• Born: July 26, 1909, in Cherryvale, Kansas, U.S.
• Died: August 17, 1979 (aged 70), in Belvedere, California.
• Career Highlights: Vance was a Broadway star and singer who won the first-ever Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Ethel Mertz. Her on-screen friendship with Lucy Ricardo was one of the show's greatest strengths.
• Post-Lucy Life: She continued her partnership with Lucille Ball, appearing as Vivian Bagley in *The Lucy Show* from 1962 to 1968. She and Ball remained close friends until Vance’s death.

William Frawley (Fred Mertz)

• Full Name: William Clement Frawley
• Born: February 26, 1887, in Burlington, Iowa, U.S.
• Died: March 3, 1966 (aged 79), in Los Angeles, California.
• Career Highlights: Frawley was a seasoned vaudevillian and film actor, appearing in over 100 films before taking the role of Fred Mertz. He was known for his gruff, yet lovable, demeanor.
• Post-Lucy Life: After *I Love Lucy* and *The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour*, Frawley immediately joined the cast of the sitcom *My Three Sons*, playing the role of Bub O’Casey until 1965.

The Only Major Surviving Cast Members Today

While the four main stars are gone, the role of Little Ricky, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo's son, was played by multiple child actors, three of whom are still alive today. The one most fans remember is Keith Thibodeaux, who played the character, officially credited as Richard Keith, from 1956 through *The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour* in 1960. Thibodeaux is the last surviving actor to have worked closely with the entire main cast. In recent years, he has offered a candid look into his time on the set.

Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky)

Keith Thibodeaux, born in 1950, joined the cast at age four. He was a professional drummer who was chosen for the role because he could actually play the drums, a skill that was incorporated into the character.

In a recent interview, Thibodeaux recalled his experience, noting that Lucille Ball was "very demanding" when it came to the show’s production quality, a testament to her perfectionism as a studio executive and performer. He has since left acting and is involved in ministry work, but he regularly attends fan events and celebrates the show's legacy.

Joseph and Michael Mayer (Little Ricky as a Toddler)

Before Thibodeaux, the role of Little Ricky as a toddler was played by twin brothers, Joseph A. Mayer and Michael Mayer. They appeared in 1953 and 1954. Both brothers are also still alive, making them part of the small, surviving group of actors from the original series.

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New Projects and The I Love Lucy Legacy in 2025

The enduring popularity of the *I Love Lucy* cast is continuously reinforced by new media and retrospectives. The most significant update in 2025 revolves around the upcoming 75th anniversary of the show, which will occur in October 2026.

Lucie Arnaz's New Series: The Greatest Story Never Told

The most anticipated project is a new television series being developed by Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. The working title is "Lucy and Desi: The Greatest Story Never Told," and it aims to tell the comprehensive story of the couple's lives, their tumultuous marriage, and their revolutionary business partnership that created Desilu Productions.

This series is expected to provide an intimate, family-authorized account of the entertainment power couple, offering a deeper dive than the 2021 film *Being the Ricardos*, which focused on a specific week in their lives. The timing of the series development is directly linked to celebrating the 75th anniversary of the show's 1951 premiere.

The Topical Authority of Desilu Productions

No discussion of the *I Love Lucy* cast is complete without mentioning Desilu Productions. Founded by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, it was a pioneering force that revolutionized television production. They were the first to film a show on 35mm film instead of kinescope, which allowed for high-quality reruns—a concept that created the syndication model that still exists today.

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Desi Arnaz, the Cuban-born bandleader, was the business genius behind the operation, ensuring that the couple owned the rights to the show, which ultimately made them television's first millionaires. The legacy of Desilu is an essential entity in television history, and its story is expected to be a major focus of the new series being developed by their daughter.

Ongoing Cultural Impact and Restorations

The classic sitcom continues to be broadcast globally, and new, digitally restored versions of the episodes are often released, ensuring the visual quality remains high for modern high-definition screens. The show’s universal themes of marriage, friendship, and ambition, delivered by the brilliant comedic timing of the *I Love Lucy* cast, guarantee its place in the cultural zeitgeist for decades to come.

From Lucy’s iconic grape-stomping scene to Ricky Ricardo’s passionate "Babalu" performances, the show’s influence on comedy, acting, and television production is immeasurable. The new projects and the surviving cast members' memories serve as a perpetual reminder of the magical chemistry that defined the Ricardos and the Mertzes.

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