Desi Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Lucille Ball, 1953 | Source: Getty Images
- Desi Arnaz Jr. was born into fame, thanks to his legendary parents.
- He faced challenging times and numerous relationships before finding stability.
- The actor is a father and grandfather; however, he experienced the loss of one of them before making a return to the public eye in recent years.
Desi Jr. gained notoriety as a child but battled addiction issues. After regaining control of his life and stepping away from his playboy image, he married. Tragically, he lost his granddaughter and now prefers a life out of the spotlight, having taken a break from his career.
Desi Jr.’s Early Days
Desi Arnaz Jr., the son of the late Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, starred with his mother in “I Love Lucy,” a show that shaped his life, especially since his mother was pregnant with him while filming the series.
On January 19, 1953, viewers watched Lucille’s character, Lucy Ricardo, welcome a son, Ricky Ricardo, into the show. Today, at 73 years old, Desi Jr. noted that this episode was filmed four months before his birth, as the writers had already decided the character would be a boy.
The real-life son of the actress was born that Monday morning, while the episode featuring his birth aired that evening. To clarify any mix-up regarding his birth timing, Desi Jr. explained, “Since it was the headline in all the newspapers the next day, many people assumed I was born on-air.”
Viewers mistakenly thought that Lucille’s son began life playing Ricky, but that wasn’t the case; different actors depicted the role over the years. After “I Love Lucy” concluded, Lucille starred in another show called “Here’s Lucy.”
Considered the queen of television comedy, Lucille appeared in series such as “The Lucy Show.” In 1986, she returned to television in “Life With Lucy,” which struggled to find success. Three years later, she passed away from a heart attack following heart surgery.
At 77 years old, she left Desi Jr. orphaned, as his father had died years earlier. Although Lucille’s son pursued acting, he encountered personal issues that led him to step back from the spotlight, with addiction being one of his major battles.
Struggling with Addiction
Desi Jr. first rose to fame as a teenager in a pop rock group, “Dino, Desi, and Billy,” known for the song “I’m a Fool.” He made his acting debut alongside his older sister, Lucie Arnaz, in “Here’s Lucy” from 1968 to 1974. In 1970, he stepped into film with “Red Sky at Morning.”
This role earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Male Newcomer, and he also appeared in “Billy Two Hats.” However, by age 29, Desi Jr. faced serious difficulties: he described himself as “dangerously near terminal stage addiction.”
He struggled internally, often trying to numb his pain with alcohol and drugs. Lucille’s son confessed, “I was destroying myself,” adding, “I was tired of being myself.” His substance abuse had a profound impact on his parents.
Lucille once remarked, “I can’t express how much his addiction has caused us pain.” She admitted to trying to listen to and understand her son. The actress endeavored to be strong and brave during this challenging time, but it “tore me apart.”
After his parents divorced when he was six, he maintained a relationship with his father. At the age of 16, Desi Sr. carried on a family tradition by giving him an official letter that would be life-changing for the young actor.
This letter urged him to simplify his life and “learn from his struggles.” Lucille’s ex-husband advised their son, “The purpose of life isn’t fleeting rewards, but deeper, lasting happiness.”
Desi Jr.’s father’s guidance proved invaluable, eventually leading him to voluntarily enter rehab through a medical program. Lucille and her ex-husband were invited to accompany their son, which they did. Their youngest reflected that it was “probably the most amazing thing that could have happened.”
He recalled their support aiding him greatly. Entering rehab marked a turning point, and later, producers of “The Mambo Kings” offered him a role portraying his late father. Desi Sr. passed away in 1986, but his son declined the role.
At that time, his mother had just passed away, and he felt it wasn’t the right moment, but he later changed his mind.
Settling Down
In 1992, at age 38, Desi Jr. disclosed that he had finally settled down. Living in Nevada, he had remarried to a woman who taught dance, and together they had a 14-year-old daughter from her previous marriage.
The actor appeared to have calmed down significantly and worked for the New Life Foundation, a nonprofit for spiritual development, serving as a national spokesperson. He occasionally acted in theater and film when he felt it was worth it.
However, he clarified that he wasn’t pursuing a career, as he focused on reintroducing traditional values into his life, preferring a simplified lifestyle. Desi Jr. also had a biological daughter, Julia Howe, from a past relationship with former model Susan Callahan-Howe.
Desi Jr.’s Tumultuous Relationship with His Daughter
Throughout her childhood, Julia’s mother told her that her father was part of “Hollywood royalty.” After her grandmother Lucille’s passing, she resolved to handle everything herself, obtaining a court order for a DNA test, which confirmed her relation to Desi Jr. at 99.97% accuracy when she was 20.
Shortly after, the father-daughter duo began to forge a “beautiful relationship.” Julia knew he didn’t have to form a bond with her, but she believed he could have acknowledged her as his daughter after turning 18, yet chose not to.
Julia felt the connection with her father was short-lived. By age 25 in 1994, she was grappling with substance abuse while working near Manhattan and had nothing positive to say about him.
She expressed that all she wanted from Desi Jr. was for him to return her calls and letters. She noted that, although he helped others struggling with addiction and alcoholism, he hadn’t reached out to assist his own “flesh and blood,” adding, “Perhaps he’s weak, just like me.”
The connection between father and daughter seemed to improve over the years, with Julia revealing in 2021 how much he had supported her throughout her life. At 25, she noted that he helped her daughter, Desiree S. Anzalone, with her college education before the tragic loss of her granddaughter a few years back.
The Loss of His Granddaughter
Desi Jr. had developed a bond with his granddaughter before her death on September 27, 2020, from stage 4 breast cancer. The young woman, just 31 years old, lost her battle with the disease at the Smilow Cancer Center in Connecticut, having been born on September 15, 1989, to Julia and Mario Anzalone.
Desiree was the first great-granddaughter of Desi Sr. and Lucille. Her mother disclosed that she passed away “peacefully” but admitted that witnessing Desiree “fade away” was something she wouldn’t wish upon even her worst enemy. Julia believes it’s something no mother should have to experience.
Desiree was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at just 25 years old. After enduring chemotherapy, she ultimately opted for a double mastectomy, entering remission for a while but later learned that the cancer had returned.
The cancer had progressed to stage 4 and spread to her lungs, liver, and bones. Julia believes her daughter could have remained with them for a few more years, but the cancer advanced and the tumors grew larger. The family anticipated she would last through the holiday season.
The problem was that fluid kept accumulating around Desiree’s heart. She underwent surgeries, but the issue would reappear every two weeks. When Desiree passed away, she had just undergone surgery and was out 12 hours later.
Desiree sought to raise awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Her mother explained that she aimed to “inform girls her age because it happens; it’s rare, but it does happen.”
Desiree was keen for others to understand that regardless of age, anyone who notices something unusual should consult a physician. Although her situation was uncommon, similar cases do occur, yet they often go unspoken.
Individuals who experience what Desiree faced are generally in their late thirties, forties, and fifties. The late photographer wished to alert women like her about preventive measures. Ironically, she first received her diagnosis shortly after her birthday, just before Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Julia couldn’t spend much time with Desiree during her last days. Desi Jr.’s daughter explained that the virus kept them apart as she didn’t want Desiree to catch another illness.
She saw her daughter, although not as frequently as before, and they cherished their time together when the photographer was there. Luckily for Julia, her daughter lived with her for some time. Confirming Desi Jr.’s bond with his granddaughter, Julia emphasized how much time Desiree spent with him.
At one point, the granddaughter even lived with her grandfather for about four to five months. In 2008, the late photographer attended the TV Land Awards honoring her great-grandmother. Since Desiree’s passing, Desi Jr.’s sister has frequently shared her photos, garnering fan reactions.
Fans React to Desi Jr.’s New Look
Fans have had a glimpse of Desi Jr.’s appearance today since he stepped back from his career. For his birthday in 2022, Lucie posted a humorous photo on Instagram where she is seen kissing her brother’s cheek while he makes a funny face.
She captioned the post: “Who loves you, honey??? Happy birthday to my quirky big brother who turned 69 today!!! I love you, Desi.” The son of Lucille Ball sported short gray hair, complemented by a matching beard and mustache.
The following year, Lucie celebrated him again for his birthday with three Instagram photos. The first echoed the previous year’s post, showing her wrapping her arms around him while they both smiled.
The second seemed to depict what both siblings truly looked like in 2023. Lucie and her brother both sported gray hair, but this time, Desi Jr.’s beard and hair were wilder and longer. He also wore glasses and a cap. The third photo showed him receiving a hug from his sister.
He still had his gray hair and beard and once again wore glasses. Lucie wished him a “happy seventh decade, full of joy and health.” She declared her love for him, confirming once more that he never played the role of Ricky.
On August 3, 2024, Lucie shared the latest photos of her brother. In the first photo, she clung to his arm, resting her head on his shoulder while they posed together. Desi Jr.’s hair and mustache had grown even longer, and he wore a cap.
The difference in Lucie’s second photo was that she had her eyes open. The third and fourth images featured the sister and friends of Desi Jr. Lucie thanked Nick Luckinbill for hosting her family and their “special guest, my rebellious brother for dinner at Wally’s in Las Vegas.”
She confirmed that Desi Jr. was indeed alive but revealed he preferred to remain incognito. At that time, both siblings were in Las Vegas for the 35th anniversary of “Star Trek V,” celebrated at the Treksperts convention.
Fans rushed in to share their thoughts, with one commenting, “I really wonder why a rather handsome guy with some money (I assume) wants to look like a homeless person. Maybe he’s not doing so well.”
“Is that Desi behind that big beard? I think I recognize his beautiful eyes!”, another user wrote. A third follower, sharing a similar sentiment, admitted: “I would have never recognized him.” Another puzzled user questioned: “Is that Desi Jr. in the first two photos?”
