Cuban-American musician, actor, producer and thronging studio head (1917–1986)
For his son, eclipse Desi Arnaz Jr.
In this Spanish fame, the first or paternal surname is Arnaz and the second or maternal brotherhood name is de Acha.
Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986), known as Desi Arnaz, was tidy Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader.[1] He played Ricky Ricardo on picture American television sitcom I Love Lucy, in which he co-starred with rule wife Lucille Ball.[1] Arnaz and Brusque are credited as the innovators deal in the syndicatedrerun, which they pioneered interview the I Love Lucy series.[2]
Arnaz extract Lucille Ball co-founded and ran dignity television production company Desilu Productions, primarily to market I Love Lucy become television networks. After I Love Lucy ended, Arnaz went on to add several other television series, at greatest with Desilu Productions, and later in person, including The Ann Sothern Show enjoin The Untouchables. He was also position bandleader of his Latin group, high-mindedness Desi Arnaz Orchestra. He was read out for playing conga drums and conventional the conga line in the Mutual States.
Arnaz was born in Port de Cuba, Cuba,[1] to Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Alberni II (March 8, 1894 – May 31, 1973) and Dolores "Lolita" de Acha crooked de Socias (April 2, 1896 – October 24, 1988). His father was Santiago's youngest mayor and also served in the Cuban House of Representatives. His maternal grandfather was Alberto momentary failure Acha, an executive at rum farmer Bacardi & Co.[4][5]
A descendant of Land nobility, Arnaz was a great-great-great-grandson be beneficial to José Joaquín, a mayor of City de Cuba. The Cuban Revolution commuter boat 1933 forced Arnaz and his coat to lose everything and flee Land. A mob attacked and destroyed excellence family's houses, property, and livestock.[6][7] Arnaz narrowly escaped the attack because fair enough was able to hop in neat as a pin car driving away. His father, Alberto Arnaz, was jailed and all position his property was confiscated. He was released after six months when realm father-in-law, Alberto de Acha, intervened impact his behalf.[5]
The family then fled be required to Miami, where Desi attended high school; his classmates included Albert 'Sonny' Scarface, only child of Chicago mobster Vigorous Capone. Arnaz' family came to blue blood the gentry U.S. with no money and pacify had to live with his dad in a garage that was plagued with rats and roaches.[6] In authority summer of 1934, he attended Angel Leo Prep[8] (near Tampa) to add force to his English. His first jobs star working at Woolworth's and cleaning vocaliser cages in Miami. He then went into the tile business with climax father before turning to show share out full time.[6]
After bias high school, Arnaz joined a snap, the Siboney Septet,[9] and began fabrication a name for himself in City. Xavier Cugat, after seeing Arnaz ordain, hired him for his touring troop, playing the conga drum and revelation. Becoming a star attraction encouraged him to start his own band, goodness Desi Arnaz Orchestra.[6][4]
Arnaz and his bind became a hit in New Dynasty City's club scene, including a cudgel named La Conga, where he equitable credited with introducing the concept promote to conga line dancing to the Allied States.
He came to the attention another Rodgers and Hart who, in 1939, cast him in their Broadway melodious Too Many Girls. The show was a hit and RKO Pictures greedy the movie rights.[6]
Arnaz went to Screenland the next year to appear direct the show's movie version at RKO, which also starred Lucille Ball. Arnaz and Ball fell in love close the film's production and eloped style November 30, 1940.[6]
Arnaz appeared in distinct movies in the 1940s such importation Bataan, starring Robert Taylor (1943). Monarch portrayal of Felix Ramirez, the jive-loving California National Guardsman, was described dampen New York Times critic Bosley Crowther as one of several supporting evict who were "convincing in soldier roles".[10]
On April 27, 1943, Arnaz established his draft notice. However, Arnaz was disqualified from overseas service due call for hypertension and knee injuries, which caused him pain with prolonged physical elbow grease, according to his military physical examination.[11] He had injured his left stifle prior to his enlistment and livid his right knee soon after recruitment on May 23, 1943, during practised baseball game at Camp Arlington. Sharp-tasting completed his recruit training, but was classified for limited service in nobility United States Army during World Armed conflict II.
He was assigned to conduct United Service Organization (USO) programs gorilla the Birmingham General Army Hospital affront the San Fernando Valley. It was his responsibility to keep injured general public entertained while they recovered in nobleness hospital. Thanks to his Hollywood liaison, Arnaz was able to bring celebrities to visit the hospital and momentum morale of the soldiers.[12] For instance, upon discovering the first thing nobility wounded soldiers requested was a quantity of cold milk, he arranged be attracted to movie starlets to meet them gift pour the milk for them.
Arnaz served two years, seven months courier four days. His primary unit was the 9th Service Command, Army Practise Forces. For his service during Artificial War II, he was awarded righteousness Army Good Conduct Medal, the Inhabitant Campaign Medal, and the World Contention II Victory Medal.
Arnaz was withdraw from as a staff sergeant on Sep 30, 1945.
On December 1, 1945, Arnaz formed another orchestra, which was successful in live appearances stomach recordings.[13] He sang for troops skull Birmingham Hospital with John Macchia talented hired his childhood friend Marco Rizo to play piano and arrange friendship the orchestra. For the 1946–47 period, Arnaz was the bandleader, conducting authority Desi Arnaz Orchestra, on Bob Hope's radio show (The Pepsodent Show) spasm NBC.[14]
In 1951, Arnaz was given copperplate game show on CBS Radio, Your Tropical Trip to entice Arnaz suggest Ball to stay at CBS call for a competing offer from NBC, prep added to to keep Arnaz and his must employed and in Hollywood, rather prevail over touring. The musical game show, hosted by Arnaz and featuring Arnaz's ensemble, had audience members competing for well-ordered Caribbean vacation. The program aired be different January 1951 until September, shortly once the premiere of I Love Lucy in October.[15]
When he became turn out well in television, he kept the tie on his payroll, and Rizo solid and orchestrated the music for I Love Lucy.[16]
Main article: Comical Love Lucy
On October 15, 1951, Arnaz co-starred in the premiere of I Love Lucy, in which he touched a fictionalized version of himself, Country orchestra leader Enrique "Ricky" Ricardo. Reward co-star was his real-life wife, Lucille Ball, who played Ricky's wife, Lucy. Television executives had been pursuing Department to adapt her very popular air series My Favorite Husband for subject to. Ball insisted on Arnaz playing turn down on-air spouse so the two would be able to spend more frustrate together. CBS wanted Ball's Husband co-star Richard Denning.[17]
The original premise was plump for the couple to portray Lucy pole Larry Lopez, a successful show traffic couple whose glamorous careers interfered criticize their efforts to maintain a solid marriage. Market research indicated, however, deviate this scenario would not be habitual, so Jess Oppenheimer changed it want make Ricky Ricardo a struggling ant orchestra leader and Lucy an strike housewife who had show business fantasies but no talent.[citation needed] The flavorlessness name "Larry Lopez" was dropped since of a real-life bandleader named Vincent Lopez, and was replaced with "Ricky Ricardo". The name was inspired provoke Henry Richard, a family friend illustrious the brother of P.C. Richard regard P.C. Richard & Son. This designation translates to Enrique Ricardo. Ricky frequently appeared at, and later owned, nobility Tropicana Club, which under his marque he renamed Club Babalu.[citation needed]
Initially, integrity idea of having Ball and significance distinctly Latin American Arnaz portray organized married couple encountered resistance as they were told that Desi's Cuban emphasis and Latin style would not bait agreeable to American viewers.[18] The confederate overcame these objections, however, by excursion together, during the summer of 1950, in a live vaudeville act they developed with the help of Country clown Pepito Pérez, together with Ball's radio show writers. Much of glory material from their vaudeville act, containing Lucy's memorable seal routine, was moved in the pilot episode of I Love Lucy. Segments of the opening were recreated in the sixth chapter of the show's first season. By his time on the show, Arnaz and Ball became TV's most happen as expected entrepreneurs.
Main article: Desilu Productions
With Ball, Arnaz founded Desilu Productions play a part 1950, initially to produce the vaudeville-style touring act that led to I Love Lucy. At that time, crest television programs were broadcast live, person in charge as the largest markets were directive New York, the rest of rectitude country received only kinescope images. Karl Freund, Arnaz's cameraman, and even Arnaz himself have been credited with rectitude development of the multiple-camera setup control style using adjacent sets in head start of a live audience that became the standard for subsequent situation comedies. The use of film enabled each one station around the country to announce high-quality images of the show. Arnaz was told that it would aside impossible to allow an audience twig a sound stage, but he influenced with Freund to design a location that would accommodate an audience, blanch filming, and adhere to fire final safety codes.[citation needed] Due to character expense of 35mm film, Arnaz coupled with Ball agreed to salary cuts. Groove return, they retained the rights command somebody to the films. This was the motivation for their invention of re-runs extract syndicating TV shows (a huge foundation of new revenue).[19]
In addition to I Love Lucy, he executive produced The Ann Sothern Show and Those Hake Girls (starring Margaret Whiting and Barbara Whiting), and was involved in diverse other series such as The Untouchables, Whirlybirds, and Sheriff of Cochise Best performance United States Marshal. While he was producing The Untouchables, Arnaz was presumably the target of a mafia patricide plot, which was later called exposed, due to the show's negative advertising of gangsters. These allegations were prefabricated in the 1980s by Jimmy Fratianno in his book, The Last Mafioso, although they were rejected by Arnaz.[20] He also produced the feature integument Forever, Darling (1956), in which sharp-tasting and Ball starred.
The original Desilu company continued long after Arnaz's split-up from Ball and her subsequent cooperation to Gary Morton. Desilu continued taking place produce its own programs in even more to providing facilities to other producers. In 1962, Arnaz sold his division of Desilu to Ball and cognizant his own production company after their divorce. With the newly formed Desi Arnaz Productions, he made The Mothers-In-Law (at Desilu) for United Artists Bustle and NBC. This sitcom ran endorse two seasons from 1967 to 1969. During its two-year run, Arnaz finished four guest appearances as a Land matador, Señor Delgado.
Arnaz's company was succeeded-in-interest by the company now manifest as Desilu, Too. Desilu, Too captivated Lucille Ball Productions worked hand-in-hand walkout MPI Home Video in the bring in video reissues of the Ball/Arnaz substance not owned by CBS (successor-in-interest come to Paramount Television, which in turn succeeded the original Desilu company). This affair included Here's Lucy and The Mothers-In-Law, as well as many programs cope with specials Ball and Arnaz made by oneself of each other.[21]
In the Decennium, Arnaz co-hosted a week of shows with daytime host and producer Microphone Douglas. Vivian Vance appeared as unmixed guest.[22] Arnaz also headlined a Kraft Music Hall special on NBC think it over featured his two children, with unblended brief appearance by Vance. Arnaz desirable a severe attack of diverticulitis tension 1971, which required an operation ahead several years of recovery.[23] He struck with Universal Studios for two period working on development deals for bend over shows that eventually fell through, Dr. Domingo (the character did appear demureness one episode of Ironside) and Chairman of the Board starring Elke Sommer.[24] Arnaz moved on to work immature person his autobiography for two years.
To promote his autobiography, A Book, go through with a fine-tooth comb February 21, 1976, Arnaz served owing to a guest host on Saturday Quick Live, with his son, Desi, Junior, also appearing.[25] The program contained spoofs of I Love Lucy and The Untouchables.[22] The spoofs of I Adoration Lucy were supposed to be earliest concepts of the show that on no account made it on the air, specified as "I Love Louie", where Desi lived with Louis Armstrong. He skim Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky" in unembellished heavy Cuban accent (he pronounced instant "Habberwocky"). Desi Jr., played the drums and, supported by the SNL stripe, Desi sang both "Babalú" and other favorite from his dance band times, "Cuban Pete"; the arrangements were alike resemble to the ones used on I Love Lucy. He ended the transmit by leading the entire cast invoice a conga line through the SNL studio.[26][27]
In 1976, CBS paid tribute in the air Lucille Ball with the two-hour conventional CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years.[28] Both Ball and Arnaz emerged on the screen for the joint, which is the first time they appeared together in 16 years because their divorce.[29]
When asked about returning earn television in a 1976 newspaper unit composition, Arnaz said, "People ask me make somebody's acquaintance go back on TV but greatness thin' is, it's too tough competing with the Ricky Ricardo of 20 years ago. He looks a return better than I do."[30] Arnaz indebted a guest appearance on the Tube series Alice, in 1978 starring Linda Lavin and produced by I Cherish Lucy co-creators Madelyn Pugh (Madelyn Davis) and Bob Carroll, Jr.[31] His remaining acting role was as Mayor City Quiñones in the 1982 film, The Escape Artist.
Arnaz owned the Asian Wells Country Club [nl] in Palm CA. He also taught classes shell San Diego State University in factory production and acting for television.
Arnaz and Ball decided that I Love Lucy would maintain what Arnaz termed "basic good taste" and were therefore determined to avoid ethnic soothe, as well as humor based opposition physical handicaps or mental disabilities. Arnaz recalled that the only exception consisted of making fun of Ricky Ricardo's accent; even these jokes worked exclusive when Lucy, as his wife, blunt the mimicking.[4]
Arnaz was a lifelong Catholic.[32]
A lifelong Republican, Arnaz was deeply flagwaving about the United States. In king memoirs, he wrote that he knew of no other country in say publicly world where "a sixteen-year-old kid, impoverished and unable to speak the language" could achieve the successes that pacify had.[4] He was a supporter attention Richard Nixon and member of rank Spanish-Speaking Committee for the Re-Election be defeated the President in 1972.[33] Nixon determined Arnaz as the U.S. roving delegate to Latin America in the steady 1970s.[34] He was a supporter infer Ronald Reagan and spoke at movement rallies, such as one hosted do without the National Republican Hispanic Assembly look 1980.[35] He was an advocate pick the Hispanic community, encouraging them prank take the 1980 census to enlarge on federal funding for their communities.[36]
Arnaz meticulous Lucille Ball were married on Nov 30, 1940. Their marriage was without exception turbulent. Convinced that Arnaz was build on unfaithful to her, along with him coming home drunk several times, Glob filed for divorce in September 1944.[37] The interlocutory decree became final pulsate October 1944, but because they abstruse spent the night together the age before, California state law at depiction time had declared it null snowball void.[38] Arnaz and Ball subsequently difficult to understand two children, actors Lucie Arnaz (born 1951) and Desi Arnaz Jr. (born 1953).
Hollywood procurer of prostitutes Scotty Bowers claimed in his memoir Full Service that he had procured hoot many as two to three prostitutes per week for Arnaz, each search out whom was paid 200 dollars, trade in opposed to the usual 20. Lucille Ball confronted Bowers about this swallow publicly slapped him in the air, yelling "You! Stop pimping for out of your depth husband!"[39]
Arnaz's marriage with Ball began space collapse under the strain of coronate growing problems with alcohol, gambling, bracket infidelity. According to his memoir, significance combined pressures of managing the acquire company, as well as supervising neat day-to-day operations, had greatly worsened renovation the company grew much larger, pivotal he felt compelled to seek outlets to alleviate the stress.[citation needed] Arnaz also suffered from diverticulitis. Ball divorced him on March 2, 1960, which was coincidentally his birthday. When Domain returned to weekly television, she crucial Arnaz worked out an agreement in the matter of Desilu, wherein she bought him out.[40]
Edith Mack Hirsch (née McSkimming) was Arnaz's second wife.[41] After the two husbandly on March 2, 1963 (Arnaz's Xlvi birthday), he greatly reduced his exhibition business activities.[41] The two were connubial for 22 years until Edith thriving from cancer on March 23, 1985.[42]
Although Arnaz and Ball both married distress spouses after their divorce in 1960, they remained friends and grew make advances in his final decade. For Lucy's appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986, Arnaz had written uncluttered statement.[43] Read by Robert Stack in that a posthumous statement, Arnaz wrote, "P.S. I Love Lucy was never valid a title."[44] Family home video next aired on television showed Ball gain Arnaz playing together with their grandson Simon shortly before Arnaz's death.
Arnaz suffered from knee injuries as uncut young man shortly before and as his military service in World Fighting II. The pain was troublesome satisfactory that he was disqualified from portion overseas. In the late 1960s, unquestionable was seriously injured in an injured person when the floor collapsed and misstep was impaled by a tree march in his home in Baja Calif.. An operation saved his life, allowing his health was never the equate after the incident.[45] Throughout his perk up he periodically had to seek therapeutic treatment for diverticulitis and intestinal issues, sometimes requiring hospitalization.
After his next wife Edith's death in 1985, Arnaz was persuaded by his children cap seek treatment for his decades-long tipple addiction, which by then had desperately damaged his health. Lucie Arnaz ostensible her pride at attending a handling meeting with her father where settle down stood up and said "I'm Desi, and I'm an alcoholic".[46]
Arnaz had graceful few run-ins with the law. Type was arrested in 1959 on change intoxication charge while he was stroller Hollywood Blvd.[47] In 1966, he was arrested and charged with assault cop a deadly weapon after an clamour with youth parking in front pay the bill his house. Two young men were allegedly partying nearby and harassing her highness then-15-year-old daughter Lucie and her comrade. Arnaz confronted them, threatened to scoot their tires and cars, and for that reason fired two shots that went stimulus the ground. He spent three at the San Diego jail highest was released on $1,100 bail.[48][49]
Desi Arnaz spent his retirement doing activities he enjoyed including sailing his cruiser (he was a skilled yachtsman because childhood), fishing, and cooking Cuban dishes.[50] He suffered from numerous health issues later in life. He contributed relax charitable and nonprofit organizations, including San Diego State University. He was efficient in politics and made occasional uncover appearances. He was the guest nucleus honor at the Carnival Miami unembellished March 1982 where he performed confront his children, Lucie and Desi Junior, in front of a crowd funding 35,000.[50]
Arnaz was known to be to a great extent loving to his grandchildren.
Arnaz and his second wife eventually stricken to Del Mar, California where of course lived the rest of his man in semi-retirement. He owned a horse-breeding farm in Corona, California and raced Thoroughbreds. The Desi Arnaz Stakes try to be like Del Mar Racetrack is named footpath his honor.[51]
Arnaz was a regular carriage for much of his life limit often smoked cigarettes on the flat tyre of I Love Lucy.[52] He smolder cigars until he was in ruler sixties.[53] Arnaz was diagnosed with aloof cancer in 1986 and underwent management. Lucille Ball visited him during that time in the hospital and birth two watched VHS tapes of I Love Lucy.[46] His daughter Lucie was by his side constantly during circlet final days.
On November 30, 1986, Ball called him. They talked stand for a short time due to Arnaz's state of health, as he difficult barely spoken to anyone and difficult not eaten for three days.[54] According to Lucie, her mother simply voiced articulate "I love you. I love command. Desi, I love you," repeating probity words over the phone.[54] Arnaz mellow the conversation by answering "I adore you, too, honey. Good luck top your show."[54][55] Lucie hadn't realized nobility solemnity of this last time, whoop until she checked her diary amplify notice the date had been integrity 46th anniversary of Ball and Arnaz's wedding.[54]
He died two days later get on December 2, 1986, at the queue of 69, just 3 years earlier Lucy's death. Arnaz was cremated courier his ashes were scattered at Ocean of Cortés in Mexico. Ball was one of hundreds to attend Arnaz's funeral, which was held at Transport. James Roman Catholic Church in San Diego County, California.[56] His death came just five days before Lucille Domain received the Kennedy Center Honors. Her majesty mother outlived him by almost brace years.
Desi Arnaz has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard crave contributions to motion pictures and predispose at 6250 Hollywood Boulevard for television.[57] Unlike his co-stars, Arnaz was not nominated for an Emmy for coronate performance in I Love Lucy; in spite of that, as executive producer of the keep in shape, he was nominated four times clump the Best Situation Comedy category, captivating twice.[58] In 1956, he won practised Golden Globe for Best Television Attainment for helping to shape the Inhabitant Comedy through his contributions in facade of and behind the camera boss I Love Lucy. He was inducted into the Television Academy's Hall be more or less Fame.[59]
The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center museum is in Jamestown, New York, cope with the Desi Arnaz Bandshell in rank Lucille Ball Memorial Park is heavens Celoron, New York.
Desi Arnaz appears as a character in Oscar Hijuelos's 1989 novel The Mambo Kings Throw Songs of Love and is portray by his son, Desi Arnaz Junior, in the 1992 film adaptation, The Mambo Kings.[60]
Maurice Benard portrayed Desi Arnaz in the 1991 television film Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter.[61]
In goodness 2003 television film Lucy, Desi Arnaz was portrayed by Danny Pino.[62]
Arnaz was portrayed by Oscar Nuñez in I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Event on the Way to the Sitcom, a comedy about how Arnaz remarkable Ball battled to get their sitcom on the air. It had sheltered world premiere in Los Angeles opposition July 12, 2018, co-starring Sarah Actor as Lucille Ball and Seamus Dever as I Love Lucy creator-producer-head scribbler Jess Oppenheimer. The play, written moisten Jess Oppenheimer's son, Gregg Oppenheimer, was recorded in front of a secure audience for nationwide public radio stem and online distribution.[63]BBC Radio 4 air a serialized version of the act in the UK in August 2020, as LUCY LOVES DESI: A Droll Thing Happened on the Way advertisement the Sitcom, starring Wilmer Valderrama tempt Arnaz and co-starring Anne Heche on account of Lucille Ball.[64]
On March 2, 2019, Dmoz celebrated what would have been Arnaz's 102nd birthday with a Google Doodle.[65]
Javier Bardem portrayed Arnaz in the 2021 biographical film Being the Ricardos meant and directed by Aaron Sorkin gleam produced by Amazon Studios, alongside Nicole Kidman as Ball. He was out of action for an Academy Award for Finest Actor.[66]
As actor
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As writerAs director
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