Net Worth Ranker
What Is Vivian Vance’s Net Worth?
At the time of her death in 1979, Vivian Vance, the celebrated American actress best known for her iconic role as Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” had a net worth of approximately $1 million. Adjusting for inflation, this sum equates to roughly $4 million in today’s dollars. It’s important to note that this net worth represents the culmination of her earnings throughout her extensive career in television, film, and stage, factoring in assets, investments, and liabilities at the time.
Vivian Vance’s Earnings and Career Highlights
Vance’s initial salary on “I Love Lucy” was significantly lower than that of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. While Ball and Arnaz reportedly earned $2,000 per episode in base salary, eventually amassing over $50,000 per episode through profit sharing, Vance and William Frawley, who played Fred Mertz, started at a reported $280 per week. It’s important to understand that these figures reflect the standard pay scales and negotiation practices of the 1950s television industry.
Her role as Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” which aired for six seasons from 1951 to 1957, cemented her place in television history. The show’s immense popularity, achieving the status of the most-watched show in the US for four seasons, undoubtedly contributed to Vance’s increasing recognition and earning power. Her Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, the first ever awarded in that category, further enhanced her professional standing.
Following “I Love Lucy,” Vance continued to collaborate with Lucille Ball on “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” “The Lucy Show,” and “Here’s Lucy.” While specific salary details for these later shows are not publicly available, it is reasonable to assume that Vance’s compensation increased significantly due to her established star power and the continued success of the Lucy franchise. Her recurring presence on these shows provided a steady stream of income throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Beyond her television work, Vance maintained an active stage career, appearing in numerous Broadway and regional theater productions. Her longest-running stage role was in the Cole Porter musical “Let’s Face It!” in 1941, where she played Nancy Collister for 547 performances. Unfortunately, specific financial details regarding her stage earnings are not publicly accessible. However, her continued presence on stage suggests that it remained a significant source of income and artistic fulfillment throughout her career.
While precise figures are difficult to ascertain due to the limitations of available historical data, it is evident that Vance’s net worth of $1 million at the time of her death was a testament to her enduring talent, hard work, and the lasting impact of her contributions to the entertainment industry.
Vivian Vance’s Early Career and Education
Vivian Vance’s journey to becoming a celebrated actress began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1930, where she performed in the inaugural show at the Albuquerque Little Theatre. She continued performing there in other plays, including “This Thing Called Love” and “The Cradle Song.” Thanks to funds from the local theater community, Vance was able to travel to New York City to study under Eva Le Gallienne. It’s important to note that she did not have access to funds from larger film or television studios at the time. This highlights the limited scope and scale of resources that supported her during the early part of her career.
Vivian Vance’s Film and Television Roles
Vance’s film debut was in the 1925 silent film “The Patent Leather Pug.” However, she didn’t have another credited film role until 1950 in the psychological thriller “The Secret Fury,” where she played Leah, a streetwise chambermaid. The following year, she played Alicia Torgersen in the historical drama “The Blue Veil.” She did not appear in another film until 1965, when she played Hester Goodbody in Blake Edwards’s epic comedy “The Great Race.” Specific compensation details for these film roles are not available, but given the nature of the roles and the timing within her career trajectory, they likely contributed modestly to her overall earnings.
In the 1960s, Vance guest-starred on “The Deputy,” “Guestward, Ho!,” “The Red Skelton Show,” and “Love, American Style.” In the following decade, she appeared in television films, including “The Front Page,” “Getting Away from it All,” and “The Great Houdini.” Her final television appearance was in an episode of the short-lived crime drama series “Sam” in 1978. As guest-starring roles, the compensation for these roles would have been lower when compared to a main cast role. However, the accumulated compensation for these roles would still have contributed to her overall earnings.
Vivian Vance’s Stage Career
Vance began appearing on Broadway as a chorus member in 1932. She eventually moved up to supporting roles, starting with the musical “Hooray for What!” in 1937. Vance had her longest-running stage role in 1941, playing Nancy Collister for 547 performances in the Cole Porter musical “Let’s Face It!” Over the rest of the decade, she appeared in such plays as “The Voice of the Turtle,” “The Cradle Will Rock,” and “Springtime for Henry.” Vance returned to the stage in 1960 in “Here Today.” She went on to act in “Over 21,” “Don’t Drink the Water,” “The Time of the Cuckoo,” and “Barefoot in the Park,” among other shows. In the 1970s, Vance appeared in productions of “The Marriage-Go-Round,” “Butterflies Are Free,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” and “Harvey.” While specific revenue for these shows is not available, her continued stage presence suggests that it contributed to her net worth.
