Lucie Arnaz may like to fly under the radar, but this entertainer was born to be a star. Not only is she the daughter of the great comedic duo Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz—the late husband and wife team who headlined the popular TV series I Love Lucy—but Lucie also made a name for herself by starring in the 1980 film The Jazz Singer alongside Neil Diamond and in the hit CBS series Sons and Daughters.
In addition to solidifying her place in Hollywood, Lucie was recently tapped as the spokesperson for Doors of Change, a California‑based organization dedicated to advocating for young people ages 17‑24 by providing them with resources to improve their quality of life. According to President Jeffrey Sitcov, Doors of Change has served more than 23,000 young people and helped over 2,900 homeless youth in the Southern California area find shelter by raising nearly six million dollars since 2001.
In this exclusive interview for Woman’s World, Lucie discusses what motivated her to get involved, shares stories about her famous parents and describes what her life is like away from the spotlight.
Woman’s World: What made you want to get involved with Doors of Change?
Lucie Arnaz: Three reasons. One: my personal friend and public relations manager for years, Harlan Boll, asked me to get involved because they needed a spokesperson to spread the word about the great work they’re doing. Two: I raised five children and at various times as teenagers two of my boys wound up on the streets because they tested us by saying “I can do that,” and I was, like, “Yeah you can do that but you can’t live here if you do that”—so boom. Three: when I can involve myself with a project that makes a difference, especially when it makes things easier for someone else, that makes me feel good.
WW: Was giving back to those less fortunate something you were taught as a child?
Woman’s World: What made you want to get involved with Doors of Change?
Lucie Arnaz: Three reasons. One: my personal friend and public relations manager for years, Harlan Boll, asked me to get involved because they needed a spokesperson to spread the word about the great work they’re doing. Two: I raised five children and at various times as teenagers two of my boys wound up on the streets because they tested us by saying “I can do that,” and I was, like, “Yeah you can do that but you can’t live here if you do that”—so boom. Three: when I can involve myself with a project that makes a difference, especially when it makes things easier for someone else, that makes me feel good.
WW: Was giving back to those less fortunate something you were taught as a child?WW: It must have been scary not knowing where they were?
Lucie Arnaz: We did not have cellphones at the time. We were living in the suburbs of Westchester County, New York with our five children and unless you were involved in sports, there wasn’t a lot to do. My kids were not into sports because they were more creative, which is why they became writers, painters, actors, songwriters and musicians. At the time, my kids were hanging out with people who were not so wonderful because those individuals were doing drugs and getting into trouble, so mine took a left and we had to straighten them out until they made the right choices.
WW: During that rough patch, were your kids considered homeless?
Lucie Arnaz: Just my husband and I knew what was happening. I mean, I went out to look for my son at one point and there were five other kids sleeping under a park bench in the middle of December. We thought he would be out there for two nights and he was out there for weeks. Finally, I got a phone call and I said, “Are you ready to get some help for this?” and when he said he was ready, we went and got him.
WW: Did anything positive come out of the experience?
Lucie Arnaz: It was the best thing that ever happened, because he had to go there to figure out what he was doing and understand everything. Today he is one of the best people on the planet, but it was hard and tough love isn’t easy. We made sure to always convey the message that when you are ready to talk, we will be here and that was one of the advantages I had being able to talk to my son and ask him what it was like.
WW: What did your son tell you about homelessness?
Lucie Arnaz: I got a clear first‑person account of what being homeless is really like, so I don’t have to imagine it—I know. He couch surfed with friends for a few weeks and when he couldn’t do that anymore, he then had to find a bench under a gazebo in the town we were living in, in New York. Then it became real.
WW: That must have been a difficult moment…
Lucie Arnaz: It was hard and it was very difficult to navigate the parenting thing. Nobody trains us how to be parents. When I was raising my children, you only know what you saw at home. If I had Super Nanny when I was raising my kids, life would have been so much easier.
WW: You recently celebrated 45 years of marriage to your husband Laurence Luckinbill. Congratulations. What’s the secret to wedded bliss?
Lucie Arnaz: They always say it’s amazing if people who live in Hollywood make it. I reply that that’s why I don’t live in Hollywood. I grew up in Beverly Hills, but back then it was a cute town where people worked hard. When I married Larry, we spent most of our time in New York City or Westchester County before relocating to Palm Springs. I didn’t want to live in the fishbowl.
WW: As you just alluded to, many famous couples throw in the towel if they can’t get through the challenges, but you didn’t.
Lucie Arnaz: After Larry and I throw in the towel, we go back in the room, pick it up, put it in the washer, put it in the dryer and hang it back up on the rack. We have done that a lot of times. It’s true you have to keep at it. You have to agree that you are in it for the long haul and the biggest secret is you need to marry Larry Luckinbill because if you do, you have a better shot at survival.
WW: How do you and your husband overcome conflict?
Lucie Arnaz: He’s a good guy. He was married once before for 12 years. Two of our five kids are his two boys from his first marriage and I was married briefly for like an hour and a half when I was 20. Larry had been down the road before and he didn’t want to start over again. As for me, I was young plus he is 17 years older than me. Since I was young I acted out more than he did. He was patient with me even when it wasn’t his fault. If we had an argument about something, he would be the one who came into the room and say, “I am sorry, let’s talk about this.”
WW: How would you react?
Lucie Arnaz: I would dissolve into tears because I wanted to talk about it but I didn’t know how. I wasn’t taught that. I always say the credit goes to him that we are still together, because he knew how to fix it. It was his way of loving me, being patient and knowing that I was young and making mistakes. I went through a lot during our marriage.
WW: When you say you went through a lot, give us an example…
Lucie Arnaz: We had a lot of kids. We lost many friends to the AIDS crisis. I lost my dad, I lost my mom and then I lost the woman who basically raised me, so there was a lot of loss for several years and I just kind of shut down. Larry kept digging and he had the smarts to figure it out.
WW: Let’s shift to your career. Are you still performing?
Lucie Arnaz: I will be opening at the Purple Room in Palm Springs and I will be in a big‑band show at the new Plaza Theater in downtown Palm Springs called “Sing Happy.” I am also producing a few things.
WW: In addition to these stage acts, are you drawing attention to a special concert for Doors of Change?
Lucie Arnaz: It’s Sept. 6 2025 at Epstein’s Family Amphitheater at UC‑San Diego in San Diego. Anson Williams from Happy Days will be the emcee and 100 percent of proceeds will go to providing homeless youth food housing and education. It’s a two‑hour concert headlined by The Rolling Stones National Tribute Band Jumping Jack Flash and blues‑award winner Whitney Shea.
WW: Did your parents’ success influence your wanting to be in the business?
Lucie Arnaz: I saw two people who really loved what they were doing and that influenced me, though I hated the fact they were so busy and I hardly ever saw them. It’s interesting because when you think about it, I should gravitate away from show business because the business took my parents away from me, yet at the same time I understood how much fun they were having and it made me want to play in that arena.
WW: When did that start?
Lucie Arnaz: I remember being seven and putting on little plays in my backyard. I pretended to be other people by dressing up in costumes. I guess I was crafting my career back then. I also went to the high school that had the best drama department and then my mom picked me to be on her show Here’s Lucy. That became a great training ground. From there I went into theater where nobody in my family was, so that corner was mine. My brother was in music, my dad was in producing and a musician and my mom was in television. Yes I did a few films and TV shows, but I found my home in theater doing Pippin or performing my club act.
WW: What qualities did you get from each parent?
Lucie Arnaz: Quality, because they delivered quality performances. They were professional, deep, well‑honed and the best at what they did. That made me want to try hard. I learned to be at work on time, know your lines, take what you do seriously and that this is a respected business. They also never pushed us toward the business. Instead they gave me and my brother opportunities and supported our passions.
WW: What was working with your mom like?
Lucie Arnaz: I learned a lot from her. She was as tough on us as kids as she was on any performer on her stage. We didn’t get special treatment. Her thing was to learn this, do that, show up on time, where is your script and don’t forget your lines—it was boot camp for the best.
WW: I Love Lucy debuted in 1951 and currently streams on Paramount+. Are you surprised the show still has a large following and attracts many generations?
Lucie Arnaz: Not at all. What is better than that kind of belly laugh? It is the healthiest thing in the world.
