Ricardo Montalban (November 25, 1920 - January 14, 2009) was a Mexican actor, whose career spanned over seven decades. Among his notable performances were the roles of various science fiction TV series characters, such as Mr. Roarke of the Fantasy Island. He has also appeared at Star Trek, both in the TV series and in the 1982 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. He has received numerous awards for his acting work, such as an Emmy in 1978 and the Screen Actors Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also a prominent voice actor, both for commercials and for animated films.
Ricardo was born in Mexico City in Mexico to a Spaniard emigrant family. His acting career choice was influenced largely by his older brother, who was the Carlos Montalbán. He also had a sister and another brother. His father Jenaro Montalbán was a store manager. In his late teens, Ricardo moved to NYC with his brother; Ricardo landed a small role in the theater play Her Cardboard Lover, and this largely lit up the way for his future career.
Montalban's first film appearance was in 1941, when Ricardo played in Staten Island, where he portrayed a guitar-playing gigolo; people of Spanish descent were frequently given roles like these at the time, but Montalban's uncanny attitude, although cost him a few roles, gave him the opportunity to perform non-stereotypical roles, a rarity for Spaniards in Hollywood. Montalban frequently portrayed Asians, but his first leading role came in the '49 film Border Incident. He was the first Hispanic actor to appear on the the cover of Life magazine.
Montalban played numerous "oriental" roles during the 50s, but a notable role is him playing Nakamura in the '57 film Sayonara, which received the Academy Award for the best motion picture. Montalban then went to Broadway and performed light-hearted characters for two years. In 1975 Montalban became the spokesman for Chrysler Automobiles, and became widely famous for his commercial text, "soft Corinthian leather", which was delivered in a very memorable way, and was later parodied by comedians. During the 70s and 80s, Montalban also appeared at numerous television series as a guest actor.
Montalban then continued to appear on television, albeit not in commercials. His most famous television role in Fantasy Island, where he portrayed Mr. Roarke from 1978 until 1984, was largely responsible for his future portrayals of sci-fi characters. The ever charismatic Mr. Roarke, who fulfilled the fantasies of those arriving to Fantasy Island, made the series an instant hit, and Mr. Roarke eventually became a pop icon. However, his best appearance on film, as said by critics, was in the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. Montalban then appeared at numerous films of various genres, for example, he starred in the 1984 film Cannonball Run II, as well as in both Spy Kids movies in the 2000s; in the latter films, Montalban portrayed the Grandfather.
Montalban died in 2009 from heart disease. Ricardo Montalban's last performance was being a voice actor in the animated series
American Dad.
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