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Desi Arnaz
Acting

Desi Arnaz

Born 1917-03-02
Santiago, Cuba
Department: Acting

Biography

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

Prominent works featuring Desi Arnaz

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV
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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962
TMDB3.8
Saturday Night Live
TV
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Saturday Night Live

1975
TMDB3.5
The Mike Douglas Show
TV
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The Mike Douglas Show

1961
TMDB2.9
Ironside
TV
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Ironside

1967
TMDB3.4
Alice
TV
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Alice

1976
TMDB3.5
I Love Lucy
TV
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I Love Lucy

1951
TMDB4.0
What's My Line?
TV
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What's My Line?

1950
TMDB3.5
Tony Awards
TV
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Tony Awards

1956
TMDB0.0
The Virginian
TV
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The Virginian

1962
TMDB3.3
The Red Skelton Show
TV
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The Red Skelton Show

1951
TMDB3.7

Filmography & Credits

Complete career catalog (99 titles)

PosterTitleCharacter / RoleTypeYear
A Grammy Celebration of Latin MusicSelf/Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)Movie2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicLadies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicSelf (archive footage)Movie2025
Lucy and DesiLucy and DesiSelf (archive footage)Movie2022
My Darling VivianMy Darling VivianSelf (archive footage)Movie2020
I Love Lucy Christmas SpecialI Love Lucy Christmas SpecialRickyMovie2016
Classic TV Bloopers UncensoredClassic TV Bloopers UncensoredRicky Ricardo (archive footage)Movie2011
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony AwardsBroadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony AwardsManuelito (segment "Too Many Girls") (archive footage)Movie2005
Judy Garland: By MyselfJudy Garland: By MyselfSelf (archive footage)Movie2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty YearsTV in Black: The First Fifty Years(archive footage)Movie2004
Lucille Ball: Finding LucySelf (archive footage)Movie2000
Television: The First Fifty YearsRicky Ricardo (archive footage)Movie1999
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1Self / AppearanceMovie1997
E! True Hollywood StoryE! True Hollywood StorySelf / AppearanceTV Series1996
Lucy and Desi: A Home MovieLucy and Desi: A Home MovieSelfMovie1993
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare FootageHollywood Out-takes and Rare FootageSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)Movie1983
The Escape ArtistThe Escape ArtistMayor Leon QuiñonesMovie1982
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 YearsCBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 YearsSelfMovie1976
AliceAliceRuthTV Series1976
SalsaSalsaSelf (archive footage)Movie1976
JoysJoysSelfMovie1976
Donny & MarieDonny & MarieSelfTV Series1976
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television(archive footage)Movie1975
Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSelf - Host & Musical GuestTV Series1975
Land's EndGuest Waiting to Cash CheckTV Series1968
Land's EndDirectorTV Series1968
Land's EndProducerTV Series1968
Land's EndWriterTV Series1968
Land's EndCreatorTV Series1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InRowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf (uncredited)TV Series1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InRowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelfTV Series1968
The Mothers-in-LawThe Mothers-in-LawRaphael DelgadoTV Series1967
The Mothers-in-LawThe Mothers-in-LawDirectorTV Series1967
The Mothers-in-LawThe Mothers-in-LawExecutive ProducerTV Series1967
IronsideIronsideDr. Juan DomingoTV Series1967
The Carol Channing ShowProducerTV Series1966
The Carol Channing ShowDirectorTV Series1966
Star Trek: The CageStar Trek: The CageExecutive ProducerMovie1965
Surf SceneSurf SceneExecutive ProducerMovie1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelfTV Series1962
The Lucy ShowThe Lucy ShowProducerTV Series1962
The Lucy ShowThe Lucy ShowDirectorTV Series1962
The VirginianThe VirginianEl JefeTV Series1962
The Mike Douglas ShowThe Mike Douglas ShowSelfTV Series1961
Dragon by the TailDragon by the TailExecutive ProducerMovie1961
Alcatraz ExpressExecutive ProducerMovie1961
Guestward, Ho!Guestward, Ho!DirectorTV Series1960
The Man in the Funny SuitSelf - HostMovie1960
The Man in the Funny SuitProducerMovie1960
The Gun of ZangaraExecutive ProducerMovie1960
NBC Sunday ShowcaseRicky RicardoTV Series1959
NBC Sunday ShowcaseDirectorTV Series1959
U.S. MarshallU.S. MarshallProducer's AssistantTV Series1958
U.S. MarshallU.S. MarshallExecutive ProducerTV Series1958
Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseWestinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSelf / AppearanceTV Series1958
The Ann Sothern ShowThe Ann Sothern ShowProducerTV Series1958
Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseWestinghouse Desilu PlayhouseExecutive In Charge Of ProductionTV Series1958
Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseWestinghouse Desilu PlayhouseCreatorTV Series1958
The TexanThe TexanProducerTV Series1958
The Fountain of YouthThe Fountain of YouthExecutive ProducerMovie1958
Colgate TheatreColgate TheatreExecutive ProducerTV Series1958
Strange WitnessStrange WitnessProducerMovie1958
The Lucy–Desi Comedy HourThe Lucy–Desi Comedy HourRicky RicardoTV Series1957
The Lucy–Desi Comedy HourThe Lucy–Desi Comedy HourDirectorTV Series1957
The Lucy–Desi Comedy HourThe Lucy–Desi Comedy HourProducerTV Series1957
The Lucy–Desi Comedy HourThe Lucy–Desi Comedy HourExecutive ProducerTV Series1957
The Walter Winchell FileThe Walter Winchell FileProducerTV Series1957
The Bob Hope Chevy ShowThe Bob Hope Chevy ShowFred MertzMovie1956
Tony AwardsTony AwardsSelf - PerformerTV Series1956
Forever, DarlingForever, DarlingLorenzo Xavier VegaMovie1956
Lucy's Really Lost MomentsLucy's Really Lost MomentsRicky RicardoMovie1956
Lucy's Really Lost MomentsLucy's Really Lost MomentsDirectorMovie1956
Lucy's Really Lost MomentsLucy's Really Lost MomentsWriterMovie1956
Lucy's Really Lost MomentsLucy's Really Lost MomentsProducerMovie1956
MGM ParadeMGM ParadeSelfTV Series1955
December BrideDecember BrideSelfTV Series1954
A Star Is Born World PremiereA Star Is Born World PremiereSelfMovie1954
The Long, Long TrailerThe Long, Long TrailerNicholas ColliniMovie1954
I Love Lucy: The MovieI Love Lucy: The MovieRicky Ricardo / SelfMovie1953
Cavalcade of AmericaCavalcade of AmericaExecutive ProducerTV Series1952
I Love LucyI Love LucyRicky RicardoTV Series1951
I Love LucyI Love LucyProducerTV Series1951
The Red Skelton ShowThe Red Skelton ShowSelfTV Series1951
The Bob Hope ShowThe Bob Hope ShowSelfTV Series1950
What's My Line?What's My Line?SelfTV Series1950
The Ed Wynn ShowSelfTV Series1949
Holiday in HavanaHoliday in HavanaCarlos EstradaMovie1949
The Emmy AwardsThe Emmy AwardsSelfTV Series1949
The Ed Sullivan ShowThe Ed Sullivan ShowSelfTV Series1948
Desi Arnaz and His OrchestraDesi Arnaz and His OrchestraSelfMovie1946
Cuban PeteCuban PeteDesi ArnazMovie1946
BataanBataanFelix RamirezMovie1943
The Navy Comes ThroughThe Navy Comes ThroughPat TarribaMovie1942
Four Jacks and a JillFour Jacks and a JillSteve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of AregalMovie1942
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2Self / AppearanceMovie1941
Father Takes a WifeFather Takes a WifeCarlos BardezMovie1941
Too Many GirlsToo Many GirlsManuelitoMovie1940
The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle SpecialThe Lucy-Desi Milton Berle SpecialSelf / AppearanceMovie—
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Bernadette EpisodeWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse Bernadette EpisodeHost (himself)Movie—
The Time ElementThe Time ElementHostMovie—