| Enrique Alberto Ricardo IV | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" |
| Last appearance | "Lucy Meets the Mustache" |
| Portrayed by | James John Ganzer, Richard Lee Simmons, Ronald Lee Simmons, Michael Mayer, Joseph Mayer, Keith Thibodeaux |
| In-universe information | |
| Nickname | Little Ricky |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Student, son, drummer |
| Family | Lucy Ricardo (mother), Ricky Ricardo (father), Mrs. MacGillicuddy (Grandmother) |
| Nationality | Mixed Heritage Cuban and American of Scottish descent |
Enrique Alberto Ricardo IV, better known as Little Ricky, is a fictional character from the American television series I Love Lucy (1951–57, with Ricky Jr. becoming a part of the show as of his birth in 1953) and The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1957–60). Little Ricky is the son of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. Little Ricky lives with his parents in a New York brownstone apartment building, which is owned and run by his godparents. During the series' final season, the family moves to a suburban house in Westport, Connecticut.[1]
Little Ricky was played by a number of actors, including James John Ganzer, twins Richard and Ronald Lee Simmons, twins Michael and Joseph Mayer[2] and, most notably, Keith Thibodeaux, billed as Little Ricky. Although the I Love Lucy announcer and the opening credits of The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour gave his stage name as "Little Ricky", in his post-Lucy acting career, particularly his four-year irregular stint on The Andy Griffith Show, he was billed as Richard Keith.[3]