Edith Mack Hirsch was the wife of late Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III, a Cuban-American actor, musician, and TV producer popularly known as Desi Arnaz. Although he was involved in a lot of works, Desi is best remembered for playing the role of Ricky Ricardo on the television series, I Love Lucy.
Like the wives of many other celebrities, Edith came to the limelight as a result of her marriage to the incredible entertainer and even though she may have achieved a number of milestones in her lifetime, she will always be remembered for being the second wife of the iconic actor.
What We Know About Edith Mack Hirsch’s Background
Edith Mack Hirsch was born Edith Mack McSkimming on April 15, 1917, in Illinois, the United States of America. To date, details about the identity of her parents, whether or not she has siblings, her childhood, and her academic background, are not known.
Actually, most available information about her revolves around her famous husband, Desi Arnaz, but we can get to know more about her in the subsequent paragraphs of this piece.
Details On Her Marital Relationships
Marriage to Clement L. Hirsch
Before getting married to Desi Arnaz, Edith Mack Hirsch had been married once. She was the ex-wife of Clement L. Hirsch, an American citizen born on April 26, 1914, in St. Louis, Missouri. Although the date they got married and how long they lasted before parting ways is not known, it is on record that they had separated for a long time before Edith decided to give a second shot at marriage. In addition to the uncertainty of their marriage timeline, the reason for their separation and the number of kids they had together (if any) is also unknown.
The only other available information about Clement L. Hirsch is his death. Records have it that he passed on at age 85 on March 15, 2000, in Newport Beach, Orange, California.
Marriage to Desi Arnaz
Being one of the biggest names in the entertainment industry at the time, and a handsome man at that, it was easy for women to fall for Desi Arnaz. However, only two women – Lucille Ball and Edith Mack Hirsch – possessed what it took to make him walk down the aisle. Simply put, the actor was married twice while he was alive.
Unfortunately, his union with his first wife was thrown under the weight of Arnaz’s increasing alcohol and womanizing issues which he chose as an escape from the pressures that came with managing his production company. Consequently, Ball reopened her initial divorce process and this time, she saw it through as it was finalized in 1960.
Three years after being tossed back into the world of singlehood, Arnaz decided to give marriage a second chance and so he tied the knot with Edith Mack Hirsch in a ceremony that took place on March 2, 1963. In an attempt to make it work this time, he cut down on his showbiz activities to a great extent.
Most couples usually meet through a mutual friend and the same is the case with Edith and Desi Arnaz. In her book, Love, Lucy, Lucile Ball revealed that she was “good friends” with Edith and that she had known her many years and was happy that her ex-husband got married to her.
Who Are Edith Mack’s Kids and What Are They Up To Now?
From detailed findings on the subject, it isn’t known if Edith Mack Hirsch had any child from her first marriage to Mr. Clement Hirsch. Also on the other hand, the union between Edith Mark and Desi Arnaz did not produce an offspring. However, it is no secret that Desi Arnaz had two children from his first marriage whose names are given as; Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr. It is also believed that she was a good stepmother to Lucie and Desi.
Being the kids of parents who contributed a great deal to the business of entertainment, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Lucie and her brother have come to make their own names in the business.
Lucie Desiree Arnaz was born on the 17th of July 1951, and has thrived not only as an actress but also as a singer and a producer. She has been married twice; first to an actor named Philip Vandervort Menegaux and now to another actor, Laurence Luckinbill with whom she shares three biological and two stepchildren.
Her brother, Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV is also an actor and a musician and was born on the 19th of January 1953. Like his sister, he has been married twice; first to an actress named Linda Purl and later to Amy Laura Bargiel. While his first marriage ended in a divorce, his second came to an end following the death of Amy who died of cancer in 2015.
Facts About Desi Arnaz’s Marital Life Before Edith Mack Hirsch
Desi Arnaz was first married to Lucille Ball on the 30th of November 1940 but neither of them ever enjoyed their union to the fullest as it was marred by a lot of turbulent times. At a point in September 1944, Ball, who was convinced that Arnaz was cheating on her in addition to coming home drunk on countless occasions, filed for an annulment.
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However, prior to the interlocutory decree being made final, she went back to him and the marriage continued, producing their two children – Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr.
How Edith Mack Hirsch Died
Edith Mack Hirsch died at the age of 67 on March 25, 1985, in Del Mar, California. According to reports, she died from cancer. Sadly, barely a year after she lost the fight to cancer, her husband was also diagnosed with cancer of the lung and subsequently died on December 2, 1986, at 69. On April 18, 1989, Lucille Ball followed at the age of 77 due to an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Following Edith Mack’s death, her stepdaughter described their bond as an absolute joy. According to Lucie, Edith taught her how to drive and knew how to handle her father, Desi Arnaz.
