Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III (March 2, 1917 — December 2, 1986), better known as
Desi Arnaz or
Desi Arnaz, Sr., was a Cuban-born American musician, actor, television producer, writer and director. He is best remembered for his role as
Ricky Ricardo on the American television series sitcom
I Love Lucy, starring with
Lucille Ball, to whom he was married at the time. Arnaz was also internationally renowned for leading his Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra. He and Ball are generally credited as the inventors of the
rerun in connection with
I Love Lucy.