Lucille Ball was idolized by millions who never knew the real Lucy — but now the TV legend’s granddaughter has revealed the shocking truth about America’s favorite redhead! Julia Arnaz is the love child of an affair between model Susan Howe, then 21, and Lucy’s son Desi Arnaz, Jr. — who was then only 16 years old! Julia never got to meet the “I Love Lucy” star, but she confessed to The National ENQUIRER that family members have told her all about the passionate marriage between Lucy and her grandfather Desi Arnaz. “My father tells me how much I’m like her,” said Julia, who lives in Milford, Conn. “He’s told me very personal stories about my grandmother that the public doesn’t know!”
1 of 6
Photo credit: Getty Images
Among those stunning revelations is that Lucy — who died in 1989 at 77 — actually used henna to brighten her trademark red mop and was a devoted animal lover. “She loved animals like I do,” Julia says. “She was a huge animal activist — huge, just like I am.” And Lucy was always “on,” even at home. “She loved to entertain,” notes Julia. “She loved having Halloween parties and friends over, and I love to do that too.”
2 of 6
Photo credit: Getty Images
Among those stunning revelations is that Lucy — who died in 1989 at 77 — actually used henna to brighten her trademark red mop and was a devoted animal lover. “She loved animals like I do,” Julia says. “She was a huge animal activist — huge, just like I am.” And Lucy was always “on,” even at home. “She loved to entertain,” notes Julia. “She loved having Halloween parties and friends over, and I love to do that too.”
Julia added that though Lucy was a huge star socializing with Hollywood celebrities like
Bob Hope and
Jimmy Stewart, she preferred “to be around regular folks. She didn’t like to be around the Hollywood crowd. She loved to befriend regular people. She had friends that were not stars,” said Julia.
3 of 6
Photo credit: Getty Images
Julia — who had a troubled past that involved substance abuse and working as a stripper — was estranged from her father’s family until 2008. She's since turned her life around and been clean for 12 years. While she may cherish heart- warming stories about her TV star grandparents, the famous couple’s public relationship
was hiding dark secrets from the world!
4 of 6
Photo credit: Getty Images
Lucy and Desi — who died from lung cancer at 69 in 1986 — loved each other dearly, but their romance was rocky due to his
relentless boozing and womanizing. “The big problem with their marriage was that when Desi would get drunk, he was wild,” said a Hollywood insider. While Lucy thought having kids — Lucie and Desi Jr. — would strengthen their bond, their life together continued to fall apart.
5 of 6
Photo credit: Getty Images
Lucy and Desi — who died from lung cancer at 69 in 1986 — loved each other dearly, but their romance was rocky due to his
relentless boozing and womanizing. “The big problem with their marriage was that when Desi would get drunk, he was wild,” said a Hollywood insider. While Lucy thought having kids — Lucie and Desi Jr. — would strengthen their bond, their life together continued to fall apart.
“They were fighting all the time when we were growing up,” recalled Lucie Arnaz, who starred on "Life With Lucy" alongside her mom. “There was a lot of anger, screaming, yelling and alcoholism.” The situation grew so bad that Lucy once almost killed Desi with a hammer during a fight over his affairs — and their 20-year marriage finally ended after Lucy caught him in bed with two hookers!
6 of 6
Photo credit: Getty Images
But after their split, the couple surprisingly remained good friends. They also continued to build a television empire as business partners in Desilu Productions. Pals said that not even their divorce and subsequent marriages to others could douse the flame of their everlasting love. Added the insider: “They were soulmates until the end!”
Among those stunning revelations is that Lucy — who died in 1989 at 77 — actually used henna to brighten her trademark red mop and was a devoted animal lover. “She loved animals like I do,” Julia says. “She was a huge animal activist — huge, just like I am.” And Lucy was always “on,” even at home. “She loved to entertain,” notes Julia. “She loved having Halloween parties and friends over, and I love to do that too.”
Photo credit: Getty Images
Julia added that though Lucy was a huge star socializing with Hollywood celebrities like
Bob Hope and
Jimmy Stewart, she preferred “to be around regular folks. She didn’t like to be around the Hollywood crowd. She loved to befriend regular people. She had friends that were not stars,” said Julia.
Julia — who had a troubled past that involved substance abuse and working as a stripper — was estranged from her father’s family until 2008. She's since turned her life around and been clean for 12 years. While she may cherish heart- warming stories about her TV star grandparents, the famous couple’s public relationship
was hiding dark secrets from the world!
Photo credit: Getty Images
Lucy and Desi — who died from lung cancer at 69 in 1986 — loved each other dearly, but their romance was rocky due to his
relentless boozing and womanizing. “The big problem with their marriage was that when Desi would get drunk, he was wild,” said a Hollywood insider. While Lucy thought having kids — Lucie and Desi Jr. — would strengthen their bond, their life together continued to fall apart.
Photo credit: Getty Images
“They were fighting all the time when we were growing up,” recalled Lucie Arnaz, who starred on "Life With Lucy" alongside her mom. “There was a lot of anger, screaming, yelling and alcoholism.” The situation grew so bad that Lucy once almost killed Desi with a hammer during a fight over his affairs — and their 20-year marriage finally ended after Lucy caught him in bed with two hookers!
But after their split, the couple surprisingly remained good friends. They also continued to build a television empire as business partners in Desilu Productions. Pals said that not even their divorce and subsequent marriages to others could douse the flame of their everlasting love. Added the insider: “They were soulmates until the end!”
Photo credit: Getty Images
