Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball had the rare fortune of doubling as a comedic team and business partners, cultivating a production empire that earned them the fame and respect of their peers. But before all of that, Ball and Arnaz were a married couple, two people in love. Although the two divorced in 1960, they continued to hold each other in high regard.

But despite the ending of a marriage between two actors, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo were an inspiration to couples everywhere. The I Love Lucy couple enjoyed a lot of laughs, coupled with a lot more love.

During production of the series, Desi Arnaz confessed that much of the mail he and Lucy received was from fans looking for marriage advice.

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“There are so many problems between a husband and a wife introduced in I Love Lucy that we have letters pouring in asking our advice,” said Arnaz during an interview with the Quad-City Times. “The show covers almost every situation.”

“Many a good, honest husband-to-wife talk can avert many serious misunderstandings. “

“We try to do everything together,” said Ball. “Whether it is the discipline of our children, problems in our home, or our hobbies - we both believe you have to give a little and take a little to make a go of it.”

“Being able to see how silly some of the things we argue about are, and having a sense of humor to laugh about them, is one of the most important factors in our marriage and our work,” said Arnaz.