Keith Thibodeaux Biography
(1950-Present)

Keith Thibodeaux was born on December 1, 1950, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Keith has also been credited as Richard Keith. Keith is better known as Little Ricky on "I Love Lucy," however he is secondly known to "The Andy Griffith Show" fans as Johnny Paul Jason, one of Opie Taylor's friends.

Keith was a child prodigy on the drums, at the age of three he was making $500 a week, touring with the Horace Heidt Orchestra, which had its own TV show on CBS. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball saw Keith on television and asked him to audition for the role of "Little Ricky" when he was 5. He took a pay cut to $300 and eventually worked his way back to making $500 a week by the age 9.

His family moved to California, were his father was given a job at Desilu studios. Keith was living a Hollywood dream and he was the envy of most other child stars. Even off screen Desi and Lucille made him a part of their real family, inviting him to birthday parties and making him a frequent house guest. Even today he still keeps in touch with the Arnaz children, Lucie and Desi, Jr.

Life off camera was not always as pleasant as it appeared on television. Keith was relieved when "I Love Lucy" ended due to all of the pressures of acting. His working situation on the "The Andy Griffith Show" from 1962 to 1966 was much less stressful. At the age of 15, Keith’s Hollywood career ended, most of his earnings had gone to provide private school tuition for him, his brother and sister.

Keith moved back to Louisiana with his mother, where, his high school years brought slow progression into alcohol and drugs. In 1969, he joined a rock group, David and the Giants, the group primarily toured throughout the southern states and enjoyed a few regional hits.

In 1971, at age 21, he received the final payment from a trust fund set up during his "I Love Lucy" days, the payment came to $8,000. He spent half of it buying a sports car and the rest on sound equipment for the band.

Keith married Kathy, a talented ballet dancer in 1976, the couple moved to Southern California to seek a new life. By 1979 he had returned to the South and to his old rock group, David and the Giants. By that time all the members of the band had become committed Christians who were playing in churches and leading people to the Lord.

In 1990, after nearly 20 years with David and the Giants, he quit the band and became the manager of his wife’s company, Ballet Magnificent. The company has nine touring dancers who give more than 100 live performances each year. Their goal is to praise God with dance. Keith has one daughter named Tara.

Spouse

Kathy Denton / (?) - (?)

Filmography

1. "I Love Lucy" (1951) TV Series .... Little Ricky Ricardo, Jr. (1956-1957)
2. "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" (1957) TV Series .... Little Ricky
3. A Shadow in the Streets (1975) TV Movie .... Steemson

Guest Appearances

1. "Gunsmoke" (1955) playing Major Banker episode "Custer" #2.3 aired September 22, 1956
2. "Death Valley Days" (1952) episode "California's First Schoolmarm" #6.3 aired October 12, 1957
3. "Zane Grey Theater" (1956) episode "Ride a Lonely Trail" #2.5 aired November 2, 1957
4. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "One-Punch Opie" #3.16 aired December 31, 1962
5. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Andy Discovers America" #3.23 aired March 4, 1963
6. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Opie and His Merry Men" #4.13 aired December 30, 1963
7. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Andy and Opie's Pal" #4.15 aired January 13, 1964
8. "The Lucy Show" (1962) episode "Lucy Teaches Ethel Merman to Sing" #2.18 aired Febuary 3, 1964
9. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "A Deal is a Deal" #4.27 aired April 6, 1964
10. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Back to Nature" #4.32 aired May 11, 1964
11. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Opie Loves Helen" #5.1 aired September 21, 1964
12. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Barney's Physical" #5.2 aired September 29, 1964
13. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "The Family Visit" #5.3 aired October 5, 1964
14. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Opie and His Merry Men" #4.13 aired December 30, 1964
15. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Opie and the Carnival" #5.31 aired April 26, 1965
16. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Wyatt Earp Rides Again" #6.20 aired January 31, 1966
17. "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960) playing Johnny Paul Jason episode "Look Paw, I'm Dancing" #6.22 aired February 14, 1966