Edith Mack Hirsch was an American woman who became best known as the second wife of Cuban-American actor, musician, and television producer Desi Arnaz. The couple married on March 2, 1963, around three years after Arnaz’s divorce from Lucille Ball. Edith and Desi remained together for roughly 22 years, until her death in 1985.
Although Edith lived largely outside the entertainment spotlight, several secondary biographies describe her as a humanitarian. However, detailed information about her charitable activities is limited. She had no children with Desi but became the stepmother of his two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Edith Mack Hirsch |
| Reported birth name | Edith Mack McSkimming |
| Nickname | Edie, reportedly |
| Date of birth | April 15, 1917 |
| Birthplace | Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Reportedly a humanitarian |
| First husband | Clement L. Hirsch |
| Second husband | Desi Arnaz |
| Marriage to Desi | March 2, 1963 |
| Children with Desi | None |
| Stepchildren | Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. |
| Date of death | March 1985 |
| Age at death | 67 |
| Reported cause of death | Cancer |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Early Life
Edith Mack Hirsch was reportedly born Edith Mack McSkimming on April 15, 1917, in Illinois, United States. Some sources specifically identify Chicago as her birthplace, but Illinois is the location that appears more consistently in the available reports.
Despite her connection to a famous Hollywood family, very little verified information exists about Edith’s childhood. Details about where she grew up, her early interests, and her family life have not been extensively documented in reliable public sources.
Her Parents and Siblings
The identities of Edith Mack Hirsch’s parents are not clearly established in the available information. There are also no dependable details about whether she had brothers or sisters.
Because Edith was not a major public figure in her own right, biographical information about her family background is considerably more limited than information about her husband, Desi Arnaz. Any additional claims about her parents or siblings should therefore be treated cautiously unless supported by stronger documentation.
Education
Edith reportedly attended a local high school in Illinois. However, the name of the school has not been reliably identified in the available sources.
There is also no confirmed information showing that she attended a college or university. As a result, her educational background remains largely undocumented beyond the reported high school education.
Was Edith Mack Hirsch a Humanitarian?
A number of online biographies describe Edith Mack Hirsch as a humanitarian. These accounts suggest that she had an interest in helping others and supporting charitable causes.
However, the available information does not provide detailed records of specific organizations she worked with, humanitarian programs she organized, or awards she received for charitable activities. It is therefore more accurate to describe her as a reported humanitarian rather than attributing specific achievements to her without reliable evidence.
Her First Marriage to Clement L. Hirsch
Before she married Desi Arnaz, Edith was reportedly married to Clement L. Hirsch. Secondary sources state that Clement was born on April 26, 1914, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Very little information is available about Edith and Clement’s marriage. Their wedding date, the circumstances of their separation, and any divorce details have not been clearly documented. The available material also does not reliably confirm whether the couple had children together.
How Did Edith Mack Hirsch Meet Desi Arnaz?
The story of how Edith first met Desi Arnaz has not been firmly established. Several secondary biographies claim that the pair dated for approximately six months before getting married.
However, the timelines presented by different sources do not always agree. Because of these inconsistencies, the exact location, date, and circumstances of their first meeting cannot be confirmed with confidence from the available information.
Edith Mack Hirsch and Desi Arnaz’s Marriage
Edith Mack Hirsch married Desi Arnaz on March 2, 1963. At the time, Desi had already been divorced from actress Lucille Ball for approximately three years.
Their marriage lasted for around 22 years and continued until Edith’s death in 1985. Unlike Desi’s highly publicized first marriage, his relationship with Edith was generally more private.
Some reports suggest that Desi reduced his involvement in entertainment and spent more time living privately after marrying Edith. However, the available material does not clearly establish how much of this change was directly caused by their marriage.
Who Was Desi Arnaz?
Desi Arnaz was a Cuban-American actor, musician, bandleader, and television producer. His full name was Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III, and he was born on March 2, 1917, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
He became one of the most recognizable television personalities of his era after playing Ricky Ricardo alongside Lucille Ball in the classic sitcom I Love Lucy. The series became one of the most influential and successful American television comedies of its time.
Desi also had a successful career in music and led the Desi Arnaz Orchestra. His screen credits included Too Many Girls, The Navy Comes Through, Four Jacks and a Jill, Cuban Pete, and The Long, Long Trailer. Beyond performing, he played an important role in television production.
Desi Arnaz’s Marriage to Lucille Ball
Before Edith, Desi Arnaz was married to actress and comedian Lucille Ball. The pair met while working on the musical Too Many Girls and married in 1940.
Their marriage lasted approximately two decades before ending in divorce in 1960. Even after their divorce, Desi and Lucille remained connected through their children and their shared professional history.
Desi married Edith roughly three years after his divorce from Lucille Ball.
Did Edith Mack Hirsch Have Children?
Edith and Desi Arnaz did not have children together.
Desi already had two children from his marriage to Lucille Ball: Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. After marrying Desi, Edith became their stepmother.
There is no reliable information in the supplied sources confirming that Edith had biological children from her first marriage to Clement L. Hirsch.
Edith’s Relationship With Desi’s Family
Edith became part of the Arnaz family during her more than two decades of marriage to Desi. Although she generally avoided the level of publicity associated with her husband, photographs show her attending family gatherings and important occasions.
For example, Edith and Desi reportedly attended the wedding of Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill in Saugerties, New York. These appearances provide some insight into Edith’s role within the Arnaz family, although details about her private relationships with individual family members remain limited.
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Edith Mack Hirsch’s Public Life
After marrying Desi Arnaz, Edith occasionally appeared with him at public and family events. Photographs from the period show the couple together at social occasions and other gatherings.
However, Edith did not establish herself as a Hollywood entertainer or seek the same level of public attention as Desi. Most of the public interest surrounding her came from her marriage to the famous actor and producer.
How Long Were Edith and Desi Arnaz Married?
Edith Mack Hirsch and Desi Arnaz married in 1963 and remained together until Edith died in 1985. Their marriage therefore lasted approximately 22 years.
The couple did not divorce. Edith remained Desi Arnaz’s wife until her death, making their marriage considerably longer than some of the relationships commonly associated with Hollywood figures of that era.
How Did Edith Mack Hirsch Die?
Edith Mack Hirsch died in March 1985 at the age of 67. Secondary sources disagree slightly about her exact date of death. Two reports list March 25, 1985, while another gives March 23, 1985.
Her place of death has been reported as Del Mar, California. Secondary biographies also state that Edith had been dealing with cancer and died following health complications associated with the disease.
The specific type of cancer has not been reliably established in the available information, so it is best not to identify a particular form of cancer as confirmed.
Desi Arnaz’s Death
Desi Arnaz died less than two years after Edith. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer and died on December 2, 1986, at the age of 69.
His death came after a long and influential career in acting, music, and television production. His work, particularly I Love Lucy, continued to shape American television long after his death.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Net Worth
Edith Mack Hirsch’s personal net worth has never been reliably established through public financial records. Some online biography websites have claimed that she was worth approximately $12.5 million.
There is no clear evidence in the available information to verify that figure. Her income, personal assets, inheritance, and financial arrangements were private. Therefore, the $12.5 million figure should be regarded as an unverified online estimate, not a confirmed measure of her wealth.
Did Edith Mack Hirsch Have Social Media?
No. Edith Mack Hirsch died in 1985, decades before modern social media platforms existed.
She therefore did not have personal accounts on Instagram, Facebook, X, or similar platforms. Any social media pages using her name today should not automatically be considered official accounts belonging to Edith.
Facts About Edith Mack Hirsch
- Edith Mack Hirsch was reportedly born Edith Mack McSkimming.
- She was born on April 15, 1917.
- Her birthplace is generally reported as Illinois, United States.
- Some sources specifically identify Chicago as her birthplace.
- Little reliable information is available about her parents or siblings.
- Secondary biographies describe her as a humanitarian.
- Her specific humanitarian activities are not well documented.
- She was reportedly married to Clement L. Hirsch before Desi Arnaz.
- Clement was reportedly born on April 26, 1914, in St. Louis, Missouri.
- The details of Edith’s first marriage are not clearly documented.
- Edith married Desi Arnaz on March 2, 1963.
- Desi’s first wife was Lucille Ball.
- Edith and Desi did not have children together.
- She became stepmother to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.
- Edith and Desi remained married for approximately 22 years.
- Edith died in March 1985 at age 67.
- Her death was reportedly connected to cancer.
- The exact type of cancer has not been reliably established.
- Desi Arnaz died from lung cancer on December 2, 1986.
- Edith’s exact personal net worth is not reliably known.
- Some websites estimate her wealth at approximately $12.5 million, but that figure remains unverified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Edith Mack Hirsch?
Edith Mack Hirsch was an American woman best known as the second wife of Cuban-American actor, musician, and television producer Desi Arnaz. The couple married in 1963 and remained together until Edith’s death in 1985.
What was Edith Mack Hirsch’s birth name?
Edith Mack Hirsch was reportedly born Edith Mack McSkimming. She was born on April 15, 1917, although detailed records about her early life are limited.
When did Edith Mack Hirsch marry Desi Arnaz?
Edith Mack Hirsch married Desi Arnaz on March 2, 1963. Desi had previously been married to Lucille Ball, with whom he had divorced in 1960.
How long were Edith Mack Hirsch and Desi Arnaz married?
Edith and Desi Arnaz were married for approximately 22 years. Their marriage lasted from March 1963 until Edith’s death in March 1985.
Did Edith Mack Hirsch have children with Desi Arnaz?
No, Edith and Desi did not have children together. Desi already had two children from his marriage to Lucille Ball, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., and Edith became their stepmother.
Who was Edith Mack Hirsch’s first husband?
Before marrying Desi Arnaz, Edith was reportedly married to Clement L. Hirsch. However, details about their marriage, including the wedding and separation dates, are not reliably documented.
How did Edith Mack Hirsch die?
Edith Mack Hirsch died in March 1985 at the age of 67. Secondary sources report that she had been dealing with cancer, but the specific type of cancer has not been reliably established.
Where did Edith Mack Hirsch die?
Secondary sources report that Edith died in Del Mar, California. Reports differ slightly about her exact date of death, with March 23 and March 25, 1985, both appearing in available biographies.
Was Edith Mack Hirsch a humanitarian?
Several secondary biographies describe Edith as a humanitarian. However, detailed information about specific charitable organizations, projects, or awards connected to her is limited, so her humanitarian work cannot be described in detail with certainty.
What was Edith Mack Hirsch’s net worth?
Edith Mack Hirsch’s exact net worth is not publicly known. Some online sources have estimated her wealth at around $12.5 million, but there is no reliable financial evidence confirming that figure, so it should be considered an unverified estimate.
Conclusion
Edith Mack Hirsch lived much of her life away from the intense public attention surrounding her famous husband, Desi Arnaz. She became his second wife when they married in 1963, several years after his divorce from Lucille Ball. Their marriage lasted about 22 years, and Edith became a stepmother to Desi’s two children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. Although some biographies describe her as a humanitarian, details about her personal career and charitable activities remain limited.
Edith died in March 1985 at age 67 after reportedly dealing with cancer. Her death came less than two years before Desi Arnaz’s own death in December 1986. While online sources have published various claims about Edith’s background and finances, several details remain uncertain, including her exact death date, first-marriage history, humanitarian work, and net worth. As a result, the most reliable picture of Edith Mack Hirsch is that of a private woman whose life became closely connected with one of Hollywood’s most famous television families.
