Character

Ethel Mertz

Ethel Roberta Louise Mae Potter was born in Albuquerque, N.M. She marries Fred Mertz and the two have a popular vaudeville act. After vaudeville dies out, they buy a New York City brownstone and become best friends with their tenants, the Ricardos. Ethel is especially close to Lucy Ricardo. The two attempt many business ventures together, including a diner and a dress shop; many of them are total disasters. When their ideas don't pan out it naturally leads to quarreling, but the two always manage to patch things up. Ethel often accuses Fred of being cheap, but their relationship remains solid.