Edith Mack Hirsch was the second wife of Cuban-American entertainer Desi Arnaz, best known for co-starring in I Love Lucy with Lucille Ball. Reported born Edith Mack McSkimming on April 15, 1917, in Illinois, she first married businessman Clement L. Hirsch, then wed Arnaz on March 2, 1963, in Las Vegas. Their marriage lasted about 22 years, until her death on March 23, 1985, at age 67. She had no biological children with Arnaz but became stepmother to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. Described as a humanitarian, she kept a relatively private public profile, which is why details of her life come mainly from secondary biographical sources.
Edith Mack Hirsch Quick Bio
| Information | Details |
| Full Name | Edith Mack Hirsch |
| Reported Birth Name | Edith Mack McSkimming |
| Reported Birth Date | April 15, 1917 |
| Reported Birthplace | Illinois, United States |
| First Husband | Clement L. Hirsch |
| Second Husband | Desi Arnaz |
| Marriage To Desi Arnaz | March 2, 1963 |
| Wedding Location | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Marriage Length | About 22 years |
| Children With Desi Arnaz | None |
| Stepchildren | Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. |
| Desi Arnaz’s First Wife | Lucille Ball |
| Desi Arnaz’s First Marriage | 1940–1960 |
| Known For | Being Desi Arnaz’s second wife |
| Reported Public Role | Humanitarian |
| Reported Death Date | March 23, 1985 |
| Reported Age At Death | 67 |
| Public Profile | Relatively private |
What Is Known About Edith Mack Hirsch’s Early Life?
Edith Mack Hirsch early life is only lightly documented. Commonly reported details say she was born Edith Mack McSkimming on April 15, 1917, in Illinois, United States. Because these are the reported birth date and reported birthplace, they should be treated as commonly reported details rather than confirmed facts from a birth certificate.
Nothing dependable is public about her parents, siblings, schooling, or childhood. The Edith Mack Hirsch family is known mainly through her adult marriages. This gap is typical for women of her era who lived outside the entertainment industry.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s First Marriage To Clement L. Hirsch
Her first marriage was to Clement L. Hirsch, a California businessman. Hirsch is best known as the founder of the pet food company Kal Kan and as a leading figure in thoroughbred racing. He helped launch the Oak Tree Racing Association, an organization that runs major horse racing meets in Southern California. That is why she is often called the former wife of Clement Hirsch.
She kept his surname after their divorce, which is how she became widely known as Edith Mack Hirsch. Public details about how and when that first marriage ended are limited.
How Edith Mack Hirsch Married Desi Arnaz
Edith Mack Hirsch’s wedding to Desi Arnaz took place on March 2, 1963, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The date was Arnaz’s 46th birthday, and she was about 45. Las Vegas was a common choice for quick, private ceremonies, and some accounts link the era’s celebrity weddings there to resorts such as the Sands Hotel, though the exact venue should be treated cautiously.
For Arnaz, this was a second marriage. For her, it was also a second marriage, which makes the union a fresh start for both.
Inside Edith Mack Hirsch And Desi Arnaz’s Marriage
The Edith Mack Hirsch marriage lasted approximately 22 years, ending only with her death in 1985. Arnaz had stepped back from Hollywood by then and settled into a quieter life in Southern California, including Del Mar, California, a coastal town famous for its racetrack. That setting fit both of them, since Arnaz loved horses and Hirsch came from a racing-connected circle.
Reported highlights of their years together include:
- A move away from the entertainment industry toward semiretirement
- A home life centered on Del Mar and horse racing culture
- A role as Arnaz’s steady partner during his later years
Some biographies describe the relationship as stable compared with Arnaz’s turbulent first marriage. Because Desi Arnaz and Edith Mack Hirsch avoided publicity, that view rests mostly on secondary accounts.
Did Edith Mack Hirsch Have Children?
The clear answer is no as far as Arnaz is concerned. Edith Mack Hirsch children with Desi Arnaz do not exist: the couple had no biological children together. Arnaz’s only children, Lucie and Desi Jr., came from his first marriage. Reliable sources do not clearly list any children from her first marriage either, so any claim about them should be handled carefully.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Connection To Lucie Arnaz And Desi Arnaz Jr.
Edith Mack Hirsch stepchildren were Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., the two children of Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Lucie was born in 1951, and Desi Jr. was born in 1953. Both grew up in the public eye and later built careers in entertainment. Lucie became an actress and singer, and Desi Jr. became an actor and musician.
Her family role was simple: wife and stepmother. She became stepmother to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. when they were teenagers and children of a famous, divorced household. She joined the Arnaz family in a supporting position rather than as a public figure.
Why Desi Arnaz’s First Marriage To Lucille Ball Matters
To understand Desi Arnaz’s second wife, you need context on his first. Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-American actor, musician, and bandleader who moved to the United States as a young man. He married comedian Lucille Ball in 1940.
Together they starred in I Love Lucy, which debuted in 1951 and became one of television’s most influential sitcoms. They also founded Desilu Productions, a studio that made many shows. Arnaz worked as both television producer and television executive, and his business methods shaped how sitcoms are filmed today. The first marriage set the standard against which every later chapter of his life was measured.
What Happened Between Desi Arnaz And Lucille Ball?
Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s marriage ran from 1940–1960, and the couple divorced in 1960. Reported pressures included long separations, business stress, and the strain of running a studio together. Their split did not end their professional bond, and they remained connected through their children and Desilu Productions for some time.
A short timeline shows how these events led to his second marriage:
- 1940: Arnaz and Ball marry.
- 1951: I Love Lucy premieres and Lucie is born.
- 1953: Desi Jr. is born.
- 1960: The couple divorces.
- 1963: Arnaz marries Edith Mack Hirsch.
Was Edith Mack Hirsch Really Similar To Lucille Ball?
Many accounts note that Arnaz’s second wife was a redhead, which prompted talk of a physical resemblance to Lucille Ball. Contemporary reporting and later biographies repeated the comparison. It is worth treating with care. A shared hair color and a passing likeness do not show that Arnaz chose her for that reason, and no reliable source confirms it.
What can be said is that the comparison shaped her image. Because she was known mainly as the woman after Lucille Ball, her own personality was often lost.
What Is Known About Edith Mack Hirsch’s Career And Activism?
Edith Mack Hirsch career details are sparse. She is not known for film, television, or music work, so her public role was that of a wife and later a humanitarian. Sources that use the label describe charitable and civic interests, but they rarely name specific organizations or dates.
The Edith Mack Hirsch activism claims are similarly general. Anyone writing about her should say she is reported to have been an activist and humanitarian, and should avoid inventing causes. These limits show how much of her story rests on general secondary accounts.
Why Did Edith Mack Hirsch Live Away From The Spotlight?
Her life away from the spotlight likely reflects a few practical realities:
- Arnaz had left Hollywood and wanted a calmer life.
- Her own career was not in entertainment.
- Society pages and news outlets focused on the more famous first family.
Her relatively private public profile is the main reason her private life stays hard to research. Outlets such as the Associated Press, TIME, and the Los Angeles Times covered Arnaz’s career far more than his marriage to her.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Final Years
Edith Mack Hirsch’s final years were spent in Southern California with Arnaz. She died on March 23, 1985, and the reported age at death is 67 years old. Some accounts state the cause was cancer, though the details remain limited. Arnaz died the following year, in 1986, so their marriage effectively ended with her passing only shortly before his own.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Place In Desi Arnaz’s Legacy
Edith Mack Hirsch’s legacy is quiet but real. In the story of Desi Arnaz’s legacy, she represents the stable, private final chapter after fame, divorce, and business upheaval. Edith Mack Hirsch’s place in Desi Arnaz’s legacy is that of a steady companion rather than a headline figure.
Her story also shows how history can overlook people who stayed out of the public eye. Biography.com and encyclopedic databases such as EBSCO offer only short summaries, so the historical record remains modest.
Final Thoughts On Edith Mack Hirsch
Edith Mack Hirsch was a private woman whose life intersected with one of Hollywood’s best-known figures. Born Edith Mack McSkimming, she married Clement L. Hirsch, later wed Desi Arnaz in 1963, and shared about 22 years with him before her death in 1985. She became stepmother to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. and never had biological children with Arnaz.
Much about her career, activism, and early life remains unclear, so careful readers should separate reported details from confirmed facts. Even so, her role in the Arnaz family makes her a meaningful part of his story.
FAQs
Who Was Edith Mack Hirsch?
Edith Mack Hirsch was Desi Arnaz’s second wife, a reported humanitarian, and the stepmother of Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. She lived a relatively private life.
What Was Edith Mack Hirsch’s Birth Name?
Her reported birth name was Edith Mack McSkimming. She became Edith Mack Hirsch through her marriage to Clement L. Hirsch.
When Did Edith Mack Hirsch Marry Desi Arnaz?
She married Desi Arnaz on March 2, 1963, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Did Edith Mack Hirsch Have Children With Desi Arnaz?
No. She had no biological children with Desi Arnaz.
Who Were Edith Mack Hirsch’s Stepchildren?
Her stepchildren were Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., Arnaz’s children with Lucille Ball.
Who Was Edith Mack Hirsch’s First Husband?
Her first husband was Clement L. Hirsch, a businessman known for founding Kal Kan and helping create the Oak Tree Racing Association.
How Long Were Edith Mack Hirsch And Desi Arnaz Married?
They were married for about 22 years, from 1963 until her death in 1985.
When Did Edith Mack Hirsch Die?
She died on March 23, 1985, at the reported age of 67.
Conclusion
Edith Mack Hirsch, reportedly born Edith Mack McSkimming on April 15, 1917, in Illinois, was Desi Arnaz’s second wife. She first married businessman Clement L. Hirsch, a founder of Kal Kan and the Oak Tree Racing Association. She wed Arnaz on March 2, 1963, in Las Vegas, and they shared about 22 years together.
She had no biological children with Arnaz but became stepmother to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. Described as a humanitarian, she lived a relatively private life in Southern California. She died on March 23, 1985, at 67, leaving a quiet legacy in Arnaz’s story.
Wang Fang is a passionate entertainment writer who enjoys exploring celebrity biographies, career journeys, achievements, lifestyle stories, and fascinating facts about famous personalities. With a focus on clear, engaging, and reader-friendly content, Wang Fang brings interesting stories from the world of celebrities and entertainment closer to readers.
