His mother outlived him by almost two years. [34] He was an advocate for the Hispanic community, encouraging them to take the 1980 census to increase federal funding for their communities.[35]. 'Desi Wanted Out', After a lengthy and publicized divorce, Miss Ball bought all of Mr. Arnaz's stock in Desilu for $3 million in 1962, and became the company's president. 2023 SheMedia, LLC. He was 69 years old. 27 febrero, 2023 . . Desi Jr. married his second wife, Amy Laura Bargiel, on October 8, 1987, and they have a daughter, Haley. Amy Arnaz was born on September 12, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Alberto was released after six months when his brother-in-law, Alberto de Acha, intervened. Since he had been in a coma for a few days before his death, Lucie said that Ball was the last person he spoke to other than herself and a nurse. Desi Arnaz died on December 2, 1986, of complications related to lung cancer. According to Hollywood lore, when Vance heard the news of his death, she shouted, "Champagne. Market research indicated, however, that this scenario would not be popular, so Jess Oppenheimer changed it to make Ricky Ricardo a struggling young orchestra leader and Lucy an ordinary housewife who had show business fantasies but no talent. I can tell you not to smoke, and I can tell you that I would like to be remembered as the man who was responsible for Lucy. In return, they retained the rights to the films. Edith Mack Hirsch's nationality Edith was an American; she was birthed in Illinois. Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think youll love as much as we do. For more about Lucille Ball, read her autobiography, Love, Lucy. In 1940, Arnaz starred in the movie version of the show, alongside his future wife, Lucille Ball. He was a musician, bandleader, comedian, actor, TV producer and revolutionaries altogether. It followed the life of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), a middle class housewife in 1950s New York City, who either concocted plans with her best friends (Vance & Frawley) to appear alongside her bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz) in his nightclub, or tried numerous schemes to mingle with, or be a part of the upper class. If you're still mourning his loss, you may have questions about how Desi Arnaz died and what caused his death. The same year, the company purchased the four-block RKO-Radio Pictures plant in Hollywood and its sprawling subsidiary in Culver City, making Desilu the largest motion picture and television studio in the world. It was from smoking those Cuban cigars; thats the truth, he said. damso a combien de disque d'or; gino d'acampo risotto; lancome absolue powder discontinued; how to remove radio button in word; newk's caesar dressing recipe. Desi Arnazs cause of death, career, children, and films explained. The couple fell in love and married on November 30, 1940. [58], Arnaz was portrayed by Oscar Nuez in I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom, a comedy about how Arnaz and Ball battled to get their sitcom on the air. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Arnaz and Ball fell in love during the film's production and eloped on November 30, 1940. She called Ball over the phone and told her "If you want to say anything at all, now's a good time." She gave the phone to . Arnaz and Lucille Ball were married on November 30, 1940. Doctors told the Los Angeles Times after Arnaz died at 69 that his habit of smoking Cuban cigars played a huge role in his eventual death. At the time, Lucy was engaged, and Desi was also involved in a serious relationship. There's not much info on the ceremony, nevertheless, it was surely a lavish one. According to People, Ball had woken up after the surgery conscious and alert, which is why she was released. By 1957, Desilu owned a music-publishing firm, a record company, much California real estate and the Desi Arnaz Western Hills Hotel in Palm Springs (which advertised television sets in every room). Lucy and Ethel were partners in comedic mischief; whenever Ricky became particularly exasperated, his broken English would degenerate into a torrent of Spanish epithets. Thanks to his Hollywood connections, Arnaz was able to bring celebrities to visit the hospital and boost morale of the soldiers. Arnaz owned the Indian Wells Country Club in Palm Desert, CA. "[29] Arnaz made a guest appearance on the TV series Alice, in 1978 starring Linda Lavin and produced by I Love Lucy co-creators Madelyn Pugh (Madelyn Davis) and Bob Carroll, Jr.[30] His last acting role was as Mayor Leon Quiones in the 1982 film, The Escape Artist. Cause of Death Explained, Career, Films & Children, The Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 Episode 2 Preview, Release Date and Watch Online, KGF Chapter 2 Release Date Confirmed, January 2021: Read to Know More, Tory Lanez Height: How Tall is Lanez? Read More . Celia was reportedly at a hospice where she died within six hours of Billy's death. She was previously married to Desi Arnaz Jr. and Gary Frederick Charf. Desi Arnaz's death was caused by lung cancer. (Arnazs second wife, Edith Mack Hirsch (whom he married in 1963, three years after his divorce from Ball), passed a year before his death in 1985.) Hunter explained that when blood vessels lose this elasticity and support, it makes them more liable to tear and rupture.. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? But what seems to escape most of these imitations is the extraordinary discipline and intuitive understanding of farce that gives 'I Love Lucy' its engaging lilt and lift.''. [6], After finishing high school, Arnaz formed a band, the Siboney Septet, and began making a name for himself in Miami. The use of film enabled every station around the country to broadcast high-quality images of the show. When asked about returning to television in a 1976 newspaper article, Arnaz said, "People ask me to go back on TV but the thin' is, it's too tough competing with the Ricky Ricardo of 20 years ago. Cuban bandleader with the Desi Arnaz Orchestra who also played Ricky Ricardo on the TV show I Love Lucy. Desi Arnaz, an actor, musician and producer and an important figure in the history of television, died yesterday of cancer at his home in Del Mar, Calif. Billy Hinsche, singer in the Sixties boy band Dino, Desi and Billy and longtime member of the Beach Boys' touring unit, has died at the age of 70.. Lucie Arnaz the daughter of Lucille Ball . Arnaz as Ricky led the band at the mythical Tropicana Club and devoted his offstage efforts trying to placate the Lucy he wanted to be only a simple housewife. This material included Here's Lucy and The Mothers-In-Law, as well as many programs and specials Ball and Arnaz made independently of each other.[20]. star attended St. Patrick Catholic High School in Miami Beach. Here is all there is to know about his demise and his family. After the Cuban Revolution of 1933, Arnazs father, Alberto Arnaz, was jailed and their home was confiscated. These two incredible outsiders worked hard to become powerful, influential figures at a time when women and immigrants were not running the system. , Arnaz and Ball had their last conversation two days before he died. They remained married until her death in 1985. According to. Read on for what we know about how Arnaz passed and what the last words Ball said to him were. Desi Arnaz Jr.'s mother, Lucille Ball, died on April 26, 1989 as she was 77 years old. But its original purpose was as a prescription drug to treat pain in the chest.. What were Desi Arnazs last words to Lucille Ball? Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV (born January 19, 1953), known professionally as Desi Arnaz Jr., is a retired American actor and musician. August 13, 2020. After his second wife Edith's death in 1985, Arnaz was persuaded by his children to seek treatment for his decades-long alcohol addiction, which by then had seriously damaged his health. He was 69. Unimpressed by the pilot episode, CBS turned down a show with Ball and Arnaz, which led them to hit the road as a vaudeville act in which Ball played a zany housewife who tried to get into her husbands show. The street name for amyl nitrite is poppers. Matthew Ansara had been sober . "[37], Arnaz's marriage with Ball began to collapse under the strain of his growing problems with alcohol, gambling, and infidelity. When the two in 1950 proposed what became ''I Love Lucy'' to CBS, they were met with two objections. The play, written by Jess Oppenheimer's son, Gregg Oppenheimer, was recorded in front of a live audience for nationwide public radio broadcast and online distribution. [53] Unlike his co-stars, Arnaz was never nominated for an Emmy for his performance in I Love Lucy; however, as executive producer of the series, he was nominated four times in the Best Situation Comedy category, winning twice. She married her fourth husband, [] Rumors of serious illness had been circulating since Mr. Arnaz was hospitalized for diverticulitis in 1981. Desi Arnaz Jr.'s sister : Desi Arnaz Jr.'s sister, Lucie Arnaz, is still alive and kicking at the age of 71. His first jobs included working at Woolworth's and cleaning canary cages in Miami. Early life [ edit] Arnaz was born on January 19, 1953, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. In 1962, Arnaz sold his share of Desilu to Ball and formed his own production company after their divorce. In 1948, Ball was cast as Liz Cooper, a wacky wife in the CBS Radio comedy show, My Favorite Husband. [45][46], Desi Arnaz spent his retirement doing activities he enjoyed including sailing his yacht (he was a skilled yachtsman since childhood), fishing, and cooking Cuban dishes. This show ran for 6 seasons, and became the most successful TV program in history. Ball died of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. [6][4], Arnaz and his orchestra became a hit in New York City's club scene, including a club named La Conga, where he is credited with introducing the concept of conga line dancing to the United States. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. After the success of My Favorite Husband, Ball was asked by CBS to develop it for television, which she agreed if she could work with her real-life husband, Arnaz. ''A mad fan with insomnia, and some kind of yet-to-be-developed television receiver that can pull in any station on the air, could have his beloved Lucy on view almost 24 hours a day -if not in English, then in Greek, Portuguese or Bantu,'' Robert Metz wrote in his book ''CBS: Reflections in a Bloodshot Eye.'' Arnaz's company was succeeded-in-interest by the company now known as Desilu, Too. You have entered an incorrect email address! [33] He was a supporter of Ronald Reagan and spoke at campaign rallies, such as one hosted by the National Republican Hispanic Assembly in 1980. As reported by Closer, their marriage was strained over the years by Arnaz's drinking and cheating. The younger Mr. Martin started his show business career when he was 14, forming the rock band Dino, Desi and Billy with Desi Arnaz Jr., the son of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and a neighbor . Lucilles death certificate states cystic medial necrosis as a contributing cause to her death, he said. A few years later he sold them back to CBS for $4.5 million. Desilu continued to produce its own programs in addition to providing facilities to other producers. He Displayed No Emotion Who Is Madelyn Cline Dating Now? Both of them are quite active in the Hollywood industry. The appeal of reusable filmed programs led eventually to a seismic shift in television production from New York to Hollywood, and made the program's creators millionaires. Lucie Arnaz felt she had to take care of 'the world' when mom Lucille Ball died Arnaz says the "hardest part" of her mother's passingwas that she didn't really get the chance to peacefully. He married actress Lucille Ball from his hit TV show I Love Lucy. A mob attacked and destroyed the family's houses, property, and livestock. Arnaz died December 2, 1986, three years before Ball passed of a heart attack. According to the 2011 book, Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz He was 69. pauline taylor seeley cause of death; how does this poem differ from traditional sonnets interflora; airmessage vs blue bubbles; southside legend strain effects; abd insurance and financial services; valenzuela city ordinance violation fines; my summer car cheatbox; vfs global japan visa nepal contact number; beaver owl fox dolphin personality . Richard of P.C. Desi Arnaz was a Hollywood actor. Thus when Ball was approached about doing a TV series, she insisted that Arnaz be a part of the show. [25][26], In 1976, CBS paid tribute to Lucille Ball with the two-hour special CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years. The couple divided their $20-million television empire equally, each retaining 25% Desilu stock (282,800 shares), she got the homes in Beverly Hills and Rancho Mirage, and Desi got the beach house in Del Mar, California and the horse ranch in Corona. For more about Lucille Ball, read her autobiography, Love, Lucy. Cause of Death. Balls death came three years after her ex-husband, Desi Arnaz, died of complications related to lung cancer on December 2, 1986. Biography - A Short Wiki. Mr. Cancer. The Los Angeles Times reported at the time that Ball had successfully recovered from the surgery to the point where she was eating and walking around her hospital room, so she was sent home. Our relationship had remained very close, very amiable, over the years, and now Im grateful to God that Desis suffering is over, a statement from her office read. The bookwhich was published after Balls death in 1989 and is her only autobiographyfollows the comediennes career and life, from her childhood in Jamestown, New York, to her dreams on Broadway and her marriage with Desi Arnaz. Arnaz had been ill with cancer for many months, and my family and I have been praying for his release from this terrible ordeal. Susan Callahan-Howe died at age 68 years old in 2021. On March 3, 1966, Frawley passed away while walking home from a movie. TV Actor. It is hard to maintain a working relationship, as well as a relationship with someone you love and is your partner in raising kids.. At that time, most television programs were broadcast live, and as the largest markets were in New York, the rest of the country received only kinescope images. CBS, convinced, put the program on its fall roster on Monday nights from 9 to 9:30 E.S.T., but left all rights in the hands of the Arnazes. She was 77 years old. His daughter, Lucie Arnaz, told ABC at the time that her father died in her arms. Read on for what we know about the mystery around how she passed. [16], The original premise was for the couple to portray Lucy and Larry Lopez, a successful show business couple whose glamorous careers interfered with their efforts to maintain a normal marriage. Heres how to watch it for free. When Ball returned to weekly television, she and Arnaz worked out an agreement regarding Desilu, wherein she bought him out.[39]. Each Had a Radio Series, Mr. Arnaz's films include ''Father Takes a Wife,'' ''Bataan'' and ''Holiday in Havana.'' There wasnt a coffin at the funeral because Arnaz was later cremated. According to Wise, Ball died from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and the rupture occurred in a portion of the aorta, the main artery to the heart, far from where her previous operation was performed. : August 2014 source. '', ''He was a great showman, a great business executive,'' she told the Ladies Home Journal in 1963. Arnaz was 69 years old. He was a great part of our innovation in this business. As other eulogies were delivered, Ball gripped her second husband, Gary Mortons hand. Biography - A Short WikiActress who became immortalized as Ethel Mertz, Lucy's neighbor, in the popular sitcom I Love Lucy. The success of the group led Arnaz to start his own band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, which became a hit in New York Citys club scene. Desilu had become too complicated to handle in the direct, simple manner to which Mr. Arnaz was accustomed, and one of its hit series, ''The Untouchables,'' was under attack from members of the National Italian-American League to Combat Defamation because of its emphasis on characterizations depicting racketeers of Italian descent. He then went into the tile business with his father before turning to show business full time. In 1949, Arnaz entered the Television world. She was married four times, but did not have any children. Find out the cause of death and more exciting information regarding the death of this famous TV actor. After their divorce on May 4, 1960, he remarried Edith Mack Hirsch on March 2, 1963. [6][7] Arnaz narrowly escaped the attack because he was able to hop in a car getting away. This report on the death of Desi Arnaz, who had lung cancer, aired on Dec. 2, 1986, the day of his death. Arnaz's estimated net-worth is $20million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The show was a hit and RKO Pictures bought the movie rights. So how did Lucille Ball die and what was her cause of death? So much is made of their work and comedy, and it should be. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Susan Callahan-Howe. He was also the bandleader of his Latin group, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra. He was predeceased by his second wife, Edith, who had died a year earlier on March 23, 1985. Unfortunately, shortly after Desi took the first steps towards a sober life, he learned he had lung cancer, and died on December 2, 1986. After years of continuous smoking, Arnaz developed lung cancer in 1986. Its like we really had to take care of the world. Arnaz and his second wife eventually moved to Del Mar, California where he lived the rest of his life in semi-retirement. He had long been divorced from his ex-wife, Lucille Ball, but the last words he said to her were still significant. Arnaz was discharged as a staff sergeant on September 30, 1945. Desi Arnaz was multi-talented. This name translates to Enrique Ricardo. [citation needed]. After her diagnosis, Ball underwent a six-and-a-half-hour surgery to repair her aorta and replace her aortic valve. [1] Arnaz and Ball are credited as the innovators of the syndicated rerun, which they pioneered with the I Love Lucy series. Desi and Lucille lived together as husband and wife for close to two decades before they divorced in 1963. Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 - December 2, 1986) was a Cuban-born American actor, bandleader, and film and television producer. Good luck with your show.. Desi Arnaz, a refugee Cuban bongo player who loved Lucy for 10 of the most entertaining and profitable years in television history, died early today of cancer. And that he loved all of you very much, she said. The Oscar and Emmy winner was a mental health advocate. Susan Callahan-Howe was born in 1953 in United States. The film was written and directed by Aaron Sorkin. Edith was born on April 15, 1917. He was inducted into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame.[55]. All Rights Reserved. We posted these stories, while he was alive for years. But I also think it is also an equal triumph to have a relationship that was the kind that they had. He was the guest of honor at the Carnival Miami in March 1982 where he performed with his children, Lucie and Desi, Jr., in front of a crowd of 35,000.[48]. Arnaz suffered a severe attack of diverticulitis in 1971, which required an operation and several years of recovery. When her aorta ruptured again, she was dead within minutes. The legendary actor died in 1986. She finished by saying, "Alright, honey. [19] He also produced the feature film Forever, Darling (1956), in which he and Ball starred. However, Arnaz was disqualified from overseas service due to hypertension and knee injuries, which caused him pain with prolonged physical exertion, according to his military physical examination. But what led to this damage? "[36] He died two days later on December 2, 1986, at the age of 69. Death Year: 1989 . She started acting at the age of 12 years old when her stepfather encouraged her to audition for his Shriners chorus line. Lucie Arnaz described her pride at attending a treatment meeting with her father where he stood up and said "I'm Desi, and I'm an alcoholic". Amy Arnaz's Death In January 2013, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In addition to I Love Lucy, he executive produced The Ann Sothern Show and Those Whiting Girls (starring Margaret Whiting and Barbara Whiting), and was involved in several other series such as The Untouchables, Whirlybirds, and Sheriff of Cochise / United States Marshal. Ronald Wise, a spokesperson for Cedar-Sinai Hospital at the time, told The Los Angeles Times in 1989 that Ball suffered a complete heart failure at 5 a.m., and after 47 minutes of resuscitation efforts from the hospital, she was declared death. Desi Arnaz has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one at 6301 Hollywood Boulevard for contributions to motion pictures and one at 6250 Hollywood Boulevard for television. Arnaz's wife, Lucille Ball, once saw Mr. Bowers at a party . Mr. Arnaz, christened Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y De Acha, was born in Santiago, Cuba, on March 2, 1917; his father was mayor of the city for nine years. During the funeral, Ball remembered Arnaz as a great, great showman.Just look at the stuff hes done over the years, she sad. The couple married that same year. After his death, Arnaz was cremated and his ashes were scattered. While he was producing The Untouchables, Arnaz was allegedly the target of a mafia murder plot, which was later called off, due to the show's negative publicity of gangsters. "I Love Lucy was never just a title," wrote Arnaz in the last years of his life. Beside her were her and Arnazs two children, Lucie and Desi Jr. [32] Nixon appointed Arnaz as the U.S. roving ambassador to Latin America in the early 1970s. The Real Story of Desi and Lucy But a week ahead of her death, she woke with severe back pains. [38] Arnaz also suffered from diverticulitis. ", "Desi Arnaz Papers, 1947-1976 | Special Collections & University Archives", "Chasing Yesterday Wins Desi Arnaz Stakes", "Desi Arnaz, TV Lucy's Loving Co-Star, Dies", "I Love Lucy: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom", "Oscar Nominations: 'The Power Of The Dog', 'Dune' Top List; 'Drive My Car' Among Big Surprises", Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Papers, 1915-1990, "Arnaz, Desi U.S. Actor/Media Executive", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Desi_Arnaz&oldid=1142447630, Actor, musician, bandleader, comedian, producer. The thing they love the most aint going off the air. Patty Duke Is Dead at 69. With Ball, Arnaz founded Desilu Productions in 1950, initially to produce the vaudeville-style touring act that led to I Love Lucy. Reruns of ''I Love Lucy'' were shown during prime time for years after the show had ceased production. From Oct. 15, 1951, to Sept. 24, 1961, Arnaz was Ricky Ricardo, the forbearing spouse of a wacky wife who spent much of her time trying to convince her musician husband that she too belonged in show business. The show ran for 148 episodes. Her most intimate friends saw the obvious about Lucy's love for Desi . Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III, known as Desi Arnaz, was a Cuban-American actor, musician, producer and bandleader. If youre still mourning his loss, you may have questions about how Desi Arnaz died and what caused his death. ''We all have been praying for two or three months that Desi would be released from his pain,'' Miss Ball said yesterday. Within six months of their meeting they married. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Arnaza lifelong smoker who was diagnosed with lung cancer just months before his deathdied in his. Reports that Arnaz was seriously ill had circulated since 1981, when he was hospitalized for what his wife, Edith Mack Hirsch, said at the time was a flare-up of diverticulitis, an inflammation of the intestinal tract for which he had undergone four operations in 1969 and 1970. Fred could be unpleasant, but also had redeeming qualities -- but actor William Frawley was a different story. He contributed to charitable and nonprofit organizations, including San Diego State University. Mr. Arnaz is survived by his wife, the former Edith Mack Hirsch; his daughter, Lucie, and his son, Desi Jr. Funeral arrangements will be private. Desi Jr., played the drums and, supported by the SNL band, Desi sang both "Babal" and another favorite from his dance band days, "Cuban Pete"; the arrangements were similar to the ones used on I Love Lucy. [52] Mr. Arnaz and Miss Ball used the success of ''I Love Lucy'' to build a show-business empire, Desilu Productions. The musical game show, hosted by Arnaz and featuring Arnaz's orchestra, had audience members competing for a Caribbean vacation. After the success of My Favorite Husband, Ball was asked by CBS to develop it for television, which she agreed if she could work with her real-life husband, Arnaz. On March 3, 1966, 79-year-old William Frawley died of a heart attack while walking home from a movie. The defining tragedy of Barbara Eden's life came in 2001 when her son died from a heroin overdose. Desi Arnaz reached the respectable age of 69 years. It was a national occasion when Lucy Ricardo was seen going to the hospital to give birth to ''Little Ricky'' in the episode of Jan. 19, 1953 - the same night that Lucille Ball gave birth to her second child, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz 4th, in a Hollywood hospital. Desi Arnaz cause of death. Their final phone call was on what wouldve been their 46th wedding anniversary, November 30, 1989. [3], He came to the attention of Rodgers and Hart who, in 1939, cast him in their Broadway musical Too Many Girls. Unlike other shows of the era, ''I Love Lucy'' was filmed before a live audience, and used three cameras simultaneously to permit motion-picture-type editing. [17] The couple overcame these objections, however, by touring together, during the summer of 1950, in a live vaudeville act they developed with the help of Spanish clown Pepito Prez, together with Ball's radio show writers. There he made his famous series I Love Lucy. After he graduated from high school, Arnaz joined a band called the Siboney Septet. Desilu: The Story of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. I will never ever, ever forget his tremendous help to me. The death was confirmed by filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer, . On I Love Lucy, his character was friends with his neighbor, Fred Mertz, who was played by William Frawley. In the spring of 1951, to prove the network wrong, the couple went on tour, performing before live audiences across the country as a husband-and-wife comedy team. His co-star was his real-life wife, Lucille Ball, who played Ricky's wife, Lucy. This sitcom ran for two seasons from 1967 to 1969. And he said, I love you, too, honey. He was 62 when his body was discovered at his home in Utah, but for some reason, the cause of death was not confirmed. Meanwhile, Arnaz and Miss Ball had sold their "I Love Lucy" films to CBS for $6 million and she bought her ex-husband's interest in Desilu, becoming in effect, the first woman to head a . After the success of the tour, CBS greenlit I Love Lucy, which went on to run for more than 100 episodes and be one of the most-watched shows in TV history. Their marriage was always turbulent. An operation saved his life, although his health was never the same after the incident. With Lucille Ball,. It was his responsibility to keep injured soldiers entertained while they were recovering in the hospital. Desi Arnaz net worth: Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-American musician, actor, and television producer who had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death in 1986. In the 1970s, Arnaz co-hosted a week of shows with daytime host and producer Mike Douglas. Lucy and Desi is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. [47] He suffered from numerous health issues later in life. Desi Arnaz, an actor, musician and producer and an important figure in the history of television, died yesterday of cancer at his home in Del Mar, Calif.