I LOVE LUCY Star Turned To God After Experiencing Hardship: ‘It’s All About Jesus’
By Movieguide® Contributor
I LOVE LUCY was one of the biggest sitcoms in history, making stars of its actors. However, Keith Thibodeaux, who played “Little Ricky,” once blamed the show for destroying his life. However, it ultimately led him to Jesus.
“I was about four and a half years old at the time and my dad said, ‘Keith this is really important. This is a really big show in Hollywood,’” Thibodeaux said. “I knew from my father’s explanation of it that it was something big.”
Even from his first introduction to Lucille Ball, Thibodeaux was a hit.
“Lucy comes up and says, ‘Well, he’s cute. But what does he do?’ And my dad says, ‘Well, he’s a drummer.’ And she says, ‘Oh, come on.’ So they happened to have a set of drums on the set. So she said, ‘There’s some drums. Let’s see what he does,’” the former child star explained. “And Sheldon Leonard, who was the producer at DesiLu Studios, came over and was watching me play. And finally, Desi came over and started jamming with me on the set, and he stood up and laughed and said, ‘I think we found Little Ricky.'”
Thibodeaux played “Little Ricky” for the next four years, and even scored a guest role on THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. However, the actor had a lot of questions about his success.
“I began to ask my dad, ‘Why did God pick me to do this? He could’ve picked any little boy to play the part of Little Ricky,’” he remembered. “My dad said, ‘Well, God’s got a purpose for you, Keith.’ And that always stuck in my mind, that even way back then, I felt like God had His eyes on me.”
However, tragedy soon struck: Thibodeaux found out his father had been unfaithful to his mother and their family was destroyed.
“I was mad at my father, and was very, very mad at everything, and the world in general, and show business was part of the problem. I felt like, if I hadn’t gotten the part on ‘I Love Lucy,’ we would still be in Louisiana, and our family would still be together. But God was the one that I really shook my fist at.”
Thibodeaux’s anger manifested in hitting the party scene and dabbling in the occult.
“I began to be tormented by these voices. These were demonic voices that were telling me to kill myself and ‘nobody likes you’, and ‘you are just a nobody,’” the actor said. “Finally, I cried out to God and I said, ‘If You’re real, if You take me out of this mess that I made of my life, then I’ll serve You.”
Shortly after, he went to church with his mother and had a vision of Jesus Christ.
“I came up out of the vision, and I had a whole new perspective of who God was, and who Jesus Christ was, and what that meant to me, and what He did for me on the cross—dying on the cross, and taking my sins,” Thibodeaux shared.
Nowadays, Thibodeaux drums for Christian band David and the Giants, and works with his wife, who runs Christian ballet company Ballet Magnificat.
“God has used dance, he’s used Ballet Magnificat, he’s used David and the Giants, to change people’s lives, and to encourage people, and to convict people, not through what we do, but through what the Holy Spirit does through us,” Thibodeaux concluded. “It’s all about Jesus. It’s all about Him.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
