Edith Mack Hirsch

American media personality Edith Mack Hirsch was the second wife of Cuban-American actor, musician, bandleader, comedian, and producer, Desi Arnaz. 

While on the other hand, Desi is prominent for his role as Ricky Ricardo on the television sitcom, I Love Lucy and is considered an important figure in the television history.

Short Wiki Biography: Age, Height, Parents, & Early Life

Edith Mack Hirsch was born on April 15, 1917, in the United States as Edith Eyre Skimming Mack Hirsch. Other than that, no information is available about her parents, siblings, education, and early life.

On the other hand, her husband Arnaz was born on March 2, 1917, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, to parents Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Alberni II (1894-1973) and Dolores "Lolita" de Acha y de Socias (1896-1988).

His father served in the Cuban House of Representatives. Moreover, his maternal grandfather, Alberto de Acha, was an executive at Bacardi & Co. Arnaz's family were affluent, owning three ranches, a spacious home, and a vacation mansion on a private island in Santiago Bay. 

Following the 1933 Cuban Revolution, they moved to Miami where he attended St. Patrick Catholic High School. He also enrolled at Saint Leo Prep near Tampa in the summer of 1934 to improve his English.

Edith Mack Hirsch and Desi Arnaz: Their Marriage & Children

Arnaz and Hirsch married on March 2, 1963, though nothing much is known about their married life. The two lived a quiet life in his horse ranch near Del Mar without fanfare. Following his marriage to Edith, Desi kept his show business activities to the minimum as well.

Arnaz worked as executive producer in The Mothers-in-Law, and guest-appeared as Señor Delgado during its two-year run. Edith and Desi never had children together.  

But she was a stepmother to his two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. from his first marriage to actress Lucille Ball. Arnaz and Ball married on November 30, 1940, but the union didn't last long, with Ball filing for divorce in September 1944.

The divorce, however, was not finalized since she returned to him before interlocutory decree became final. They welcomed their first child, daughter Lucie Desiree Arnaz, on July 17, 1951, and second child, son Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV, on January 19, 1953. Ball and Arnaz separated in May 1961.

Edith Mack Hirsch Net Worth

While Hirsch's net worth is not known yet, sources estimated it to be over $100,000 at the time of her death. Meanwhile, her husband, Desi Arnaz had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death in 1986.

Following the success of I Love Lucy, Desi along with then-wife Lucille started a production company called Desilu Productions with $5,000 of their own money. Desilu was also the name of their ranch in Chatsworth, California. 

By 1957, the company owned a music-publishing firm, a record company, the Desi Arnaz Western Hills Hotel in Palm Springs, and much of the California real estate. 

To expand the company even further, Arnaz purchased the real estate of the former RKO Studios for $6.15 million, which ultimately made Desilu the largest motion picture and television studio in the world.

The plan to buy RKO Studios turned profitable as well, making him and Lucille a millionaires. He had sold his and Ball's rights to I Love Lucy and December Bride for $4.5 million and $500,000 respectively to purchase RKO Studios. 

Desi's net worth was estimated at $10 million in 1953, realizing a profit of $600,000 before taxes with an additional $500,000 in income from I Love Lucy merchandise. He served as the president of Desilu until their divorce and sold his interest to his recently-separated wife Lucille for $3 million in 1962. 

Lucille sold Desilu to Gulf+Western for $17 million, equivalent to $139 million today, in 1967. Gulf+Western converted Desilu into the production offshoot of Paramount Pictures, which is now called Paramount Studios.

Edith Mack Hirsch Cause of Death

Hirsch died on March 23, 1985, from cancer. She was 67 years old. Just a year later on 2nd December 1986, Desi passed away at his home in Del Mar, California, from lung cancer. He was 69 years old at the time.

A private service was held at St. James Roman Catholic Church, attended by nearly 100 people, including his ex-wife Lucille Bell. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.