Exploring Mary Jane Croft: The Unsung Sidekick Of Lucille Ball's Classic TV Career

When we talk about Lucille Ball's iconic sidekicks, it's almost automatic for Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz to pop into our heads. But here's the thing: over the span of Lucy's illustrious career—from the legendary I Love Lucy to The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy—there was another actress who was right there, sharing the spotlight and getting into all sorts of comedic chaos with Lucy. Her name? Mary Jane Croft. She played Betty Ramsey, Audrey Simmons, and Mary Jane Lewis in those respective shows, each character adding a unique flair to Lucy's world.

Behind the Scenes with Mary Jane Croft

In the process of writing The Lucy Book: A Complete Guide to Her Five Decades on Television—a book that's currently being updated and expanded—author Geoffrey Mark had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Mary Jane Croft herself. They spent time reflecting on her years working alongside Lucy, diving deep into the dynamics of their professional relationship and uncovering the person behind the characters we all know and love.

More Than Just a Sidekick: The Real Mary Jane Croft

According to Geoffrey, Mary Jane Croft was far from the zany, comedic characters she portrayed on screen. In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, he shares, “She was nothing like the characters she played. Mary Jane was intelligent, thoughtful in her speech, and honestly, prettier than you’d expect. I found her to be incredibly honest—there was no nonsense in what she said. If she said something, she meant it.”

Read also:

Gladys Knights Family Journey A Closer Look At Her Three Remarkable Children

Geoffrey continues, “Mary Jane was fully aware that she had become an icon largely due to her association with Lucille Ball, but also because of her other work. However, her life wasn’t without its share of heartache. She didn’t talk openly about it, but she lost her son, Eric, in Vietnam. It wasn’t something she hid, but rather, it wasn’t something she wanted to exploit for publicity or attention. She understood that she was one of the many mothers who lost a child in that war, and she didn’t feel that her celebrity status made her any more or less deserving of attention for it.”

Scroll Down for More on Mary Jane Croft

Listen on Spotify to “Closer Classic Film and TV” as we celebrate Classic TV with behind-the-scenes coverage, celebrity interviews, news, and so much more!