Desi Arnaz

Desi Arnaz

Birth : 1917-03-02, Santiago, Cuba

Death : 1986-12-02

History

Desi Arnaz (1917 – 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.

Profile

Desi Arnaz

Movies

Lucy and Desi
Self (archive footage)
Explore the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz risked everything to be together.
My Darling Vivian
Self (archive footage)
The story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and the mother of his four daughters. Includes never-before-seen footage and photographs of Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash, as well as footage featuring Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Tim Robbins, Whoopi Goldberg, John C. Reilly and many more.
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Ricky
Celebrate the holidays with the I LOVE LUCY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, a new one-hour special featuring two back-to-back colorized classic episodes of the series. In "The Fashion Show," Lucy's lifelong dream of appearing in a motion picture seems to have come true when Ricky arranges for her to play a showgirl in a new musical. Unfortunately, the enormous feathered headdress she is expected to wear as she descends a staircase proves to be too cumbersome. After numerous mishaps on the stairs, the musical's frustrated director decides to make a change.
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Himself
A compilation of television's biggest and best stars as they are caught in hilarious moments while filming. See stars and blooper moments from such hits as I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Happy Days, M*A*S*H*, The Andy Griffith Show, Laverne and Shirley and so many more! Its a nonstop marathon of outtakes, goofs, blunders and gag reels that will have you laughing out loud. You'll see such megastars as Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Dick Van Dyke, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ron Howard, Elizabeth Taylor and many more. A collection to show you that stars aren't quite as perfect as they would have us believe! Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Manuelito (segment "Too Many Girls")
Broadway royalty and Tony-winners Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein are your hosts for this third compilation of great musical performances from the archives of the Tony Award® broadcasts. Legendary stars from legendary shows strut their stuff in 23 performances that have become part of Broadway history.
Judy Garland: By Myself
Himself
As Hollywood biographies go, Judy Garland's story is one of the saddest success stories you'll ever hear. The sanitized studio version of her life presented a smiling kid with the big voice, who, alongside Mickey Rooney, just wanted to put on a show. But drugs, overwork, even psychological abuse at the hands of the studio is now part of the Garland legend. But despite the number of Garland books and documentaries, one account has always been missing -- Garland herself never managed to write a memoir. She did make several attempts at an autobiography, often recording stories on a tape recorder. Judy Garland: By Myself (2004), finally fills in the blanks - using Judy's personal recordings to tell the story in her own words.
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
(archive footage)
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and historians discuss the image of black America on television from Amos and Andy to the present day. The interviews accompany clips from groundbreaking shows and performances by entertainment pioneers that create a timeline of the portrayal of African Americans throughout TV history.
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
In THE FUNNY WORLD OF LUCY, you'll hear in Lucy's own words how she went from a school girl in Jamestown, N. Y., to a Hollywood starlet. You'll see Lucy in some of her earliest films and hear what it was like to work with the Marx Brothers in ROOM SERVICE. You're invited for one of TV's most historic moments, "the birth of Little Ricky". Learn how Lucy's career almost came to an end when she was branded as a "communist". It's all here -including Lucy & Desi in the movies LONG, LONG TRAILER and FOREVER DARLING. You'll also see rare television guest appearances on TOAST OF THE TOWN, I'VE GOT A SECRET, and more. You'll watch as DESILU Productions buys the very studio Lucy started out in. It's all here; enjoy the incredible, fun filled adventures of our favorite redhead. Join Lucy, Desi, Fred & Ethel in this unique one of a kind collection.
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Self
Emmy Award-Winning Special Desi and Lucy's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, hosts this emotional and honest glimpse at the extraordinary lives of her world-famous parents, highlighted by never-before-seen color family movies along with insightful interviews from family members, business associates and celebrity friends such as Bob Hope. Winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Special, LUCY & DESI: A HOME MOVIE is a sensitive and absorbing documentary that details the circumstances which brought the immortal twosome together and ultimately drove them apart.
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Himself (archive footage)
Out-takes (mostly from Warner Bros.), promotional shorts, movie premieres, public service pleas, wardrobe tests, documentary material, and archival footage make up this star-studded voyeuristic look at the Golden age of Hollywood during the 30s, 40, and 50.
The Escape Artist
Mayor Leon Quiñones
The young and self-confident Danny bluffs at the local police-station that he will escape from prison within an hour. What follows is a flashback showing his childhood with his uncle and aunt, who are 'vaudeville'-artists themselves.
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
CBS honors Lucille Ball with this celebration of her three CBS series: I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy.
Salsa
Self (archive footage)
Documentary about Salsa music with interviews with major Latin stars
Joys
Self
Over fifty of the greatest living comedians are called to a party at Bob Hope's house, where each of them is systematically killed (and their bodies thrown in Hope's pool!). Hope and the rapidly shrinking cast try to discover who is the mysterious killer known only as "Joys."
The Fountain of Youth
Executive Producer
A couple is conflicted when they are offered a chance at youth. Based on John Collier's short story “Youth from Vienna”.
Forever, Darling
Lorenzo Xavier "Larry" Vega
Susan and Lorenzo have been married for over five years and they are starting to drift apart. So into her life comes an angel, which only Susan can see, to tell her that there will be trouble ahead if they do not work out their problems. Lorenzo is developing insecticide #383 at Finlay Vega Chemical Co. and plans to test it on a camping trip that he takes with Susan, but the trip becomes an obstacle course for him.
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Producer
The legendary Lucille Ball as you've never seen her before! Laugh along with Lucy and Desi in these extremely rare television appearances, beautifully restored! Includes a rare appearance of the I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show and the lost Lucy pilot. A must-have collection of gems from the first lady of comedy! - The I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show - Westinghouse special with Lucy and Desi - Segment with Lucy on the game show I've Got a Secret with panelist Johnny Carson - A rare lost Lucy pilot directed by Desi.
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Writer
The legendary Lucille Ball as you've never seen her before! Laugh along with Lucy and Desi in these extremely rare television appearances, beautifully restored! Includes a rare appearance of the I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show and the lost Lucy pilot. A must-have collection of gems from the first lady of comedy! - The I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show - Westinghouse special with Lucy and Desi - Segment with Lucy on the game show I've Got a Secret with panelist Johnny Carson - A rare lost Lucy pilot directed by Desi.
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Director
The legendary Lucille Ball as you've never seen her before! Laugh along with Lucy and Desi in these extremely rare television appearances, beautifully restored! Includes a rare appearance of the I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show and the lost Lucy pilot. A must-have collection of gems from the first lady of comedy! - The I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show - Westinghouse special with Lucy and Desi - Segment with Lucy on the game show I've Got a Secret with panelist Johnny Carson - A rare lost Lucy pilot directed by Desi.
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Ricky Ricardo
The legendary Lucille Ball as you've never seen her before! Laugh along with Lucy and Desi in these extremely rare television appearances, beautifully restored! Includes a rare appearance of the I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show and the lost Lucy pilot. A must-have collection of gems from the first lady of comedy! - The I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show - Westinghouse special with Lucy and Desi - Segment with Lucy on the game show I've Got a Secret with panelist Johnny Carson - A rare lost Lucy pilot directed by Desi.
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
Live television broadcast of the world premiere. Described by various participants as the biggest world premiere in memory, even bigger than the Academy Awards.
The Long, Long Trailer
Nicky Collini
A newly wed couple, Tacy and Nicky, travel in a trailer for their honeymoon. The journey is a humorous one that could end up destroying their marriage.
I Love Lucy: The Movie
Ricky Ricardo
The film plays out, with three first-season episodes edited together into a single story: "The Benefit", "Breaking the Lease", and "The Ballet", with new footage included between episodes to help transition the episodes into one coherent storyline. As the series routinely took the format of filming scenes in chronological order, this adds to the "show within a show within a show" format of the film, as viewers watch the cast perform the episodes live. The film itself ends with a "curtain call", as the cast comes out and Arnaz thanks the audience for their support.
Holiday in Havana
Carlos Estrada
While working as a hotel busboy, aspiring bandleader Carlos Estrada tries to persuade singer Lolita Valdez to join him in a rhumba contest in Havana.
Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra
Himself
After a career on the stage and in movies, Desi Arnaz is introduced in this short as an orchestra leader.
Cuban Pete
Himself
Unable to complete the deal by telephone, advertising executive Roberts sends his assistant Ann to Cuba to lure a Cuban band, led by Desi Arnaz, on to an American radio program. Attracted to Ann, Arnaz and his band come to New York but complications arise when the squeaky-voiced, addle-brained sponsor of the program decides she wants to be the vocalist on the program.
Bataan
Felix Ramirez
During Japan's invasion of the Philippines in 1942, Capt. Henry Lassiter, Sgt. Bill Dane and a diverse group of American soldiers are ordered to destroy and hold a strategic bridge in order to delay the Japanese forces and allow Gen. MacArthur time to secure Bataan. When the Japanese soldiers begin to rebuild the bridge and advance, the group struggles with not only hunger, sickness and gunfire, but also the knowledge that there is likely no relief on the way.
The Navy Comes Through
Pat Tarriba
A U.S. Navy crew aboard a merchant marine ship battle Nazis.
Four Jacks and a Jill
Steve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of Aregal
Karanina "Nina" Novak, is befriended by Nifty, the leader of a four-piece orchestra, and in return, secures an engagement for them at the Little Aregal Cafe, with herself as the vocalist, by pretending she once knew the King or Aregal back in the old country. Steve shows up pretending to be the King of Aregal, and complicates the growing romance between Nina and Nifty. When Steve runs off with Opa, the real King of Aregal (also Steve) appears and complicates things again.
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
Hedda Hopper plays hostess at a party for her (grown) son William (DeWolfe Jr.). Hopper, attends the dedication of the Motion Picture Relief Fund's country home and goes to the Mocambo. There is also a sequence dedicated to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin world premiere of the first short in this series attended by more that a few film stars.
Father Takes a Wife
Carlos Bardez
A famous actress has to win over her ready-made family when she weds a shipping magnate.
Too Many Girls
Manuelito Lynch
Mr. Casey's daughter, Connie, wants to go to Pottawatomie College and without her knowledge, he sends four football players as her bodyguards. The college is in financial trouble and her bodyguards use their salary to help the college. The football players join the college team, and the team becomes one of the best. One of the football players, Clint, falls in love with Connie, but when she discovers he is her bodyguard, she decides to go back East. The bodyguards follow her, leaving the team in the lurch.