From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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 the classic American TV series I Love Lucy, starring with Lucille Ball, to whom he was married at the time. Description above from the Wikipedia article Desi Arnaz,licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.