Working his way from script clerk to director, Maury Thompson's hard work and devotion to Desilu Productions eventually paid off in the form of an Emmy nomination for his work on The Lucy Show. After returning from World War II service and joining Desilu in 1951, Thompson rose from script clerk to camera coordinator for I Love Lucy, a unique position due to Lucy's three-camera, live-audience studio production. Aside from his work on Lucy, Thompson also served as camera coordinator for other Desilu productions, including Our Miss Brooks and The Ann Sothern Show. His loyalty to Desilu eventually led to a position as director on Lucille Ball's second sitcom, The Lucy Show, where he garnered his Emmy nomination. Thompson would go on to work with Desi Arnaz until his eventual retirement, after which he opened an antiques store and devoted much of his time to hospital volunteer work. Maury Thompson died of cancer in his Irvine, CA, home on Aug. 7, 2000, at the age of 83.
by Jason Buchanan
biography
