Desi Arnaz

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

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Saturday Night Live

The Mike Douglas Show

Ironside

Tony Awards

The Virginian

Alice

The Red Skelton Show

All Movies (36)

• A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music2025 · as Self/Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
• Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music2025 · as Self (archive footage)
• Lucy and Desi2022 · as Self (archive footage)
• My Darling Vivian2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• I Love Lucy Christmas Special2016 · as Ricky
• Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored2011 · as Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
• Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards2005 · as Manuelito (segment "Too Many Girls") (archive footage)
• Judy Garland: By Myself2004 · as Self (archive footage)
• TV in Black: The First Fifty Years2004 · as (archive footage)
• Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy2000 · as Self (archive footage)
• Television: The First Fifty Years1999 · as Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
• The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 11997
• Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie1993 · as Self
• Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage1983 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Escape Artist1982 · as Mayor Leon Quiñones
• CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years1976 · as Self
• Salsa1976 · as Self (archive footage)
• Joys1976 · as Self
• Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television1975 · as (archive footage)
• The Man in the Funny Suit1960 · as Self - Host
• The Bob Hope Chevy Show1956 · as Fred Mertz
• Forever, Darling1956 · as Lorenzo Xavier 'Larry' Vega
• Lucy's Really Lost Moments1956 · as Ricky Ricardo
• A Star Is Born World Premiere1954 · as Self
• The Long, Long Trailer1954 · as Nicky Collini
• I Love Lucy: The Movie1953 · as Ricky Ricardo / Self
• Holiday in Havana1949 · as Carlos Estrada
• Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra1946 · as Self
• Cuban Pete1946 · as Desi Arnaz
• Bataan1943 · as Felix Ramirez
• The Navy Comes Through1942 · as Pat Tarriba
• Four Jacks and a Jill1942 · as Steve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of Aregal
• Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 21941
• Father Takes a Wife1941 · as Carlos Bardez
• Too Many Girls1940 · as Manuelito Lynch
• The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special—

All TV Shows (25)

• E! True Hollywood Story1996
• Alice1976 · as Ruth
• Donny & Marie1976 · as Self
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Host & Musical Guest
• Land's End1968 · as Guest Waiting to Cash Check
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self (uncredited)
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self
• The Mothers-in-Law1967 · as Raphael Delgado
• Ironside1967 · as Dr. Juan Domingo
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Virginian1962 · as El Jefe
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• NBC Sunday Showcase1959 · as Ricky Ricardo
• Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse1958
• The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour1957 · as Ricky Ricardo
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Performer
• MGM Parade1955 · as Self
• December Bride1954 · as Self
• I Love Lucy1951 · as Ricky Ricardo
• The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Self
• The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Ed Wynn Show1949 · as Self
• The Emmy Awards1949 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self