Despite his stardom, Desi Arnaz said that he was a ''family man'' at heart

"The public does not think of me as a homebody," said the actor.

January 30, 2025, 1:39PM By MeTV Staff

Everett Collection

Although Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were portrayed as a loving and content couple on the hit series, I Love Lucy, their relationship struggled behind the scenes. These issues culminated in a divorce, however, the two remained close even after their separation, with many remarking that the duo were better friends than they were a married couple.

Despite his knack for entertainment, Arnaz maintained that he enjoyed a fairly domestic life, despite what the public might believe.

"A funny thing, I do not have the image of being a family man," said Arnaz during an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "The public does not think of me as a homebody. I don't really know what the public image is. I guess they think I am a 45-year-old playboy or bongo-beater or Lucy's husband, Ricky, or something. But the truth is I am a family man, and I love the family life."

Arnaz remained a devoted father to his two children.

"Lucy and I - we have two of the most wonderful children, a boy, and a girl, and they spend the whole summer with me at Del Mar, and that makes me very happy. I think what I miss is the home life - a wife and children around most of the time."

Although their divorce was more amicable than most, Arnaz still spoke of his marriage with Ball fondly. "A man very quickly becomes a creature of habit, of sameness," said Arnaz. "After 20 years with one woman, he falls into a certain groove. All of a sudden you give him his freedom, and he doesn't know what to do about it. Freedom is a wonderful thing - but you must know how to use it."