Keith Thibodeaux, also known as Richard Keith, is an American actor and musician, best known for playing Little Ricky on the television sitcoms I Love Lucy and The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour. He was billed as Richard Keith because his Cajun French last name, "Thibodeaux", was considered too difficult to pronounce by producer Desi Arnaz. He is the last living regular appearing cast member from I Love Lucy.
Thibodeaux in 1960, age 10
Desi Arnaz, Richard Keith, Maurice Chevalier from The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour in 1958
With Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on I Love Lucy in 1956
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons. The series starred Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, along with Vivian Vance and William Frawley, and follows the life of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), a young, middle-class housewife living in New York City, who often concocts plans with her best friends and landlords, Ethel and Fred Mertz, to appear alongside her bandleader husband, Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz), in his nightclub. Lucy is depicted trying numerous schemes to mingle with and be a part of show business. After the series ended in 1957, a modified version of the show continued for three more seasons, with 13 one-hour specials, which ran from 1957 to 1960. It was first known as The Lucille Ball–Desi Arnaz Show, and later, in reruns, as The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour.
Lucy and Ricky climb in the Alps during their 1956 trip to Europe.
Cast members from left, standing: William Frawley, Desi Arnaz, seated: Vivian Vance and Lucille Ball
Mike (left) and Joe Mayer played Little Ricky as a toddler.
Lucille Ball with John Wayne on the set of the 1955 episode "Lucy and John Wayne"