Edith Mack Hirsch Was Desi Arnaz's Second Wife and Stepmom to Two Children from His Previous Marriage

Edith Mack Hirsch, Desi Arnaz's second wife, got into the limelight because of her famous husband, who dominated the entertainment industry from the 1940s to the 60s. Despite being married for 22 years, the couple didn't have children.

Edith Mack Hirsch's name was famous in the 20th century, mainly because of her celebrity husband, Desi Arnaz, who was a talented actor. Arnaz was famously known for starring in the 1951 comedy series "I Love Lucy" alongside his former wife.

Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-American celebrated actor and producer. He was also a musician and the founder of the Desi Arnaz Orchestra music band. Besides being the wife of a high-profile celebrity, Hirsch was an activist fighting for human rights.

Desi Arnaz's Second Marriage with Wife Edith Mack Hirsch

Even though there's very little information about Hirch's childhood, she was born in Illinois on April 15, 1917, and her full birth name is Edith Mack McSkimming. When Hirsch came of age, she married her first husband, Clement L Hirsch, a successful businessman.

Clement co-founded Oak Tree Racing Association, an American nonprofit corporation that performs live thoroughbred horse racing in Southern California.

Clement, born in St Louis, Missouri, came from a family of successful retail traders, but he relocated to California to pursue his own success in the horse racing business. Before marrying Edith Mack Hirsch, Desi Arnaz's second wife, Clement was married to a lady named Maxine.

However, Clement and Hirsch's union didn't last; the couple finally called it quits in 1963. The same year, Hirsch tied the knot with Arnaz at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas on the latter's 46th birthday.

According to reports, Ball wasn't happy with the divorce and once described the experience as one of her darkest moments.

Before marrying Hirsch, Arnaz had separated from his first wife, Lucille Ball, in 1960. Ball had also dominated the Hollywood industry; she was an award-winning actress, producer, and comedienne. The couple shared two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz.

Even though Arnaz and Hirsch were married for over two decades, the couple didn't have any children. However, Hirsch -- who was thought to bear a striking resemblance to Ball -- was a stepmom to Arnaz's two children from his previous marriage.

How Desi Arnaz's First Marriage Ended

To the public, Desi Arnaz's first marriage to Ball looked like a match made in heaven; however, behind closed doors, the couple had moments where they never seemed to agree. The former couple's daughter opened up about her parents' ugly divorce.

Arnaz and Lucille Ball exchanged vows in 1940, and after being married for over ten years, the duo welcomed their first child, a daughter named Lucie, in 1951.

Two years later, their son Desi was born. After being together for 20 years, the couple divorced in 1960. At the time of their divorce, Lucie was nine, and Desi was seven. Speaking to Closer, Lucie recalled how it was growing up in an unstable home; she said:

"They were fighting all the time when we were growing up. There was a lot of anger and screaming."

Although they didn't go through any abuse, Lucie stated that her parents' divorce was terrible and that she and her brother experienced a lot of hardships.

According to reports, Ball wasn't happy with the divorce and once described the experience as one of her darkest moments.

The two went their separate ways and found love again, with Ball marrying Gary Morton while Arnaz married Edith Mack Hirsch. Even after their divorce, Lucy's parents had an unbreakable bond.

After Ball's demise, Morton told his friend Paula Stewart that Ball was happy because she had reunited with Arnaz. Also, before Arnaz died, he once said that the show "I Love Lucy," in which he co-starred with his ex-wife, was not just the show's title; it was something complicated but still perfect.