Desi Arnaz

Mar 02, 1917 - Dec 02, 1986 (69 years old) in Santiago, Cuba

Desi Arnaz (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986) was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer.

While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy, starring with then-wife Lucille Ball.

Known For

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Tony Awards

Self - Performer

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The Virginian

El Jefe

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Ironside

Dr. Juan Domingo

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Alice

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December Bride

Self

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What's My Line?

Self

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I Love Lucy

Ricky Ricardo

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The Escape Artist

Mayor Leon Quiñones

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Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Self (uncredited)

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Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

Credits

A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music 2025

Self/Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)

★ 9
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music 2025

Self (archive footage)

★ 7.7
Lucy and Desi 2022

Self (archive footage)

★ 7.1
My Darling Vivian 2020

Self (archive footage)

★ 6.8
I Love Lucy Christmas Special 2016

Ricky

★ 10
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored 2011

Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)

★ NR
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards 2005

Manuelito (segment "Too Many Girls") (archive footage)

★ 7.2
Judy Garland: By Myself 2004

Self (archive footage)

★ 7.5
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years 2004

(archive footage)

★ 4
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy 2000

Self (archive footage)

★ NR
Television: The First Fifty Years 1999

Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)

★ NR
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1 1997

★ 10
E! True Hollywood Story 1996

★ 8.1
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie 1993

Self

★ 8.2
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage 1983

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

★ 6.5
The Escape Artist 1982

Mayor Leon Quiñones

★ 6.2
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years 1976

Self

★ 7.3
Alice 1976

★ 7.1
Salsa 1976

Self (archive footage)

★ NR
Joys 1976

Self

★ 4
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television 1975

(archive footage)

★ NR
Land's End 1968

Guest Waiting to Cash Check

★ NR
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In 1968

Self (uncredited)

★ 6.6
The Mothers-in-Law 1967

Raphael Delgado

★ 5.8
Ironside 1967

Dr. Juan Domingo

★ 6.8
The Virginian 1962

El Jefe

★ 6.4
The Man in the Funny Suit 1960

Self - Host

★ NR
NBC Sunday Showcase 1959

Ricky Ricardo

★ 4.3
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse 1958

★ 5.8
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour 1957

Ricky Ricardo

★ 8.6
The Bob Hope Chevy Show 1956

Fred Mertz

★ NR
Tony Awards 1956

Self - Performer

★ 5.9
Forever, Darling 1956

Lorenzo Xavier 'Larry' Vega

★ 7
Lucy's Really Lost Moments 1956

Ricky Ricardo

★ 6.5
December Bride 1954

Self

★ 5.5
A Star Is Born World Premiere 1954

Self

★ 8
The Long, Long Trailer 1954

Nicky Collini

★ 6.9
I Love Lucy: The Movie 1953

Ricky Ricardo

★ 7.4
I Love Lucy 1951

Ricky Ricardo

★ 7.9
What's My Line? 1950

Self

★ 6.9
The Ed Wynn Show 1949

Self

★ 7
Holiday in Havana 1949

Carlos Estrada

★ 5
The Emmy Awards 1949

Self

★ 7.9
Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra 1946

Self

★ 4.7
Cuban Pete 1946

Desi Arnaz

★ 5
Bataan 1943

Felix Ramirez

★ 6.4
The Navy Comes Through 1942

Pat Tarriba

★ 5.6
Four Jacks and a Jill 1942

Steve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of Aregal

★ 6
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 1941

★ 6
Father Takes a Wife 1941

Carlos Bardez

★ 6.1
Too Many Girls 1940

Manuelito Lynch

★ 5.6

Images