- Desi Arnaz Jr. started life as a star after being born to iconic parents.
- He later struggled with some serious issues and dated a lot before finally settling down.
- The actor had a child and granddaughter but lost one of them before fans saw him in recent years.
Desi Jr. found fame at a very young age before struggling with addiction issues. After he cleaned up his life and stopped being a playboy, he got married. He’s since lost his granddaughter and now prefers living out of the spotlight after putting his career on hold.
Desi Arnaz Jr. during “Lucy” A Tribute to Lucille Ball at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, on March 12, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
Desi Jr.’s Start in Life
Desi Arnaz Jr. is the famous son of the late Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, who appeared together on “I Love Lucy.” The show is significant in Desi Jr.’s life as his mother became pregnant with him while starring in it.
On January 19, 1953, viewers watched as Lucille’s character, Lucy Ricardo, gave birth to a son, Ricky Ricardo, on the sitcom. Desi Jr., now 77, once revealed that the episode got shot four months before his birth. The show’s writers had already decided that Lucille’s child on the sitcom would be a boy.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Jr. at home with in 1953 | Source: Getty Images
The actress’ real-life son was born on the morning of that Monday while the episode of his birth aired that same night. Clearing the confusion about his birth, Desi Jr. explained, “Because it was in all the newspapers the next day, many people thought that I was born on the air.”
Viewers continued believing that Lucille’s son started his life playing the role of Ricky, but he never did. Instead, several different actors played the character over the years. After “I Love Lucy” concluded a few years later, Desi Jr.’s mother moved on to star in the sitcom “Here’s Lucy.”
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Jr. in the back yard of their home, in Los Angeles, California, in 1957 | Source: Getty Images
Lucille was described as the queen of television comedy, having appeared in series like “The Lucy Show.” In 1986, she made her comeback by starring in the ill-fated “Life With Lucy.” Three years later, she died from cardiac arrest after having open-heart surgery.
She was 77 when she left Desi Jr. an orphan since his father passed on a few years before. Although Lucille’s child did get into acting, he had personal struggles that caused him to put his career on hold. One of his issues was addiction.
Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr. posing together, circa 1980 | Source: Getty Images
Struggling with Addiction
Desi Jr. became famous at age 14 as part of a pop rock band, “Dino, Desi, and Billy,” that released the track “I’m a Fool.” He got into acting by co-starring alongside his older sister, Lucie Arnaz, in “Here’s Lucy” from 1968 until 1974. In 1970, he got into film acting by featuring in “Red Sky at Morning.”
His role earned him a Golden Globe Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, and he also starred in “Billy Two Hats.” By age 29, things were quite difficult for Desi Jr. with him describing himself as “dangerously close to the terminal stage of (substance) abuse.”
Desi Arnaz Jr. photographed on the street, circa 1970, in New York | Source: Getty Images
He felt empty inside and tried self-medicating with alcohol and abusing substances. Lucille’s son confessed his distress saying, “I was destroying myself,” and added, “I got tired of being me.” His substance abuse affected his parents badly too.
Lucille once said, “I can’t tell you how much his addiction hurt us.” She admitted that she tried listening and being understanding to her son. The actress also tried to be strong and tough during that challenging time but “It tore me apart.”
Lucille Ball as Liz Cooper on the radio program, “My Favorite Husband” on December 15, 1948, Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
After his parents divorced when he was six, he maintained a relationship with his father. When his son turned 16, Desi Sr. followed a family tradition of giving him a formal letter. The letter, which saved the young actor’s life, marked Desi Jr.’s transition from being a boy into a man.
The older man urged his son to simplify his life and “learn from the difficulties.” Lucille’s ex-husband told their son, “The purpose in life is not the temporary rewards but a deeper lasting happiness.”
Lucy and Desi Arnaz posing for a photo, circa 1960 | Source: Getty Images
His father’s advice came in handy for Desi Jr., who finally voluntarily “detoxed” in a medical treatment program. Lucille and her ex-husband got invited to go with their son, and they did. Their lastborn child fondly recalled that it “was probably the most amazing thing that could have happened.”
He recalled how supportive they were, and what happened to him helped them tremendously. Going into rehabilitation helped Desi Jr. to recover and “The Mambo Kings” producers later asked him to star as his late father. Desi Sr. passed away in 1986, but his son declined to play the role.
Desi Arnaz Jr. during “Lucy” A Tribute to Lucille Ball in Universal City, California, on March 12, 1991 | Source: Getty Images
At the time, his mother had just died, and he felt the timing wasn’t quite right, but he later reconsidered. Between his struggles with substance abuse, Desi Jr. also had a busy romantic life.
Being a Playboy
At age 25, Desi Jr. confessed that years before, he used to be a playboy. From age 13, he thought he was in love despite not knowing what it was. But, by 25, his attitude was, “If it feels good, hang in there,” adding, “I guess I’m a playman.”
Desi Arnaz Jr. during “A Boy and Girl” premiere in Beverly Hills, California, on April 10, 1969 | Source: Getty Images
His playboy days got covered publicly. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School but chose not to go to college. At age 17, he dated 23-year-old Patty Duke. In his middle twenties, Desi Jr. called Patty a “friend” and refused to discuss their past.
His sister revealed that Patti had loved her brother but was quite unstable at the time. She was so into him that she chased him all over the country until he ended their relationship. He met Liza Minnelli at age three when she opened his bedroom door and introduced herself.
Desi Arnaz Jr. and Liza Minnelli at a black tie event, circa 1970, in New York | Source: Getty Images
Two years after dating Patti, he ran into her in Las Vegas after Cabaret, and they started a relationship when she was 26. For 18 months, the couple lived together, but according to him, they always traveled. Traveling that much was hard on their relationship.
Liza ended up leaving Desi Jr. for Peter Sellers. After Sellers, and before the actress separated from her second husband, Jack Haley Jr., she saw Desi Jr. in New York. Speaking of his bond with Liza, Lucille’s son said they now know each other better because they know themselves better.
Liza Minnelli and Desi Arnaz, Jr. at a black tie event, circa 1970, in New York | Source: Getty Images
He also had relationships with Kim Darby, and Tina Sinatra, and tried seeing skater Dorothy Hamill. His and Dorothy’s only date backfired when he introduced her to Dino Martin. Desi Jr.’s friend and former pop-rock bandmate became her doubles partner, with the former saying, “I wasn’t jealous then,” but “now I am.”
Dino recalled, “Desi was in love three times a week in those days.” During the time they had their band, Dino was the “wild man,” Billy Hinsche was the best musician, and Lucille’s son was “the lover of the group.”
Liza Minnelli and Desi Arnaz Jr. at the 44th Academy Awards on April 10, 1972, in Los Angeles | Source: Getty Images
Dino said they didn’t have a shortage of groupies who were “10 to 12 years old.” Despite having a busy love life when he was younger, the actor eventually settled down and had a family.
Settling Down
In 1992, Desi Jr. was 38 when he revealed that he’d finally settled down. He lived in Nevada and had remarried a wife who was a dance teacher. The couple shared a 14-year-old daughter from his wife’s first marriage.
Desi Arnaz Jr. with his wife Amy, circa 1995 | Source: Getty Images
The actor appeared to have calmed down drastically and worked for the New Life Foundation, a nonprofit spiritual development program, as its national spokesperson. On occasion, when he felt they were worth it, he did theater work and movies.
But he clarified that he wasn’t chasing after a career as he focused on putting back old-fashioned values in his life. He was more interested in living a simple life. But Desi Jr. also had a biological child, Julia Howe, from a fling with ex-model Susan Callahan-Howe.
