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Here's What Happened to Little Ricky from 'I Love Lucy' after the Beloved TV Show Ended

Joe Akins
May 29, 2019
07:43 P.M.

Sixty years after the classic evergreen TV series, "I Love Lucy," ended, child star Keith Thibodeaux is a proud husband, father, grandfather, and co-director of a Christian dance school.

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After appearing in more than 35 episodes of the show, little Ricky won the hearts of many when he acted the role of Lucy Ball’s and Desi Arnaz's son in the series "I Love Lucy."

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Now 68 years old, Keith Thibodeaux has been married to his wife, Kathy, a former dancer, for 42 years and they own a dance school, Ballet Magnificat! They have a daughter together, Tara, who recently had a baby boy.

Recalling the events after the end of the TV show, Thibodeaux reveals that things weren't too rosy for him and he had trouble enjoying his childhood due to fame. He got depressed, did drugs, and became suicidal at a point until he found Christ in 1974, and was able to cope with adulthood.

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However, talking about his hay days as a child actor, he remembers his love for playing drums which earned him the role of "little Ricky" and the day his father brought him for the auditions.

The love and benevolence of the couple, Ball and Arnaz, towards him during their time together can't be forgotten by Thibodeaux in a rush. He even made friends with their children and was accorded the same treatment as they were by the parents.

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Lucy Ball, who died in 1989, and Desi Arnaz, 1986, remained an integral part of Thibodeaux's life during the filming of the show. The painful divorce of the couple brought the show to an abrupt stop and left him unemployed at the age of 9.

The "I Love Lucy" show was ranked the third in “TV guide’s 50 greatest shows of all time” in 2013. Although "little Ricky" barely watches it, he attests to the fact that the show is evergreen, one of its kind which has stood the test of time and he is glad to be connected to it.

During his period on the show, Thibodeaux was opportune to meet high profile celebrities like comedian Jimmy Durante, actor Maurice Chevalier, and George Reeves who co-acted with him on one of his favorite episodes.

Just like old wine, Keith Thibodeaux is evergreen and never stale. Old age looks good on him!

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