Collectively they created one of the vital iconic sitcoms ever with I Love Lucy, however Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz have been extra than simply actors on the small display — they have been additionally dad and mom to 2 youngsters.
After tying the knot in 1940, the well-known couple welcomed their first youngster, daughter Lucie, in 1951. Nonetheless, that wouldn’t be it for the ability pair, as they might have a second toddler two years later — this time a boy they named Desi Arnaz Jr. Sadly, after 20 years of marriage, the celebs would name it quits on their relationship.
“They have been preventing on a regular basis once we have been rising up. There was plenty of anger and screaming,” the duo’s eldest youngster as soon as exclusively told Closer Weekly of her dad and mom. “Their divorce was horrible. After which there was the alcoholism. I had most popular these issues had by no means been there. We didn’t have any abuse, however we did undergo some fairly laborious stuff and that’s why my dad and mom didn’t keep collectively.”
Lucie Désirée Arnaz
Identical to her star dad and mom, Lucie additionally went the Hollywood route, changing into an actress, singer and producer. As a baby, she would make walk-on roles on her mother’s legendary present, ultimately changing into an everyday on Right here’s Lucy — she after all performed Lucy’s daughter on display.
Lucie additionally discovered herself engaged on stage and in movies, incomes a Golden Globe nomination for the latter for her efficiency in 1980’s The Jazz Singer.
Lucie has been married to fellow actor Laurence Luckinbill since 1980. They share three kids.
Even with the up and down relationship that her people had, Lucie nonetheless remembers them being particular folks. “She was very variety to her followers and all the time took time for them,” Lucie as soon as recalled to Closer Weekly of her mom. “She taught me that if they arrive up and trouble you when you’re consuming your dinner, don’t get loopy. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have something. And my father was the identical approach: very beneficiant, very appreciative, very grateful for each single little bit of it.”
Lucie had nothing however variety phrases to say about her late dad who helped put I Love Lucy on the map. “After many, a few years, a number of persons are acknowledging what was created and that the present was historic and pioneering for tv,” she defined. “It’s not all him and he by no means took credit score for all of that himself. He credit the folks he was good sufficient to rent, who discovered do a three-camera present in entrance of a dwell viewers on movie, which had by no means been achieved earlier than.”
Director Aaron Sorkin labored for years to develop a movie based mostly on Lucy and Desi’s relationship. It was introduced that the movie, Being the Ricardos, could be launched by Amazon Studios in December 2021. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem have been tapped to play the enduring tv couple. Earlier than manufacturing started on Being the Ricardos, Aaron met with Lucie and Desi Jr. to debate how their guardian’s relationship could be portrayed within the movie. They served as govt producers on the movie.
“All of us had lunch collectively, and she or he mentioned to me, ‘I do know my mom wasn’t a simple girl. Take the gloves off.’ In different phrases, you may go for it,” Aaron advised The Hollywood Reporter in November 2021 about his dialog with Lucie.
Lucie noticed a complicated screening of Being the Ricardos in October 2021. She admitted in an Instagram video that the film is “freaking superb” and that Nicole and Javier’s portrayal of her dad and mom has her full approval. The actress applauded Aaron for having the ability to seize “the essence of that point of their lives so nicely.”
Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV
No shock right here, however Desiderio — higher often known as Desi Arnaz Jr. — additionally discovered himself within the leisure business, as he grew to become an actor and a singer. Desi was well-known from delivery, showing on the quilt of the primary ever TV information, after his mother made her being pregnant part of a storyline on the sitcom.
Not solely was Desi in a band referred to as Dino, Desi, & Billy, however he additionally appeared in Right here’s Lucy alongside his huge sister and mom. He additionally hosted Saturday Night Live, starred with Melanie Griffith within the movie Joyride and even performed his personal dad within the film The Mambo Kings. Desi is a father of two.
In recent times, he’s been preserving a reasonably low profile in Hollywood. In August 2024, he was seen in rare photos posted on Lucie’s Instagram web page. Followers have been delighted to see him reappear after so a few years away from the highlight.
“Desi is alive and nicely, my friends- simply likes to remain a bit ‘undercover’” Lucie assured her followers in her caption.
