Photos Of Lucille Ball And Desi Arnaz That Shine A Spotlight On Their Love (Despite The Divorce)

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Of all the vintage television shows, there's nothing quite like the '50s sitcom "I Love Lucy." The television couple, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, were played by real-life spouses Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who channeled the magic of their relationship onto the small screen. The two first met in 1940 on the movie set of "Too Many Girls," and sparks flew. "It was, at least for me, true love from the start," Ball shared in an interview, per The Los Angeles Times. Sadly, as with many Hollywood marriages, theirs didn't make the long haul, and the beloved couple split after two decades. "He drank and he gambled and he went around with other women. It was always the same: booze and broads," the "Here's Lucy" star once stated.

Despite their tumultuous marriage, it's clear Ball and Arnaz had a true bond, and fans adored them as well. As an interracial couple who fought for their first pregnancy to be a storyline on "I Love Lucy," the pair was groundbreaking at the time. The two remained friendly after divorcing, and after all these years, we still love Ball and Arnaz, as well as their love for each other.

They say that a couple who works together, stays together. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz clearly had no trouble blending their on-screen life and downtime during their marriage in the '50s. On what looked like a movie set, the couple was seen smiling and looking carefree between takes. While it's not clear what they were filming, Ball and Arnaz starred in "The Long, Long Trailer" together in 1954, and seeing them enjoying time spent together was a sign that they were in a healthy relationship.

After a decade of marriage, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz welcomed their daughter, Lucie, in 1951. The moment was especially significant, as Ball had experienced miscarriages prior, but she and Arnaz still hoped for a family, per People. In the biography "Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television," it was revealed that the expecting parents were going to name their daughter Susan, but Arnaz switched it to Lucie. It was a surprising, yet thoughtful way to support a loved one who is a new parent, and you could clearly see their joy creating memories with their firstborn on a boat as a toddler.

Two years after the birth of their daughter, Lucie, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz welcomed their son, Desi Arnaz Jr. His delivery coincided with the infamous episode of "I Love Lucy" where Lucy Ricardo gives birth to her television son, Ricky Ricardo Jr. Proving that family portraits are timeless, the proud parents posed with their infant in 1953 with Arnaz holding a mug with the words, "Proud papa." Desi Jr. went on to take after his dad and became a musician, also playing the drums. The love for percussion obviously ran deep with the father-son duo.

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz shared many hijinks on-camera, but it's clear that they also had many fun times in real life. One of the surprising things that contribute to healthy, long-lasting relationships is similar senses of humor, and their hilarious expressions while playing cards say everything. Despite reportedly having many squabbles, the height of their relationship took place while "I Love Lucy" was on air. "They did the show so they could be together because my dad was always on the road and they never saw each other," Lucie Arnaz told People.

In "I Love Lucy," Lucy Ricardo often wanted to sing in Ricky Ricardo's band, but he kept discouraging her because being tone deaf wasn't a great look for his band. However, in real life, Lucille Ball was actually a decent vocalist and could play the piano as well. A pic from the '50s shows her tickling the ivories while Desi Arnaz is on the guitar, and the candid shot of them singing as he fondly looks at her is one for the history books.

Lucille Ball's chocolate factory episode of "I Love Lucy" was one of the most memorable ever, especially as she was willing to go to any lengths to get a laugh. In one scene, her character attempted to swat a fly off of her co-worker's face, which ended with the two getting into a chocolate fight. Behind the scenes, Desi Arnaz was seen playfully licking off the sweet treat from his wife's face, which highlighted just how smitten they were with each other, whether cameras were rolling or not.