Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who first became a star in MGM musicals, but is probably better known as Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at his home. He was 88.
Another Ricardo Montalban role of note was that of Khan Noonian Singh, a genetically engineered, tyrannical super-human introduced "Star Trek." He later reprised that role in the movie "Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan." Obviously Khan wasn't a happy camper.
Ricardo Montalban also made himself known in some Chrysler commercials, specifically the Cordoba, which Montalban extolled the virtues of with its “thickly cushioned luxury of seats available even in soft Corinthian leather.”
That fine Corinthian leather was a phrase he was known for.
Of late, Montalban appeared in Disney's "Spy Kids" movies, and also did voice-overs in cartoons such as Disney's "Kim Possible."
In a 1978 interview about Fantasy Island, Montalban said:
"What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities."
Montalban’s wife of more than 60 years, Georgiana, a half- sister of film star Loretta Young, died in 2007. They had four children: Mark, Victor, Laura and Anita.
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