'Lucille Ball: Life, Death & Money': How did 'I Love Lucy' star die? Estate war sparked controversy after her death
Lucille Ball was an icon and remains to this day one of the foremost feminist influencers in the entertainment industry. Not only did she create the much-loved 'I Love Lucy', she went on to become the first woman to run a major television studio, Desilu Productions, which produced many popular television series, including 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Star Trek'. It is no doubt then, that the iconic comedian inspired many young girls and women who went on to become stars in their own right in Hollywood.
However, her name is not without controversy – which mostly arose after her death in 1989. After she died, her estate of $40 million was split among her two children and her second husband, Gary Morton. Morton married pro golfer Susie McAllister after Ball's death and when he passed away, leaving Ball's personal items to McAllister, the latter put the items up for auction. This brought about a full-out estate war between McAllister and Ball's children as Ball's heirs fought to get back her precious items including jewelry, lifetime achievement awards and love letters. The ensuing fight is the subject of Reelz's latest special, 'Lucille Ball: Life, Death & Money'.
Who was Lucille Ball?
Ball started her career as a model, but she is best known for playing the lead role in the sitcom, 'I Love Lucy' which also starred her first husband, Cuban-American Desi Arnaz -- the first time a person of color was cast as the male lead for an American show. Ball continued to push boundaries throughout her career and was the first woman to run a major television studio.
In her lifetime, she was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning four times. She also received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986, the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1989, and more.
How did Lucille Ball die?
Before Lucille Ball died at the age of 77 years old, she was diagnosed with a dissecting aortic aneurysm when she complained of chest pain at her home in Beverly Hills on April 18, 1989. She then underwent surgery to repair her aorta and a successful seven-hour aortic valve replacement.
However, a week later, Ball woke up with severe back pain and lost consciousness. She died at 5:47 AM local time, and doctors said that she had died from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm that was not directly related to her surgery.
What is dissecting aortic aneurysm?
According to Mayo Clinic, aortic dissection is a serious condition in which the inner layer of the aorta -- the large blood vessel from the heart -- tears. Blood then flows out of the tear and causes the inner and middle layers of the aorta to separate. The condition is often fatal if the blood-filled channel ruptures outside the aortic wall.
Though relatively uncommon, the condition mostly occurs in men in their 60s and 70s and symptoms often mimic those other diseases, resulting in delays in diagnosis. The exact cause of aortic dissection is unknown, though experts believe that high blood pressure could be a contributing factor as it strains the walls of the arteries.
'Lucille Ball: Life, Death & Money' premieres on Reelz on Monday, January 25 at 10 PM ET.
