The Truth About Lucille Ball And Desi Arnaz's Marriage

The year was 1940 and RKO studio actor Lucille Ball appeared in the film "Too Many Girls," starring Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz. By the end of the year, the pair eloped and formed a partnership that would bring them two children and worldwide fame. However, there were problems from the start and within four years, Ball filed for divorce due to her husband's affairs and constant drinking. 

However, they soon reconciled and realized his travel schedule and her movie schedule wouldn't allow the marriage to work so they decided that they'd just have to work together. That's when the concept of "I Love Lucy" was born, although it didn't make it to air until 1951, the same year daughter Lucie Arnaz was born (via Biography).

By the time Desi Arnaz Jr. was born, his parents were bona fide television stars and his mother's pregnancy played out on screen. Everything timed perfectly when Ball gave birth to her son on January 19, 1953, the same night a pre-taped episode aired in which Lucy Ricardo gave birth to Little Ricky. It all seemed like a Hollywood fairy tale, but Ball and Arnaz's marriage was anything but.