About
"Lucy couldn't handle it anymore. And they were divorced and that was the end of the show. I was out of a job at the age of nine years old."
In his two-hour interview, actor Keith Thibodeaux discusses his early childhood and how his interest and talent in drumming led him to become a member of the Horace Heidt Orchestra. He discusses touring around the country with the orchestra and appearing on The Horace Heidt Show until his family moved to California in the early 1950s. He speaks about being cast in 1956 as "Little Ricky" on the hit series I Love Lucy. He describes his role, his co-stars, and the tension on the set as the marriage of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball disintegrated. He then talks about his work on The Andy Griffith Show, where he played Opie's friend, Johnny Paul Jason. He discusses the travails of being a child star and his later descent into drugs, which he overcame as an adult. He also speaks about his role as executive director of Ballet Magnificat, a Christian ballet touring company. Karen Herman conducted the interview on November 5, 2005 in St. Charles, IL.
Highlights
Keith Thibodeaux on his first professional job, as a child drummer on The Horace Heidt Show
Keith Thibodeaux on auditioning for I Love Lucy; on his role of "Little Ricky"; on his professional name "Richard Keith"; on learning how to act; on working with Lucille Ball
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on playing "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy; on some of the key guests, directors, and episodes
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on the last episode of I Love Lucy; on the legacy of the series; on the fans of the show; on seeing Lucille Ball for the last time
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on being on the "Lucy and Superman" episode of I Love Lucy (airdate: January 14,1957)
Full Interview
Chapter 1
Introduction
On his early years and interest in drumming
On his first professional job, as a drummer on The Horace Heidt Show
On auditioning for I Love Lucy; on his role of "Little Ricky"; on his professional name "Richard Keith"; on learning how to act; on working with Lucille Ball
Chapter 2
On his family life; on undergoing hypnosis for stammering; on being a child star
On working with Desi Arnaz, William Frawley, Vivian Vance; on the production details and series' directors; on some of the key I Love Lucy episodes he appeared in; on the end of the series
Chapter 3
On the last episode of I Love Lucy; on the legacy of the series and its characters; on the fans of the show; on seeing Lucille Ball for the last time
On his work after I Love Lucy; on playing Opie's friend Johnny Paul Jason on The Andy Griffith Show
On moving back to Louisiana at 15; on trying to distance himself from Hollywood and becoming part of the 1960s counterculture
Chapter 4
On leaving acting and playing in his band David and the Giants; on becoming a Christian; on his work with Ballet Magnifica; on his advice to young actors; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Andy Griffith Show, The
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on playing Opie's friend Johnny Paul Jason on The Andy Griffith Show
Horace Heidt Show, The
Keith Thibodeaux on his first professional job, as a child drummer on The Horace Heidt Show
I Love Lucy
Keith Thibodeaux on auditioning for I Love Lucy; on his role of "Little Ricky"; on his professional name "Richard Keith"; on learning how to act; on working with Lucille Ball
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on playing "Little Ricky" on I Love Lucy; on some of the key guests, directors, and episodes
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on being on the "Lucy and Superman" episode of I Love Lucy (airdate: January 14,1957)
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on being on the "Lucy Meets the Moustache" (the last) episode of I Love Lucy
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on the last episode of I Love Lucy; on the legacy of the series; on the fans of the show; on seeing Lucille Ball for the last time
Topics
We Cried
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on being on the "Lucy Meets the Moustache" (the last) episode of I Love Lucy
People
Desi Arnaz
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on Desi Arnaz
Lucille Ball
Keith Thibodeaux on auditioning for I Love Lucy; on his role of "Little Ricky"; on his professional name "Richard Keith"; on learning how to act; on working with Lucille Ball
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on the last episode of I Love Lucy; on the legacy of the series; on the fans of the show; on seeing Lucille Ball for the last time
William Frawley
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on working with William Frawley and Vivian Vance on I Love Lucy
Horace Heidt
Keith Thibodeaux on his first professional job, as a child drummer on The Horace Heidt Show
George Reeves
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on being on the "Lucy and Superman" episode of I Love Lucy (airdate: January 14,1957)
Vivian Vance
Actor Keith Thibodeaux on working with William Frawley and Vivian Vance on I Love Lucy