Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s hit sitcom, I Love Lucy, captured the hearts of Americans from 1951 to 1957. Fans were delighted when the on-screen couple welcomed their son, Little Ricky, into the world in season two. However, what many viewers didn’t know was that the adorable toddler they saw on the show was not actually played by Arnaz and Ball’s real-life son, Desi Jr.
Desi Arnaz, the show’s producer and co-star, had a specific reason for not casting his own son as Little Ricky. Instead, he searched for the perfect child actor to play the role. When he saw Keith Thibodeaux, a talented young drummer from Louisiana, Arnaz knew he had found his Little Ricky.
Thibodeaux’s drumming skills proved to be an excellent addition to the show, as Ricky Ricardo was also a drummer. Arnaz was impressed by the young actor’s talent and felt that he looked the part. Despite Thibodeaux being two years older than Desi Jr., Arnaz felt he was the perfect fit for the role.
To avoid confusion for his real-life children, Arnaz gave Thibodeaux a stage name, Richard Keith, for billing purposes. However, Thibodeaux became an integral part of the Arnaz-Ball family and was like a brother to Desi Jr. and Lucie.
While Thibodeaux’s casting was a success for the show, it created mixed emotions for Desi Jr. He struggled with his identity and felt overshadowed by the actor who played his on-screen counterpart. Desi Jr. wanted to be better at something, anything, than the boy who played Little Ricky. For years, he felt a connection to the character that he couldn’t shake off.
Despite Desi Jr.’s mixed emotions, Little Ricky remained a beloved character on I Love Lucy until the show ended in 1957. Thibodeaux even reprised his role in The Desi-Lucy Comedy Hour for three seasons, solidifying his place in television history.