Lucille Ball, 77, 1911-1989

Although it was uncommon for women to be successful on comedy shows at the peak of her career, Lucie Ball still won 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, paving the way for future stars to make their mark. She was able to make a joke out of any situation, no matter how grim, and apparently, she got her sense of humor from her mother.

Ball’s last photo was taken at the 1989 Academy Awards. Later, she would complain of chest pain at her home in Beverley Hills. Despite surgery, she would die days later, on April 26 of the same year. The I Love Lucy star continues to be revered posthumously.