Desi Arnaz
Acting Born Mar 2, 1917 Died Dec 2, 1986 Santiago, Cuba 98 credits
Biography
Desi Arnaz works in acting. Born March 2, 1917 in Santiago, Cuba. Died December 2, 1986. Archytele tracks 98 screen credits across canonical film and television databases.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL MusicA Grammy Celebration of Latin Music
Lucy and Desi
My Darling Vivian
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Judy Garland: By MyselfTV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
Television: The First Fifty Years
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
E! True Hollywood Story
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
The Escape Artist
AliceDonny & MarieSalsaJoysCBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Saturday Night LiveTexaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InRowan & Martin's Laugh-InLand's EndLand's End · WriterLand's End · Director
IronsideThe Mothers-in-LawThe Mothers-in-Law · DirectorThe Mothers-in-Law · Executive Producer
The Carol Channing Show · ProducerThe Carol Channing Show · Director
Star Trek: The Cage · Executive Producer
Surf Scene · Executive Producer
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonThe VirginianThe Lucy Show · DirectorThe Lucy Show · Producer
The Mike Douglas ShowAlcatraz Express · Executive ProducerDragon by the Tail · Executive Producer
Guestward, Ho! · DirectorThe Gun of Zangara · Executive ProducerThe Man in the Funny SuitThe Man in the Funny Suit · Producer
NBC Sunday ShowcaseNBC Sunday Showcase · Director
The Texan · ProducerWestinghouse Desilu PlayhouseWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse · Executive In Charge Of ProductionWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse · CreatorThe Ann Sothern Show · Producer
The Walter Winchell File · ProducerThe Lucy–Desi Comedy HourThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour · DirectorThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour · ProducerThe Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour · Executive Producer
Tony AwardsU.S. Marshall · Producer's AssistantForever, DarlingThe Bob Hope Chevy ShowLucy's Really Lost Moments
MGM Parade
December BrideThe Long, Long TrailerA Star Is Born World Premiere
Full Filmography
98 titles- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) as Self (archive footage)
- A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music (2025) as Self/Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
- Lucy and Desi (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- My Darling Vivian (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- I Love Lucy Christmas Special (2016) as Ricky
- Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored (2011) as Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
- Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards (2005) as Manuelito (segment "Too Many Girls") (archive footage)
- Judy Garland: By Myself (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) as (archive footage)
- Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) as Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
- The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1 (1997)
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
- Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie (1993) as Self
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Escape Artist (1982) as Mayor Leon Quiñones
- Alice (1976) as Ruth
- Donny & Marie (1976) as Self
- Salsa (1976) as Self (archive footage)
- Joys (1976) as Self
- CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years (1976) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host & Musical Guest
- Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television (1975) as (archive footage)
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self (uncredited)
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1968) as Self
- Land's End (1968) as Guest Waiting to Cash Check
- Land's End (1968) Writer
- Land's End (1968) Director
- Land's End (1968) Producer
- Land's End (1968) Creator
- Ironside (1967) as Dr. Juan Domingo
- The Mothers-in-Law (1967) as Raphael Delgado
- The Mothers-in-Law (1967) Director
- The Mothers-in-Law (1967) Executive Producer
- The Carol Channing Show (1966) Producer
- The Carol Channing Show (1966) Director
- Star Trek: The Cage (1965) Executive Producer
- Surf Scene (1963) Executive Producer
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Virginian (1962) as El Jefe
- The Lucy Show (1962) Director
- The Lucy Show (1962) Producer
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Alcatraz Express (1961) Executive Producer
- Dragon by the Tail (1961) Executive Producer
- Guestward, Ho! (1960) Director
- The Gun of Zangara (1960) Executive Producer
- The Man in the Funny Suit (1960) as Self - Host
- The Man in the Funny Suit (1960) Producer
- NBC Sunday Showcase (1959) as Ricky Ricardo
- NBC Sunday Showcase (1959) Director
- The Texan (1958) Producer
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958)
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958) Executive In Charge Of Production
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (1958) Creator
- The Ann Sothern Show (1958) Producer
- Colgate Theatre (1958) Executive Producer
- The Fountain of Youth (1958) Executive Producer
- Strange Witness (1958) Producer
- The Walter Winchell File (1957) Producer
- The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1957) as Ricky Ricardo
- The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1957) Director
- The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1957) Producer
- The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (1957) Executive Producer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer
- U.S. Marshall (1956) Producer's Assistant
- Forever, Darling (1956) as Lorenzo Xavier Vega
- The Bob Hope Chevy Show (1956) as Fred Mertz
- Lucy's Really Lost Moments (1956) as Ricky Ricardo
- Lucy's Really Lost Moments (1956) Director
- Lucy's Really Lost Moments (1956) Writer
- Lucy's Really Lost Moments (1956) Producer
- MGM Parade (1955) as Self
- December Bride (1954) as Self
- The Long, Long Trailer (1954) as Nicholas Collini
- A Star Is Born World Premiere (1954) as Self
- I Love Lucy: The Movie (1953) as Ricky Ricardo / Self
- Cavalcade of America (1952) Executive Producer
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Self
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Ricky Ricardo
- I Love Lucy (1951) Producer
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- The Emmy Awards (1949) as Self
- The Ed Wynn Show (1949) as Self
- Holiday in Havana (1949) as Carlos Estrada
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Cuban Pete (1946) as Desi Arnaz
- Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra (1946) as Self
- Bataan (1943) as Felix Ramirez
- The Navy Comes Through (1942) as Pat Tarriba
- Four Jacks and a Jill (1942) as Steve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of Aregal
- Father Takes a Wife (1941) as Carlos Bardez
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 (1941)
- Too Many Girls (1940) as Manuelito
- The Time Element as Host
- The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special
- Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Bernadette Episode as Host (himself)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Desi Arnaz best known for?
Desi Arnaz is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Shaft in Africa (1973), 1900 (1976), Saturday Night Live (1975), Man of the Year (2006).
When and where was Desi Arnaz born?
Desi Arnaz was born on March 2, 1917 in Santiago, Cuba. They passed away on December 2, 1986.
How many credits does Desi Arnaz have?
Desi Arnaz has accumulated over 98 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1940 to 2025.
What is Desi Arnaz's background in cinema and television?
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.