Desi Arnaz

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Desi Arnaz

Photo credit: 
TVA/PictureGroup/Invision/AP

Desi Arnaz

Date of Birth: March 02, 1917
Date of Passing: December 02, 1986
Birthplace: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American actor, musician, and television producer.

He is best remembered for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American television series sitcom I Love Lucy. He co-starred on that show with Lucille Ball, to whom he was married at the time.

He and Ball are generally credited as the inventors of the syndicated rerun, which they pioneered with the I Love Lucy series.

Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-born American actor, musician, and television producer.

He is best remembered for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the American television series sitcom I Love Lucy. He co-starred on that show with Lucille Ball, to whom he was married at the time.

He and Ball are generally credited as the inventors of the syndicated rerun, which they pioneered with the I Love Lucy series.

Arnaz and Ball cofounded and ran the television production company Desilu Productions, originally to market I Love Lucy to television networks. After I Love Lucy ended, Arnaz went on to produce several other television series, at first with Desilu Productions, and later independently; examples of which included The Ann Sothern Show and The Untouchables.

Desi Arnaz was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1991.

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Awards & Nominations

4 Nominations | 2 Emmys | 1 Honor
Hall of Fame - 1991
  • Winner
  • Desi Arnaz, as Honoree
BEST SITUATION COMEDY SERIES - 1955
  • Nominee
  • Desi Arnaz, Executive Producer
  • I Love Lucy
  • CBS
BEST SITUATION COMEDY - 1954
BEST SITUATION COMEDY - 1953
BEST COMEDY SHOW - 1952

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Bust of Desi Arnaz
Emmy Winners 1954
Classic Emmys—Harry Ackerman, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance
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Fill 1
Bust of Desi Arnaz
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Bust of Desi Arnaz in the Hall of Fame Garden. Sculpture by Ernest Shelton.

Emmy Winners 1954
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Winner for Best Comedy Show for I Love Lucy, (fourth from left) CBS Program Chief Harry Ackerman, actress Vivian Vance with her award for Best Supporting Actress, Dr. Frank Baxter with two LA Area Emmy Awards for Shakespeare on TV, actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz with their awards, and Mike Stokey with his award for the L.A. Area Show Juke Box Jury, at the Hollywood Palladium on February 21, 1954.

TVA/PictureGroup/Invision
Classic Emmys—Harry Ackerman, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance
Camera
TVA/PictureGroup via AP IMAGES
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