“Lucy, I’m home!” is one of the manyI Love Lucyhomages evident inBeing the Ricardos, a biographical drama about one of Hollywood’s most powerful couples during a time of intense public scrutiny.Written and directed byAaron Sorkin, this film followsLucille Ball(Nicole Kidman) andDesi Arnaz(Javier Bardem)as they persevere through a particularly stressful week of work filming their sensational comedy seriesI Love Lucy. The show and everyone’s reputations are on the line when it’s revealed that Lucy is a registered Communist. Despite Lucy’s insistence that she is in no way a practicing Communist, the press runs with the revelation, which jeopardizes the future of the show and her career.
The film gives viewers a beautiful look into the writers’ room while capturing the palpable fear and anger that permeated every aspect of production. Tensions were high and allegiances were questioned as the cast of the show, which also includedVivian Vance(Nina Arianda) andWilliam Frawley(J.K. Simmons)dealt with uncertainty and Lucy’s strict temperament.
Grab some popcorn, it’s time to take a closer look at who plays who inBeing the Ricardos.
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Lucille Ball/Lucy Ricardo (Nicole Kidman)
Emmy-winning actress, comedian, producer, and model Lucille Ball was the main attraction in the long-running hit sitcomI Love Lucyin which she starred with her real-life husband Desi Arnaz. In the series, she played Lucy Ricardo, who was always getting herself into messy situations often with close friend and neighbor Ethel. Ball became known for her physical comedy and the precise comedic timing she brought to her characters. She was heavily involved in the production and writing of the show, and would always consider the audience’s intelligence and the characters’ motivations.
She was discovered byJess Oppenheimerof CBS for her performance in his hit radio programMy Favorite Husband. Oppenheimer approached her about starring in her own television series (I Love Lucy) withRichard Denning, but she demanded that her real husband Desi Arnaz played the part of her husband, as it would be both a great fit and a chance for them to see each other amidst Desi’s busy life on the road as a musician. Ball had a reputation for being strict and hard-nosed, but if it wasn’t for her dedication and commitment to her craft, the series likely wouldn’t have been as successful as it was.
Nicole Kidman is an Oscar-winning actress for her performance inThe Hoursand is known for her work inEyes Wide Shut,Moulin Rouge!,Lion, andBig Little Lies. She recently starred as Masha in the Hulu limited seriesNine Perfect Strangers, and as Grace Fraser in HBO’sThe UndoingwithHugh Grant. Next, she can be seen inRobert Eggers’The Northman,Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and the seriesRoarandExpats.
Desi Arnaz/Ricky Ricardo (Javier Bardem)
Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-American bandleader-turned-actor and comedian who starred as Ricky Ricardo alongside his real-life wife Ball in their hit sitcomI Love Lucy. He played a musician in the series who was regularly perplexed by his wife’s elaborate schemes and efforts to become a Hollywood star. In addition to his comedic talents, Arnaz had a busy life as a musician, which forced him to constantly be on the road and away from his wife when they weren’t filming. Despite their imperfect marriage filled with high-stakes pressures and infidelity, Arnaz and Ball were a devoted couple who revolutionized television with their production company Desilu Productions while also being the unofficial inventors of syndicated television.
Javier Bardem won an Oscar for his performance inNo Country for Old Menand is known for his work inMother!,Before Night Falls,Skyfall,Biutiful, and the recently critically praised epicDune. He will play King Triton in the live-actionThe Little Mermaidand is also set to star inLyle, Lyle, Crocodilebased on the children’s book of the same name,Dune: Part Two, and as Frankenstein’s Monster inBride of Frankenstein.
William Frawley/Fred Mertz (J.K. Simmons)
The Emmy nominated William Frawley is best known for playing Fred Mertz, friend and landlord of the Ricardos and husband of Ethel inI Love Lucy, as well as Bub inMy Three Sons. He got his start performing in vaudeville with his wifeEdna Louise Bloedtas the comedy duo “Frawley and Louise'' for over a decade. He was also the star of multiple Broadway productions includingBye, Bye, Bonnie,She’s My Baby, andTell Her the Truthas well as silent films for Paramount Studios.Being the Ricardosdepicts his stoic and jaded demeanor behind the scenes of the series as well as his dependence on alcohol.
Actor J.K. Simmons is one of the busiest actors working today. He won an Oscar for his haunting performance as Fletcher inWhiplashin 2014 and has impressed us with his range in projects includingJuno,Oz,Spider-Man,Palm Springs, andBoJack Horseman. He can currently be seen reprising his role of J. Jonah Jameson inSpider-Man: No Way Homeand heard as Nolan Grayson in the animated seriesInvincible. Some of his upcoming projects includeLittle Brother,Batgirl, the fantasy seriesLightyears, and comedy thrillerMy Only SunshinewithJohn Cusack.
Vivian Vance/Ethel Mertz (Nina Arianda)
Actress Vivian Vance started her career by pursuing stage work in the early 1930s, landing a role inOscar Hammerstein’sMusic in the Airin 1932. Following that show, she understudied forEthel MermaninAnything Goes, and got her first big break starring alongsideEd WynninHooray for What!when she replacedKay Thompson. As with her other co-stars, she’s most known for her work inI Love Lucy, where she played Ethel, the wife of the grumpy Fred Mertz and Lucy’s best friend. She won an Emmy for her performance in the sensational sitcom and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2012. Despite some tension and disagreements between Vance and Ball off-screen, the tworemained very closeafter the series ended. Vance went on to star in both of Ball’s following seriesThe Lucy ShowandHere’s Lucy. Frawley and Vance, however, never got along too well.
Nina Arianda, who plays Vivian Vance, is known for her recurring roles onHannibal,Billions, andGoliath. She’s also appeared inFlorence Foster Jenkins,Stan & Ollie, andRichard Jewell. She can next be heard as the voice of Fancy in the animated comedyThe Adventures of Drunky, alongsideSteve Coogan,Jeffrey Tambor,John Leguizamo, andSam Rockwell.
Jess Oppenheimer (Tony Hale)
Radio powerhouseJess Oppenheimerwas first introduced to the medium while attending Stanford University. He spent as much time as he could in the San Francisco radio station KFRC, and started writing radio comedy scripts and routines, some of which he would perform himself. He wrote for Hollywood legendsFred Astaire,Jack Benny,James Cagney,Joan Crawford, andJudy Garland, among others. In 1948, CBS approached Oppenheimer to write for the radio showMy Favorite Husband, which starred Ball. Fortunately, he accepted the position, and shaped Ball’s character to fit her comedic strengths. Following the program’s newfound success, CBS teamed up again with Oppenheimer to develop the television seriesI Love Lucy, of which he served as creator, producer, head writer, and overall mastermind.
ActorTony Halewon two Emmys for playing Gary Walsh on the hit HBO comedy seriesVeep, where he played Vice President Selina Meyer’s (played byJulia Louis-Dreyfus) right-hand man. He also played loveable oddball Buster Bluth inArrested Development, Archibald in the animated seriesArchibald’s Next Big Thing, and Forky inToy Story 4. He currently stars in the Disney+ seriesThe Mysterious Benedict SocietywithKristen Schaaland as the villain Tieran inClifford the Big Red Dog. He’s set to star inBlind PsychosisandHocus Pocus 2withSarah Jessica Parker,Hannah Waddingham,Bette Midler, andKathy Najimy.
Madelyn Pugh (Alia Shawkat)
Comedy writerMadelyn Pughremains one of the most influential people in television. She helped write and shape the character of Lucy Ricardo and was responsible for many of the sight gags and messy situations that Lucy got involved in. Pugh would even test the proposed stunts out herself with Ball’s talents in mind. It wasn’t commonplace for a woman to be in a writer’s room or any area of production, making Pugh’s accomplishments all the more impressive. She metBob Carroll Jr.writing forMy Favorite Husband, and the two worked as writing partners for 50 years. In the film, she’s portrayed as a confident and resilient writer who has a close working relationship with Lucille.
ActressAlia Shawkatis known for playing Maeby Fünke in the comedy seriesArrested Developmentas well as Lila inTransparent. She currently stars in HBO Max’s dark comedy seriesSearch Party, with its fifth and final season set to premiere on January 7.
Bob Carroll Jr. (Jake Lacy)
Along with Pugh,Bob Carroll Jr.was a writer during the early days of television and wrote every episode ofI Love Lucy. It was he, Pugh, and Oppenheimer who wrote the first four seasons of the show, withBob SchillerandBob Weiskopffilling out the writers' room for the rest of the series. In his later years, he wrote a book with Pugh titledLaughing With Lucy: My Life With America’s Leading Lady of Comedy. The eager and headstrong writer is played by actorJake Lacy, who’s known for his work inThe Office,How To Be Single,Fosse/Verdon, and most recentlyThe White Lotus.
Howard Wenke (Clark Gregg)
ActorClark Greggplays the bowtie-wearing CBS executiveHoward Wenke, who, like everyone else who works with Lucille and Desi, is terrified of what the fate ofI Love Lucywill be when Lucille is branded a Communist. Riddled with uncertainty and trepidation going into the upcoming week of production, he tells a nervous Lucille, “If you tape the show Friday night, it means you still have a show.” Gregg’s known for his role of Agent Phil Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well asThe West WingandThe New Adventures of Old Christinewith Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Being the Ricardosis available in theaters and to stream on Amazon Prime.
