Desi Arnaz
Known for Acting · 60 credits
- Born
- 1917-03-02
- Died
- 1986-12-02
- Place of birth
- Santiago, Cuba
Biography
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
TV Shows (24)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Saturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host & Musical Guest
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
Ironside
1967
as Dr. Juan Domingo
What's My Line?
1950
as Self / Self - Panelist
The Virginian
1962
as El Jefe
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Performer
Alice
1976
as Ruth
I Love Lucy
1951
as Ricky Ricardo
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self (uncredited)
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
December Bride
1954
as Self
MGM Parade
1955
as Self
The Mothers-in-Law
1967
as Raphael Delgado
Donny & Marie
1976
as Self
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
as Ricky Ricardo
The Emmy Awards
1949
as Self
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
NBC Sunday Showcase
1959
as Ricky Ricardo
The Ed Wynn Show
1949
as Self
Land's End
1968
as Guest Waiting to Cash Check
Movies (36)
Joys
1976
as Self
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
2025
as Self (archive footage)
My Darling Vivian
2020
as Self (archive footage)
Cuban Pete
1946
as Desi Arnaz
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
as Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Lucy and Desi
2022
as Self (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as (archive footage)
A Star Is Born World Premiere
1954
as Self
Bataan
1943
as Felix Ramirez
The Escape Artist
1982
as Mayor Leon Quiñones
Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
2005
as Manuelito (segment "Too Many Girls") (archive footage)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011
as Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
The Long, Long Trailer
1954
as Nicky Collini
Forever, Darling
1956
as Lorenzo Xavier 'Larry' Vega
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975
as (archive footage)
A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music
2025
as Self/Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976
as Self
The Navy Comes Through
1942
as Pat Tarriba
I Love Lucy: The Movie
1953
as Ricky Ricardo
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004
as Self (archive footage)
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
1956
as Fred Mertz
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
1993
as Self
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
1941
The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
1997
Salsa
1976
as Self (archive footage)
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
as Self (archive footage)
Holiday in Havana
1949
as Carlos Estrada
Too Many Girls
1940
as Manuelito Lynch
Four Jacks and a Jill
1942
as Steve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of Aregal
I Love Lucy Christmas Special
2016
as Ricky
Father Takes a Wife
1941
as Carlos Bardez
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
as Ricky Ricardo
The Lucy-Desi Milton Berle Special
The Man in the Funny Suit
1960
as Self - Host
Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra
1946
as Self
About Desi Arnaz
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. With 60 credits spanning from 1940 to 2025, Desi Arnaz has appeared in 36 films and 24 TV shows.
Fans searching for Desi Arnaz movies, Desi Arnaz filmography, or the latest projects starring Desi Arnaz can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Desi Arnaz Movies
- Joys (1976) — as Self
- Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music (2025) — as Self (archive footage)
- My Darling Vivian (2020) — as Self (archive footage)
- Cuban Pete (1946) — as Desi Arnaz
- Television: The First Fifty Years (1999) — as Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
Where to Watch Desi Arnaz Films
Most Desi Arnaz movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Desi Arnaz, check our movies catalogue and browse page.