Edith Mack Hirsch was an American woman best known as the second wife of Cuban-American actor, musician, and television producer Desi Arnaz. She married Arnaz in 1963, about three years after his divorce from Lucille Ball. Edith and Desi remained married for about 22 years, until her death in 1985.
Secondary biographies also describe Edith as a humanitarian, although details about her charitable work are limited. She had no children with Desi but became stepmother to 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 was reportedly born Edith Mack McSkimming on April 15, 1917, in Illinois, United States.
Some sources specifically mention Chicago, but Illinois is the more consistently reported birthplace.
Very little reliable information is available about her childhood and upbringing.
Her Parents and Siblings
The names of Edith Mack Hirsch’s parents are not reliably documented in the available information.
There is also little public information about whether she had brothers or sisters.
Education
Edith reportedly attended a local high school in Illinois.
The name of the school is not available. There is also no reliable information confirming that she attended a college or university.
Was Edith Mack Hirsch a Humanitarian?
Edith is commonly described in online biographies as a humanitarian.
However, detailed records of her work are limited. The available sources do not identify major organizations she worked for, specific humanitarian projects, or awards she received.
Some biographies say she had an interest in helping other people. It is therefore reasonable to describe her as a reported humanitarian, but specific achievements should not be added without stronger evidence.
Her First Marriage to Clement L. Hirsch
Before marrying Desi Arnaz, Edith was reportedly married to Clement L. Hirsch.
Clement was born on April 26, 1914, in St. Louis, Missouri, according to secondary sources.
Very little is known about their marriage. Their wedding date, divorce date, and reason for separating are not clearly documented.
The available information also does not reliably establish whether Edith and Clement had children together.
How Did Edith Mack Hirsch Meet Desi Arnaz?
The exact circumstances of Edith’s first meeting with Desi Arnaz are unclear.
Several secondary sources say they dated for about six months before marrying. However, some of the reported timelines conflict with one another.
Because of these differences, the exact date and place where Edith and Desi first met are not reliably known.
Edith Mack Hirsch and Desi Arnaz’s Marriage
Edith married Desi Arnaz on March 2, 1963.
Desi had divorced his first wife, Lucille Ball, in 1960.
Edith and Desi remained married for about 22 years. Their marriage ended with Edith’s death in 1985.
Some reports say Desi reduced his entertainment work and spent more time living privately after marrying Edith. However, the extent to which his marriage directly influenced his career decisions is not clearly documented.
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. He was born on March 2, 1917, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
Arnaz became famous for playing Ricky Ricardo alongside Lucille Ball in the television sitcom I Love Lucy. The show became one of the best-known American television comedies of its era.
Desi was also a musician and led the Desi Arnaz Orchestra.
His screen work included projects such as Too Many Girls, The Navy Comes Through, Four Jacks and a Jill, Cuban Pete, and The Long, Long Trailer.
He also became an important figure in television production.
Desi Arnaz’s Marriage to Lucille Ball
Before Edith, Desi was married to actress and comedian Lucille Ball.
Desi and Lucille met while working on the musical Too Many Girls. They married in 1940.
Their marriage lasted about 20 years before they divorced in 1960.
They continued to share an important family and professional history after their divorce.
Desi married Edith approximately three years later.
Did Edith Mack Hirsch Have Children?
Edith and Desi did not have children together.
Desi already had two children from his marriage to Lucille Ball:
- Lucie Arnaz
- Desi Arnaz Jr.
Edith became their stepmother after marrying Desi.
There is no reliable information in the available sources confirming that Edith had biological children from her first marriage.
Edith’s Relationship With Desi’s Family
Edith was part of the Arnaz family for more than two decades.
Photographs show her attending family occasions with Desi. She and Desi, for example, attended the marriage ceremony of Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill in Saugerties, New York.
Unlike Desi, Edith did not work as a major public entertainer and maintained a much lower public profile.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Public Life
Edith sometimes appeared publicly alongside Desi after their marriage.
Photographs from the period show the couple together at their wedding, social occasions, and family events.
Most public interest in Edith came from her marriage to Desi. There is little evidence that she actively pursued a career in Hollywood herself.
How Long Were Edith and Desi Arnaz Married?
Edith and Desi were married from 1963 until 1985, a period of about 22 years.
They did not divorce.
Edith remained Desi’s wife until her death.
How Did Edith Mack Hirsch Die?
Edith died in March 1985 at age 67.
Two of the available secondary sources give her death date as March 25, 1985, while another gives March 23, 1985. Because the sources conflict, the exact date should be treated with some caution.
Her place of death is reported as Del Mar, California.
Secondary sources say Edith had been dealing with cancer and died following health problems connected with the disease.
The specific type of cancer has not been reliably disclosed.
Desi Arnaz’s Death
Desi died less than two years after Edith.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer and died on December 2, 1986.
He was 69 years old.
Edith Mack Hirsch’s Net Worth
Edith Mack Hirsch’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some biography websites give an estimate of about $12.5 million. However, there is no clear financial evidence supporting this amount.
The figure should therefore be treated as an unverified online estimate rather than a confirmed net worth.
Did Edith Mack Hirsch Have Social Media?
No. Edith died in 1985, long before modern social media existed.
She did not have personal Instagram, Facebook, X, or other modern social media accounts.
Facts About Edith Mack Hirsch
- Edith was reportedly born Edith Mack McSkimming.
- She was born on April 15, 1917.
- Her birthplace is generally reported as Illinois.
- Very little is known 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 meeting Desi Arnaz.
- She became Desi Arnaz’s second wife in 1963.
- Desi’s first wife was Lucille Ball.
- Edith and Desi had no children together.
- She became stepmother to Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.
- Edith and Desi remained married for about 22 years.
- Edith died at age 67 in March 1985.
- Her death was reportedly related to cancer.
- The specific type of cancer is not publicly established.
- Desi Arnaz died from lung cancer in December 1986.
- Edith’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
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