Who played Lucy's friend Caroline Appleby?

Doris Singleton played Lucy’s friend and frenemy Caroline Appleby on I Love Lucy.

Singleton appeared as Appleby in ten episodes between 1953 and 1957. Caroline was a polished, competitive housewife whose friendship with Lucy often carried an undercurrent of rivalry. She belonged with Lucy and Ethel to the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League and frequently tried to outshine them socially.

A small naming detail causes confusion: in Appleby’s first appearance, the character was called Lillian Appleby; later episodes consistently used Carolyn or Caroline Appleby. The changing first name does not indicate a different character or actress. Singleton remained the performer associated with the role.

Singleton had already worked in radio and as a vocalist before television. She had met Lucille Ball through Ball’s radio series My Favorite Husband, which helped lead to her recurring role on I Love Lucy. Mary Jane Croft, another familiar Lucy performer, played Betty Ramsey rather than Appleby.