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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Elope
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Lucille Balland Desi Arnaz first met while filming the musical comedyToo Many Girlsand hit it off right away.
Only six months after meeting, they eloped on Nov. 30th, 1940. The newlyweds shared a passionate kiss in this snapshot captured that same month.
02of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Share a KissgettyIn the early 1940s, Arnaz was drafted into the Army, but he ended up being classified for limited service due to a knee injury. Ball clearly couldn’t resist a man in uniform!
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Share a Kiss
In the early 1940s, Arnaz was drafted into the Army, but he ended up being classified for limited service due to a knee injury. Ball clearly couldn’t resist a man in uniform!
03of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Renew Their VowsgettyAfter eloping in 1940, the duo eventually renewed their vows in June 1949. They shared a romantic kiss on the big day.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Renew Their Vows
After eloping in 1940, the duo eventually renewed their vows in June 1949. They shared a romantic kiss on the big day.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Celebrate Their 10th Anniversary
05of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Pose With Their DogsgettyIn this photo from the 1950s, Ball and Arnaz shared a cute moment with their three Cocker Spaniels as they sat on the couch together.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Pose With Their Dogs
In this photo from the 1950s, Ball and Arnaz shared a cute moment with their three Cocker Spaniels as they sat on the couch together.
06of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Costar in I Love LucygettyWanting to spend more time together, the couple created and costarred in the hit sitcomI Love Lucy, where they played fictionalized versions of themselves.Their daughterLucie explained to PEOPLE, “They did the show so they could be together because my dad was always on the road and they never saw each other. So my parents thought, ‘Well, this is going to save our marriage, and we can have a family.’ “The show ran from 1951 to 1957 and became the most-watched show in the United States at the time.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Costar in I Love Lucy
Wanting to spend more time together, the couple created and costarred in the hit sitcomI Love Lucy, where they played fictionalized versions of themselves.
Their daughterLucie explained to PEOPLE, “They did the show so they could be together because my dad was always on the road and they never saw each other. So my parents thought, ‘Well, this is going to save our marriage, and we can have a family.’ "
The show ran from 1951 to 1957 and became the most-watched show in the United States at the time.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz With Their Daughter, Lucie Arnaz
Though she never appeared onI Love Lucy, she did make several appearances on her mother’s other shows, includingHere’s Lucy, which marked her acting debut, andThe Lucy Show, on which she had several walk-on roles.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz With Their Son, Desi Arnaz Jr.
09of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Costar in The Long, Long TrailergettyIn 1954, the couple shared the screen again for the comedy filmThe Long, Long Trailer, where they played newlyweds who travel around the U.S. while living in a trailer.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Costar in The Long, Long Trailer
In 1954, the couple shared the screen again for the comedy filmThe Long, Long Trailer, where they played newlyweds who travel around the U.S. while living in a trailer.
10of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz at the Emmy AwardsgettyIn March 1955, Arnaz and Ball attended theEmmy Awardstogether whereI Love Lucywas up for several awards, including best actress starring in a regular series for Lucille Ball and best situation comedy series.Over the course of the series,I Love Lucyreceived five Emmy wins and was later inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1991.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz at the Emmy Awards
In March 1955, Arnaz and Ball attended theEmmy Awardstogether whereI Love Lucywas up for several awards, including best actress starring in a regular series for Lucille Ball and best situation comedy series.
Over the course of the series,I Love Lucyreceived five Emmy wins and was later inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1991.
11of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Celebrating Their 15th AnniversarygettyDuring rehearsals forI Love Lucy, crew members surprised Ball and Arnaz with a cake for their 15th wedding anniversary. The duo captured a playful photo together where they made suprised looks for the cameras.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Celebrating Their 15th Anniversary
During rehearsals forI Love Lucy, crew members surprised Ball and Arnaz with a cake for their 15th wedding anniversary. The duo captured a playful photo together where they made suprised looks for the cameras.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Forever, Darling
13of 14Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Celebrate Their Wedding AnniversarygettyIn this photo from the 1950s, the two sported matching outfits as they celebrated their wedding anniversary with a fun party and cake that had a miniature version of them as a topper.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Celebrate Their Wedding Anniversary
In this photo from the 1950s, the two sported matching outfits as they celebrated their wedding anniversary with a fun party and cake that had a miniature version of them as a topper.
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Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz With Their Kids
The couple divorced the following year as a result ofArnaz’s alcoholism, which put a strain on their marriage throughout the years.
Despite moving on with other people later in life, the couple shared an “unconditional love for each other” that “never went away,” their daughter Lucie recalled to PEOPLE.
“They gave the country this wonderful creation, but they never got what they wanted — to stay together,” she said. “… [But]they loved each other until the end.”
source: people.com
