  I discuss recent progress in lattice calculations of $B \to D^{(*)} \ell \nu$
form factors, important for the precision determination of $|V_{cb}|$ in the
Standard Model (SM), and for testing SM expectations of lepton flavor
universality in observables $R(D^{(*)})$. I also discuss progress in
calculations of the related $b \to c$ semileptonic decays $B_s \to D_s^{(*)}
\ell \nu$ and $B_c \to J/\psi \, \ell \nu$ now experimentally accessible at the
LHC.
