If you’ve ever binged old episodes of I Love Lucy, you might have noticed something a little odd about how Ricky and Lucy stand next to each other. One second they look roughly the same height, and the next, Lucy seems to have a few inches on him. It’s one of those classic Hollywood mysteries that fans have been obsessing over for decades. So, how tall was Desi Arnaz really?
The official line was always that he stood at 5'11". That’s what the studio bios said. That’s what he told people. But honestly? Most folks who worked with him say that wasn’t exactly the truth.
The Discrepancy Between the Bio and the Tape Measure
In the world of 1950s television, leading men were expected to be certain things: charming, talented, and—most importantly—taller than their wives. Desi Arnaz was definitely the first two, but the third one was a bit of a stretch. While his official height was listed as 5'11", the consensus among historians and those on the Desilu set is that he was actually closer to 5'9".
Two inches might not seem like a big deal, but in Hollywood, it changes everything about how a scene is blocked. Lucille Ball stood about 5'7" in her bare feet. Now, do the math. Once you put Lucy in a pair of fashionable 1950s heels—which were easily two or three inches—she was suddenly looking down at her husband.
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The Secret World of Cuban Heels and Lifts
Desi had what people called "Latin male pride," and he really didn't like the idea of being shorter than Lucy on camera. To fix this, he became a master of the "lift." If you look closely at his footwear in the show, he’s almost always wearing boots or shoes with a significant heel, often referred to as Cuban heels.
But it went further than just a thick sole. Desi often wore four-inch lifts inside his shoes. Think about that for a second. Walking around, dancing, and doing physical comedy in what are essentially hidden high heels is no easy feat. It’s a testament to his talent that he could do the "Babalu" number without twisting an ankle.
It wasn't just the shoes, either. The production team had to get creative.
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- The Couch Trick: In scenes where Ricky and Lucy sat together on the sofa, they often used a thicker cushion for Desi so he wouldn't sink lower than Lucy.
- The Floorboards: Sometimes, Lucy would stand in a slight "trench" or lower part of the set, or simply wear flats while Desi stood on a raised platform just out of the camera's frame.
- The Wardrobe: Lucy wore flats way more often than the average 1950s housewife would have, just to keep the height gap looking "traditional."
Why the Height Myth Mattered
You’ve got to remember the era. The 1950s were all about a specific image of the American family. Even though Desi was a powerhouse—he basically invented the modern sitcom and ran a massive studio—the optics of height still mattered to the public (and to him).
Interestingly, Lucy was the only one allowed to poke fun at his "shorter" stature or his accent. She was fiercely protective of him. If anyone else made a joke about Desi's height or his Cuban heritage, she’d shut it down instantly. She knew the "official" 5'11" stat was a bit of a white lie, but she played along to protect his image as the leading man.
Comparing Desi to the Rest of the Cast
If you want a real sense of how tall was Desi Arnaz, look at him next to William Frawley (Fred Mertz). Frawley was about 5'8" or 5'9" himself. When they stood side-by-side without the crazy lifts, they were almost eye-to-eye.
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Vivian Vance, who played Ethel, was about 5'4" or 5'5". She was intentionally styled to look a bit "frumpier" so she wouldn't outshine Lucy, but her height never posed a threat to the leading men's egos. Desi always looked significantly taller than Ethel, which helped maintain the illusion that he was a "tall" guy.
What Desi Arnaz Jr. Said
Even his own son, Desi Arnaz Jr., has touched on this in interviews. He mentioned that his dad was a proud man who wanted to maintain a certain stature. It wasn't just about vanity; it was about the business of being a star. In a time when the "tall, dark, and handsome" trope was the gold standard, Desi did what he had to do to fit the mold while breaking barriers as a Latino lead on television.
Actionable Takeaways for Classic TV Fans
If you're a fan of vintage Hollywood or just curious about how they pulled off these illusions, here is what you can do next time you watch:
- Check the Shoes: Look at Ricky’s feet during the musical numbers at the Tropicana. You’ll see those distinctively high Cuban heels.
- Watch the Sitting Scenes: Notice if Lucy seems to "shrink" when they sit on the couch together. That’s the cushion trick in action.
- Notice Lucy's Footwear: Pay attention to how often Lucy wears flat loafers or ballet slippers during scenes in the apartment. It was a strategic choice!
At the end of the day, Desi Arnaz's physical height doesn't change the fact that he was a giant in the entertainment industry. Whether he was 5'9" or 5'11", his impact on television production, filming with three cameras, and the invention of the rerun made him one of the tallest figures in Hollywood history.