Desi Arnaz, Jr.

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV (born January 19, 1953), better known as Desi Arnaz Jr., is a retired American actor and musician. He is the son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Early life Arnaz was born on January 19, 1953, at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California. His older sister is actress Lucie Arnaz, who was born in 1951. His birth was one of the most publicized in television history. His parents were the stars of the television sitcom I Love Lucy, and Ball's pregnancy was part of the story line, which was considered daring in 1952. The same day Ball gave birth to Desi Jr., the fictional Lucy Ricardo gave birth to "Little Ricky." As a testament to how interested the American public was in Lucy's TV baby, Arnaz appeared on the cover of the very first issue of TV Guide with the headline "Lucy's $50,000,000 baby," ($ in dollars) because revenue from advertising tie-ins was expected to top that mark. Actor Richard Keith (a.k.a. Keith Thibodeaux) later portrayed "Little Ricky" in the TV series; Keith spent much time with Lucie and Desi Jr. in childhood and became close friends with the family, teaching Desi Jr. how to play drums. Arnaz attended University High School in West Los Angeles.