Photos of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s Kids Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. Through the Years – AOL
Growing Up in the Heart of Desilu
From their earliest days, Lucie and Desi Jr. were immersed in the environment of Desilu Productions. Founded in 1950 by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Sr., Desilu was a production company created to serve as the home for I Love Lucy. By the time Lucie and Desi Jr. arrived, the studio was already a hub of innovation and a powerhouse in the television industry. The siblings grew up not just in Los Angeles, but within a thriving, creative institution that would eventually shape American television history.
By 1962, after Lucille Ball’s divorce from Desi Arnaz Sr., she bought out his share of Desilu and became the first woman in history to run a major Hollywood studio. Under her leadership, Desilu expanded its production slate, eventually producing two series in 1966 that had been rejected by every other major studio: Mission: Impossible and Star Trek. Both became cultural touchstones, their influence reverberating decades later.
For Lucie and Desi Jr., Desilu was more than just a studio—it was home, school, and workplace. They witnessed the intersection of creativity, business acumen, and sheer determination that had propelled their parents to unprecedented success. By the late 1960s, they had begun to carve their own roles within this institutional legacy.
