Facts about Ricardo Montalban
Ricardo Montalban Biography
Among television viewers, Ricardo Montalban is remembered as Mr. Roarke, the mysterious white-suited host of the TV drama Fantasy Island, and as a pitchman for the “soft Corinthian leather” of the luxury Chrysler Cordoba.
Ricardo Montalban was one of a handful of Latin leading men who broke into Hollywood movies in the 1940s and 1950s, though he was often cast as an Arab, a Native American or in other ethnic roles. Montalban also played creepy superdude Khan, Captain James T. Kirk‘s nemesis in a famous 1967 episode of TV’s Star Trek, and he reprised the role in a 1982 movie, The Wrath of Khan.
But it was his Fantasy Island turn as Mr. Roarke — dapper and all-knowing, assisted by the teensy aide-de-camp Tattoo (played by Herve Villechaize) — that made him a star during its run from 1978-1984. He also played Grandfather in Spy Kids 2 (2002) and Spy Kids 3 (2003). He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild in 1994.
Extra credit
Ricardo Montalban’s wife, Georgiana, was the sister of actress Loretta Young… Rocardo Montalban founded Nosotros, an organization promoting Latino involvement and positive imagery in the film industry; Nosotros also was the name of a 1945 film starring Montalban… Ricardo Montalban is the indirect object of a classic Internet meme: actor William Shatner (as Captain Kirk) shouting “Khaaaaaan!”