Desi Arnaz

Acting

Desi Arnaz

Born March 2, 1917Santiago, Cuba70 credits

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

5.0

A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music

Movie

2025

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
7.8

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

Movie

2025

Lucy and Desi
7.1

Lucy and Desi

Movie

2022

My Darling Vivian
6.8

My Darling Vivian

Movie

2020

I Love Lucy Christmas Special
10.0

I Love Lucy Christmas Special

Movie

2016

Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored

Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored

Movie

2011

Filmography

A
2025A Grammy Celebration of Latin Musicas Self/Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)Movie
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Musicas Self (archive footage)Movie
Lucy and Desi
2022Lucy and Desias Self (archive footage)Movie
My Darling Vivian
2020My Darling Vivianas Self (archive footage)Movie
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
2016I Love Lucy Christmas Specialas RickyMovie
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011Classic TV Bloopers Uncensoredas Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)Movie
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
2005Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awardsas Manuelito (segment "Too Many Girls") (archive footage)Movie
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004Judy Garland: By Myselfas Self (archive footage)Movie
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004TV in Black: The First Fifty Yearsas (archive footage)Movie
L
2000Lucille Ball: Finding Lucyas Self (archive footage)Movie
T
1999Television: The First Fifty Yearsas Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)Movie
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
1997The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1Movie
E! True Hollywood Story
1996E! True Hollywood StoryTV
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
1993Lucy and Desi: A Home Movieas SelfMovie
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footageas Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Movie
The Escape Artist
1982The Escape Artistas Mayor Leon QuiñonesMovie
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Yearsas SelfMovie
Alice
1976AliceTV
Salsa
1976Salsaas Self (archive footage)Movie
Joys
1976Joysas SelfMovie
Donny & Marie
1976Donny & Marieas SelfTV
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Televisionas (archive footage)Movie
Saturday Night Live
1975Saturday Night Liveas Self - Host & Musical GuestTV
L
1968Land's Endas Guest Waiting to Cash CheckTV
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-Inas Self (uncredited)TV
The Mothers-in-Law
1967The Mothers-in-Lawas Raphael DelgadoTV
Ironside
1967Ironsideas Dr. Juan DomingoTV
T
1966The Carol Channing ShowDirectorTV
Star Trek: The Cage
1965Star Trek: The CageExecutive ProducerMovie
Surf Scene
1963Surf SceneExecutive ProducerMovie
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas SelfTV
The Lucy Show
1962The Lucy ShowDirectorTV
The Virginian
1962The Virginianas El JefeTV
The Mike Douglas Show
1961The Mike Douglas Showas SelfTV
Dragon by the Tail
1961Dragon by the TailExecutive ProducerMovie
A
1961Alcatraz ExpressExecutive ProducerMovie
Guestward, Ho!
1960Guestward, Ho!DirectorTV
T
1960The Man in the Funny Suitas Self - HostMovie
N
1959NBC Sunday Showcaseas Ricky RicardoTV
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseTV
The Fountain of Youth
1958The Fountain of YouthExecutive ProducerMovie
Colgate Theatre
1958Colgate TheatreExecutive ProducerTV
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957The Lucy–Desi Comedy Houras Ricky RicardoTV
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
1956The Bob Hope Chevy Showas Fred MertzMovie
Tony Awards
1956Tony Awardsas Self - PerformerTV
Forever, Darling
1956Forever, Darlingas Lorenzo Xavier 'Larry' VegaMovie
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956Lucy's Really Lost Momentsas Ricky RicardoMovie
MGM Parade
1955MGM Paradeas SelfTV
December Bride
1954December Brideas SelfTV
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954A Star Is Born World Premiereas SelfMovie
The Long, Long Trailer
1954The Long, Long Traileras Nicky ColliniMovie
I Love Lucy: The Movie
1953I Love Lucy: The Movieas Ricky RicardoMovie
Cavalcade of America
1952Cavalcade of AmericaExecutive ProducerTV
I Love Lucy
1951I Love Lucyas Ricky RicardoTV
The Red Skelton Show
1951The Red Skelton Showas SelfTV
The Bob Hope Show
1950The Bob Hope Showas SelfTV
What's My Line?
1950What's My Line?as SelfTV
T
1949The Ed Wynn Showas SelfTV
Holiday in Havana
1949Holiday in Havanaas Carlos EstradaMovie
The Emmy Awards
1949The Emmy Awardsas SelfTV
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948The Ed Sullivan Showas SelfTV
Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra
1946Desi Arnaz and His Orchestraas SelfMovie
Cuban Pete
1946Cuban Peteas Desi ArnazMovie
Bataan
1943Bataanas Felix RamirezMovie
The Navy Comes Through
1942The Navy Comes Throughas Pat TarribaMovie
Four Jacks and a Jill
1942Four Jacks and a Jillas Steve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of AregalMovie
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
1941Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2Movie
Father Takes a Wife
1941Father Takes a Wifeas Carlos BardezMovie
Too Many Girls
1940Too Many Girlsas Manuelito LynchMovie
The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special
—The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle SpecialMovie