Suzan Ball

Suzan Ball (born Susan Ball; February 3, 1934 – August 5, 1955) was an American actress. She was a second cousin of fellow actress Lucille Ball. She was married to actor Richard Long. She had her leg amputated in January 1954, as a result of both a tumor and an accident she had. She died at age 21 of cancer in 1955, after a two-year battle. Some sources erroneously cited 1933 as her year of birth.

Early life Born in Buffalo, New York,

Personal life Ball, aged 20, married actor Richard Long on April 11, 1954, at El Montecito Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara. Among the 100-plus guests in attendance were fellow UI luminaries Jeff Chandler, Barbara Rush, Rock Hudson, Lori Nelson, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, David Janssen, Julie Adams, Hugh O'Brian, Mala Powers, and Mary Castle.

Illness and death In 1953, doctors diagnosed Ball with cancer when she developed tumors on her right leg, forcing her to use crutches. Because of the cancer, doctors amputated her right leg on January 12, 1954. On August 5, 1955, five days after having been released from the City of Hope National Medical Center following more than three weeks of unsuccessful treatment, Ball, at age 21, died at 4:35 P.M. at her home in Beverly Hills.

Legacy Dick Powell and June Allyson co-chaired the establishment of the Suzan Ball Memorial Fund in March 1956. Ten other entertainers and two states' governors co-sponsored the effort to raise $1 million via a national fund drive for "increasing facilities for a cancer center" under the auspices of City of Hope Medical Center.

Filmography