Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III, better known as Desi Arnaz or Desi Arnaz, Sr. , was a Cuban-American musician, actor, television producer, writer, and director. The son of Cuban parents, Arnaz was born in Santiago de Cuba on March 2, 1917. He moved with his family to the United States in 1933, when he was 16 years old. Arnaz began his career as a musician, playing the trumpet and drums in various bands.
He later became an actor and appeared in several films and television shows. Arnaz is best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the television series “I Love Lucy. ” He also produced and directed several episodes of the show. Arnaz and his wife, Lucille Ball, were married from 1940 to 1960.
They had two children together: Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. Arnaz died of lung cancer on December 2, 1986, at the age of 69.
General Info
Full Name
Desi Arnaz
Net Worth
$40 million
Date Of Birth
January 19, 1953
Height
1.8 m
Profession
Musician, Actor, Drummer
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Amy Arnaz, Linda Purl
Children
Julia Arnaz, Haley Arnaz
Parents
Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz
Siblings
Lucie Arnaz
Accomplishments
Awards
Golden Globe Award for Best New Star of the Year – Actor
Music Groups
Dino, Desi & Billy
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Programs
Movies
The Mambo Kings, House of the Long Shadows, Voyage of the Yes, Red Sky at Morning, A Wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones, She Lives!, Joyride, The Night the Bridge Fell Down, Crisis in Mid-Air, The I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special, Fake-Out
Desi's wife Amy died January 23, 2015 at the age of 63 from a long battle of cancer. Desi Arnaz Jr.'s Facebook Page operated by close family friend Jaime Vermeulen, helped carry the announcement to the fans sent out by the Arnaz Family.
2
According to the life Magazine announcement of his birth he weighed 3.883894 Kilos or 8 lbs 9 oz at birth the announcement of his birth appeared in the Milestones column of the time magazine issue dated 1/26/1953 one week after his birth he and his older sister Lucie averaged 7 lbs 15.5 oz.
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Desi's wife Amy died on January 23, 2015 at the age of 63 after a long battle with cancer.
4
Father of Julia Desiree Howe born in 1969 to Susan Callahan-Howe.
5
Residing with wife, Amy Arnaz, in Boulder City, Nevada, where they own the Boulder Theatre (a former cinema converted into a live theater) and are very active conducting the Boulder City Ballet Company and in civic affairs. [January 2003]
Appeared as a contestant on the original The Dating Game (1965) in 1967. Lost to Spencer Leyton, a college student.
8
His marriage to Linda Purl was very brief (1980-1981), but they have remained long-lasting friends. Linda has performed her cabaret show at Arnaz' Boulder Theatre in Boulder City with Desi even singing a couple of numbers with her and playing drums for a number or two. He and Linda also co-starred together in a 1998 production of "Love Letters".
At age 12, he was the drummer for the hit rock act Dino, Desi, & Billy. Dino was Dean Paul Martin, Dean Martin's son. Billy was Billy Hinsche. They had a top 40 hit in 1965 with "I'm A Fool" (on Frank Sinatra's Reprise Records label, which had just been picked up for distribution by Warner Bros. Records).
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Was believed to be the biological father of Patty Duke's oldest son Sean Astin until the two men developed a friendship and agreed to blood testing in the 1990s.
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He appeared on the first cover of TV Guide (April 1953) with mother Lucille Ball.
