Desi Arnaz Add to My Celebs Age 69 (passed away Dec. 2nd, 1986) Birthday Mar. 2nd, 1917 Born in Santiago, Cuba Height 5' 10 1/2"

Desi Arnaz's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) I Love Lucy Ricky Ricardo The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour Ricky Ricardo The Mothers-In-Law Raphael del…

Main Movie Roles 1956 - Forever, Darling 1943 - Bataan

NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at IMDB


BIOGRAPHY:

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz ye de Acha the Third was born in Santiago, Cuba on March 2, 1917. His father was the mayor of Santiago. The 1933 revolution led by Fulgencio Batista had landed his father in jail and stripped the family of its wealth, property and power. His father was released because of the intercession of U.S. officials who believed him to be neutral during the revolt. The family fled to Miami, Florida. One of Desi's first jobs in America consisted of cleaning canary cages. However, after forming his own small band of musicians, he was hired by Xavier Cugat, the "king" of Latin music. Desi soon left Cugat, formed his own Latin band and literally launched the conga craze in America. he was cast in the Broadway play "Too Many Girls", resulting in his being brought to Hollywood to make the film version of the play. It was on the set of Too Many Girls (1940) that he and Lucille Ball met. They soon married and approximately ten years later formed Desilu Productions and began the "I Love Lucy" (1951) shows. Desi and Lucille had two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.. At the end of the "I Love Lucy" (1951) run (including the "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" (1957)) the two divorced. Desi later wrote an autobiography entitled "A Book." In 1986 he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and died on December 2, 1986.


TRIVIA:

• In 1953, Desilu was evaluated as being worth $10 million, did a gross business of $6 million and made the Arnazes a net profit of $600,000 before taxes. This was added to an additional $500,000 in income from _"I Love Lucy" (1951)_ (qv) merchandise.
• Instrumental in the creation of numerous classic TV series, in particular _"The Untouchables" (1959)_ (qv).
• Invented many techniques that are now taken for granted in sitcoms, including the use of several cameras to film the performance, preceding performances with a warm-up act, performing before a live audience, and the rerunning of old episodes.
• His grandfather was one of the original partners in the Bacardi Rum company.
• In the film _The Mambo Kings (1992)_ (qv), he was portrayed by his real-life son, 'Desi Arnaz Jr.' (qv).
• Author of the candid autobiography 'A Book', detailing his alcoholism and infidelities. He had planned to write a sequel, called 'Another Book'.
• Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume Two, 1986- 1990, pages 32-34. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999.
• Ashes were scattered at sea.

Desi Arnaz Photos

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