Life After Lucy: The True Story of "I Love Lucy'S" Little Ricky (Paperback)

by Keith Thibodeaux (Author), Audrey T. Hingley (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Grown-up child stars turned authors are dying to tell us about their lives after they left TV, yet our interest in them usually stops the minute the screen fades to black. Fortunately, Thibodeaux devotes nearly half his book to his years as Little Ricky on I Love Lucy. Keith was a three-year-old drumming prodigy in the bayous of Louisiana when his father took the family to California, hoping to ride his young son's drumsticks to a career in show business. That's exactly what happened as father and son became fixtures on the Lucy show, one as a gofer, one as an actor. Then it all went bad: divorces (Keith's parents as well as Lucy and Desi); the show's demise; Keith's addiction to drugs. Yet there's a happy ending in the form of marriage, children, and God. Thibodeaux describes his religious conversion with deep feeling, but many readers may grow weary, having heard the same story in other whatever-happened-to sagas. Still, if you ever watched Lucy, it's hard to keep yourself from picking up this book. Ilene Cooper

Review
Thibodeaux won the role of Ricky Ricardo on the 'I Love Lucy' show because of his unique drumming abilities, evident at an early age. Thus he began a lifelong association with Lucille Ball and the other actors, growing up in an aura of fame which continued after his associations with the Lucy sitcom. His autobiography provides strong accounts of all the actors involved in the show. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 239 pages
• Publisher: New Leaf Press (AR) (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089221256X
• ISBN-13: 978-0892212569
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #256,516 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From child star to one of God's shining star, June 12, 1998

By A Customer

This book is eloquent in revealing the "glitzy" life of a child star's life (Keith Thobodeaux) that turns from comically entertaining to dramatically disheartening and then to peacefully satisfied. A truly enjoyable book. The writer (Audrey Hingley) did a great job of letting the reader picture every detail of Mr. Thibodeaux's life from his years with Lucy & Desi to his life now as a Christian.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Book gives unique perspective: Lucy through a child's eyes., June 3, 1998

By A Customer

Of all the "Lucy" books, this one is unique since it's from the perspective of the only child involved in the show: Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky). Perhaps there's not a blockbuster story here, but Audrey Hingley has done a good job of making it interesting. Especially enjoyable are the stories of the relationship between Thibodeaux and the Arnaz children and the family's life at home. This book shows Lucy as a Mom and Desi as a Dad through the eyes of a child not their own - something not seen in other Lucy books. It's a complete puzzle to me why so little attention is given to this book by those "hawking" Lucy/Desi memorabilia. Most other books about them seem quite repetitive - this is the only one I've seen that has a different point of view. Some parts of the picture are, perhaps, a little troubling, but other parts are very warm and complimentary. Even if one is not at all interested in the last part of the book (Keith's personal story), any true Lucy and/or Desi fan should find his memories of them interesting and enlightening. I personally don't usually choose to read biographies/autobiographies of celebrities -- as a matter of fact, I read this one as a favor to a friend - but I did enjoy it because it's such an honest portrayal from such a different point of view, coming from the memories of one so young. And since Thibodeaux was actually taken into the Arnaz home and had such a close relationship with the family beyond the studio work on the show, it contains invaluable information for the Lucy/Desi fan.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting ,Sometimes Bland Memoir, January 10, 2008

By	an honest reviewer - See all my reviews

Keith Thibodeaux's got very early talent with drums, which launches his career.
Lucille Ball is skeptical after hearing that the child had not studied acting. When she and Desi watch him play the drums, they are quick to get the boy onto their show.
Unknowingly his father signs a contract whereas Desilu virtually own the youngster.
Happily Desi Arnaz is fond and encouraging to Keith.
Keith is a musician, not an actor, he feels and at such a young age finds himself sometimes with stagefright.
He prefers his own family,but The Arnaz like his company for their own two children.
Eventually, he goes on to The Andy Griffith Show, is disappointed by his father.
Finally,in short, he finds all that matters in his family and religion.
I remembered how exceptionally well 'Little Ricky" played the drums on the one hour long 'I Love Lucy with Maurice Chavalier and Desi Arnaz singing 'Valentine" and admired the little boy's mastery on the drums.
Four stars because the book at times, seemed to drag on a subject nearly the point of seeming repetitive.
For the average reader, it may be a little too much.