Lucille Ball Sent Gift to Carol Burnett Just before Her Passing - She Was like a 'Big Sister' to Carol for Decades

• Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball were great friends during their careers.
• The pair would often order birthday gifts for each other.
• Sadly, Ball passed away, and Burnett often thought about her friend.

As two of the most famous faces in the history of television, many would expect Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball to be professional rivals. Instead, the two were inseparable for years. Throughout their careers, the two supported each other in everything they did and always had a good word to say about their friend.

Despite their age gap of 22 years, Ball and Burnett got along famously. Ball recalled how she first met her good friend, saying she was already a reasonably well-known actress when Burnett starred in a play titled "Once Upon a Mattress." She was so impressed by Burnett she had to go backstage to meet her.

When Ball first introduced herself to Burnett, the younger actress was highly nervous. Nonetheless, Ball insisted that Burnett call her sometime, and Burnett took her up on her offer. The two started to talk amicably, becoming close friends almost right away. Ball noted that they shared similar personality traits and backgrounds.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1933, Burnett's parents both had drinking problems, which often led to her staying with her grandmother.

Both Ball and Burnett were raised by their single, willful women, and they understood the pain of losing their parents. They bonded over their shared loss and became the closest friends over time. But Burnett didn't stay in Ball's shadow for long. To her friend's delight, Burnett gained a college scholarship and studied drama.

The future looked bright for Burnett, and Ball was right beside her cheering her on. Likewise, Burnett had nothing but good things to say about her friend, praising her talent endlessly and lauding her tenacity to make a success of herself. In the end, they both became television legends.

These days, both Ball and Burnett are remembered for their talent, and each of their shows has stuck in the minds of countless fans. While many people laud Ball for her unforgettable TV show, myriad people praise Burnett for the hours of entertainment her variety show offered them.

When asked who their favorite was between Ball, Burnett and their contemporary Doris Day, many social media users struggled to pick only one. One Facebook user wrote, "I liked them all but if I had to choose one, I would have to say Lucy!"

Many users echoed this sentiment, writing about how much they adored each actress. One person commented, "Lucy but all were good." Despite the fact that their shows aired years ago, Ball and Burnett remain icons of television, and they are still praised for their talent to this day.

A Blossoming Career

One of the people who always applauded Burnett the loudest was Ball. The older actress saw Burnett's talent the very first night they met, and she kept encouraging her friend to do her best throughout the years. Much like herself, Burnett came from a home where her parents were often absent.

Burnett recalled how they always sent each other flowers on their birthdays, but in 1989, Burnett received news that Ball had tragically passed away on her birthday.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1933, Burnett's parents both had drinking problems, which often led to her staying with her grandmother. Burnett's mom was a publicity writer for movie studios, while her dad worked as a movie theatre manager. After their divorce, Burnett lived with her grandma permanently.

Burnett spent her entire life in and around Hollywood. Even her first job related to the entertainment industry. She started working as an usherette in a movie theatre on Hollywood Boulevard after she and her grandmother moved into a boarding house there. She was still completing her basic education at Hollywood Hills High School.

After graduating high school, Burnett studied theatre and English at the University of California, where she discovered her fondness for comedy. A real opportunity to move to New York and make a name for herself came in the form of a man at a party who offered her a loan. His first condition was to remain anonymous.

Second, the man wanted her to promise that if she ever made it big, she would help others achieve their dreams. Of course, Burnett agreed, and with enough money to start a new life, she packed her things. The young Burnett said goodbye to her grandmother, mom, and dad and set off for the Big Apple.

Her First year in New York was brutal. Burnett struggled to land any parts, but luckily she was chosen for a small role in a television show. Her first role led to a more substantial part in a sitcom in 1956. By 1959, Burnett had made a lucrative living from acting, and she landed her role as Princess Winnifred in "Once Upon a Mattress."

One night, while performing, Burnett spotted a head with burning red hair in the front row of the audience. She instantly recognized the patron as none other than the famous Lucille Ball, and she panicked. Nonetheless, she did her best, and Ball checked in on her after the show. Burnett recalled:

"I thought, 'Oh my God, oh my God, it's Lucille Ball. I don't know if I can get through this evening.' She was so supportive. She called me 'Kid.' She said, 'Kid, if you ever want anything or need me, give me a call,' which was so sweet."

And Burnett thought of Ball as her "big sister." For the next 30 years, Ball and Burnett were there for each other no matter what. Burnett's father passed away after she landed in New York, and Ball's father had also passed away early in life, so they bonded over the loss of their parents. Ball saw how great Burnett could be and offered her a show, but Burnett refused.

Burnett wanted her own variety show, and she worked hard to get it. Eventually, she had a show bearing her own name, "The Carol Burnett Show." Ball was delighted to see her friend do what she was good at and encouraged her every step of the way. Burnett reciprocated the friendship in numerous ways.

The two not only cultivated an excellent professional relationship but also supported each other in their personal affairs. They helped each other during their marriages, divorce, and childbirth. Ball even threw Burnett's baby shower when she was pregnant with her second child. But sadly, Burnett was left without her friend after Ball passed away.

Burnett recalled how they always sent each other flowers on their birthdays, but in 1989, Burnett received news that Ball had tragically passed away on her birthday. Later that same day, Ball's last bunch of flowers arrived. Burnett commented, holding back tears, "There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her because I miss her."

Burnett Is Still Youthful and Working

Having lived past the death of one of her best friends, Burnett looks back at her life with fondness. At the age of 90, Burnett is still active, and she looks youthful and filled with vigor. In a recent interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," the actress reminisced about growing up in Hollywood and her days spent trying to make a name for herself.

She confessed that she was something of a "late bloomer" in terms of when she started to perform, noting that many other entertainers began honing their skills when they were only toddlers.

Throughout the interview, Burnett's eyes shined with enthusiasm as she recalled her days living with four roommates and finding her feet as an actress. Many people reacted to her animated gestures, saying she still looked excellent for her age. Burnett was sharp as a tack throughout the interview, cracking jokes and laughing heartily.

Although she's arguably one of the most influential women in television history, Burnett refuses to claim that she paved the way for many other women in comedy today. She admitted that Ball had been an excellent mentor but insisted that she would have found her way even if she didn't have her friend. She noted:

"All these wonderful comediennes would be doing what they're doing today, so I'm not taking credit for any of that. I loved Lucille Ball. She was a mentor, but I think had I never met her ... I think I would have done what I wanted to do. So I feel that way about the women who are at the forefront today."

In another interview with People, Burnett reflected on her career, recalling the first time she fell in love with comedy. The comedian recalled she was studying theatre at UCLA at the time, and all her classmates were preparing serious, dramatic pieces to perform. Burnett decided to go another way entirely.

Instead of doing something heavy, she went for something funny and light. Her piece stood out, and all her classmates were laughing by the end of it. That performance was her first taste of making people laugh, and Burnett loved it. At the age of 18, Burnett discovered her passion for comedy.

She confessed that she was something of a "late bloomer" in terms of when she started to perform, noting that many other entertainers began honing their skills when they were only toddlers. In contrast, Burnett only found her passion for comedy and acting in college, yet she still made a success of herself.

Burnett also noted how much of an influence stage acting had on her personal style. She looked up to women such as Ethel Merman and Mary Martin and found her own start on the stage. When she finally got her TV show, her love for musicals and Broadway spilled into almost everything they did.

The iconic comedian described "The Carol Burnett" show as a "Broadway mini musical comedy review every week." They had a sizeable orchestra always playing, up to 65 costumes per week, 12 dancers, five permanent cast members, two guest stars every week, and enormous productions on every episode.

Much like Broadway projects, Burnett also noted that her show relied heavily on improvisation. She noted that things often went wrong, and they couldn't always cut and redo scenes, so they had to maintain straight faces and keep the show going to the best of their abilities.

Although she had a love for Broadway, a young Burnett soon discovered the joys of doing television when she was cast as a permanent member of "The Gary Moore Show." Although Broadway had been her home for her first while in the industry, she noticed that TV offered her the chance to be a new character each week.

Burnett's time on "The Gary Moore Show" convinced her that she would do a comedy variety show of her own. When she was first offered a show, her producers wanted her to do a sitcom, since no woman had done a variety show before. However, Burnett stuck to her guns and insisted that she wanted to do a variety show.

Although her producers initially doubted whether her show would be popular, they soon saw how many people "The Carol Burnett Show" drew, and they deferred to Burnett's judgment. Burnett's show was a roaring success, running for a total of 11 years, and in the end, she decided to call it quits.

The comedian commented that her decision to stop doing the show after longer than a decade came even though the studio wanted her back for a 12th year. The show ended while they were still popular. Burnett noted that she didn't want to outstay her welcome at the studio and wanted to leave while the show was still fresh in the public's mind.

Burnett left her mark on television history and on the lives of her fans. After she finished with "The Carol Burnett Show," she starred in a number of other projects, often assuming small roles. Although she's been around for nine decades, she's still going strong, having started a new show on Netflix recently.