Desi Arnaz

Birth Name:

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha

Birth Place:

Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Profession

Producer, Actor, Soundtrack, Production manager, Director, Writer, Music department

After fleeing Cuba following a 1933 revolution, he started working as a musician in order to help support his family
Worked as the orchestra leader on Bob Hope's radio show in 1946
Quote: "Comedy needs heart and warmth, even a tear or two, not just a lot of slapstick laughs․"
Invented the concept of rerunning past episodes of a show, using multiple cameras during filming a show and the idea of performing before a live studio audience
Was widely recognized by his distinctive laugh and strong Spanish accent
Was a childhood friend of Sonny Capone, the son of notorious mobster Al Capone

Fast Facts