Photo credits: Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum/Instagram and Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill/Instagram
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were two of the most popular and well-known celebrities in the 1950s and the following decades. The two became one of Hollywood’s first power couples as they starred as husband and wife in I Love Lucy. However, the show’s popularity far outlasted the couple’s marriage as they divorced in 1960. Many believed their two children would go on to be superstars, but that never seemed to happen.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz: American Icons
Despite 70 years passing since the debut of I Love Lucy, most Americans still recognize the popular character and her husband, Ricky Ricardo. The show is fondly remembered as depicting an ideal American family, while also showing their imperfections.
Lucy and Ricky were more than just co-stars in a TV show, the two were married in real life and had two kids together.
I Love Lucy stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz married in 1940, almost a decade before the show started. They starred as husband and wife on the show from 1951 until its cancellation in 1957. Unfortunately, the couple’s marriage would only last a few more years as the duo divorced in 1960.
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Lucy gave birth to her and Desi’s only two children while filming the show. She was pregnant with their daughter during the filming of the pilot episode, but her pregnancy was never mentioned.
Lucille gave birth by the time the series was greenlit and started full production. However, she got pregnant with Desi Jr. before the second season began filming. The show’s writers and producers used the pregnancy to their advantage by creating a new character, Ricky Jr..
Fans had a vested interest in Lucille and Desi’s marriage after watching them on TV for so many years. Despite the divorce, Lucille and Desi managed to continue on as friends. The pair remained very close until Desi passed away in 1986.
Desi Jr. and Lucie Arnaz Carrying a Legacy
Although Lucille and Desi have long passed on, their two children are still around. Desi Jr., better known as Ricky Jr., played in a band with Dean Martin’s son and also went on to star in a few TV shows and movies.
Desi Jr. also had a vibrant social life, dating Patty Duke and Liza Minelli before marrying Linda Purl. He has two children, including one with Purl and another with former girlfriend, Susan Callahan-Howe.
Lucille and Desi’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz largely followed in her parent’s footsteps. She starred in her own show titled The Lucie Arnaz Show and later starred in The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Outside of television, Lucie starred in Broadway productions and also appeared in several films.
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Both Desi Jr. and Lucie have remained relatively quiet in recent years, though they have made some appearances together to recognize their parents. They also worked on Being the Ricardos together back in 2021.
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However, they had not been seen together in public for many years, leading some to question the two’s overall health. Those fears were put to rest in early August after Lucie shared a photo on Instagram of her and her brother.
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