Desi Arnaz

Date of Birth: March 2, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: December 2, 1986

Biography

Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-American actor, musician, and television producer best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the groundbreaking television series “I Love Lucy.” Born as Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Arnaz emigrated to the United States with his family after the Cuban Revolution of 1933. He began his career in entertainment as a musician, forming the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, which became popular in New York City. Arnaz’s big break came when he was cast in the Broadway musical “Too Many Girls,” which led to a film adaptation and his meeting with Lucille Ball. The couple married in 1940 and went on to create “I Love Lucy,” which premiered in 1951. The show was revolutionary for its use of a multiple-camera setup in front of a live audience and became one of the most beloved TV shows in history. In addition to acting, Arnaz co-founded Desilu Productions, which produced a number of successful television series, including “The Untouchables” and “Star Trek.” After “I Love Lucy,” Arnaz continued to work in television and music but eventually retired from acting to focus on production and business ventures. He passed away in 1986 from lung cancer.

5 Interesting Facts about Desi Arnaz

1. Desi Arnaz was instrumental in the development of the three-camera technique used in sitcoms, which became the industry standard.

2. He was the first person to bring the concept of reruns to television, which significantly changed the business model of the TV industry.

3. Arnaz’s Desilu Productions was one of the largest and most successful independent production companies in Hollywood.

4. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.

5. Desi Arnaz was an accomplished musician, popularizing the conga line dance in the United States.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Desi Arnaz

1. “I Love Lucy was never just a title.”

2. “An actor who is good at improvisation but bad at learning lines is the wrong kind of actor.”

3. “Lucy and I would love furiously and fight furiously.”

4. “Real intellectuals like to escape from reality.”

5. “The success of ‘I Love Lucy’ was due to the fact that it was a show about real people.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Desi Arnaz’s net worth was estimated to be around $20 million.

Children

Desi Arnaz had two children with Lucille Ball: Lucie Arnaz, born in 1951, and Desi Arnaz Jr., born in 1953. Both children followed in their parents’ footsteps and pursued careers in the entertainment industry.