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• Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban appeared on stage, television and in films beginning in the 1930s. His heavily accented enthusiasm for their "rich Corinthian leather" sold Chrysler luxury cars in the 1970s, and his iconic turn as Mr. Roarke in the television series Fantasy Island lasted for seven seasons (1978-1984). He also played the villain Khan on an episode of the Star Trek TV show and in the second of the Trek films.Biography.com: Ricardo Montalban Biography

  Montalban passed away on January 14, 2009, of natural causes at the age of 88. His son-in-law, Gilbert Smith, reported that Montalban died peacefully at 6:30 a.m., with his daughter by his side.Radar: Fantasy Island Star Ricardo Montalban Dead (Jan. 14, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Full name: Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán MerinoBiography.com: Ricardo Montalban Biography
  2. Born: November 25, 1920Biography.com: Ricardo Montalban Biography
  3. Birth place: Mexico City, MexicoBiography.com: Ricardo Montalban Biography
  4. Resided: Los Angeles, CaliforniaRadar Online: Fantasy Island Star Ricardo Montalban Dead (January 14, 2009)
  5. Began his career on BroadwayBiography.com: Ricardo Montalban Biography
  6. U.S. debut film: Fiesta, 1947Biography.com: Ricardo Montalban Biography
  7. Emmy Award: How the West was Won, 1976Biography.com: Ricardo Montalban Biography
  8. Spouse: Georgiana Young, (d. 2007)Radar Online: Fantasy Island Star Ricardo Montalban Dead (January 14, 2009)
  9. 4 childrenTV Guide: [http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ricardo-Montalban-Dead-1001659.aspxStar Trek II's Khan, Fantasy Island Star Ricardo Montalban, Is Dead at 88 (January 14, 2009)
  10. Died: January 14, 2009Radar Online: Fantasy Island Star Ricardo Montalban Dead (January 14, 2009)

• Notable Roles

  1. Star Trek: Khan Noonien Singh
  2. Fantasy Island: Mr. Roarke
  3. The Naked Gun: Vincent Ludwig

• Latino Activism

  Though Montalban lived and worked in the United States, he remained a Mexican citizen his entire life.Radar Online: Fantasy Island Star Ricardo Montalban Dead (January 14, 2009) As one of the first successful Latino actors to gain worldwide fame, Montalban endeavored to increase the profile and image of other actors of Hispanic descent through his Nostotros Foundation, which helps emerging Latino actors.

• Back Injury

  Montalban suffered a spinal cord injury in 1951 while working on the film Across the Wide Missouri. This injury reportedly plagued him with pain throughout the rest of his career. In 1993, he had an operation to fix the problem, but it reportedly compounded the issue and left him wheelchair-bound. Montalban did not let this stop his career; he appeared in multiple Spy Kids movies as Antonio Banderas' father and continued doing voiceover work until late in life.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Fantasy Island | Chrysler | Star Trek | Star Trek Films | Antonio Banderas | Kim Possible | The Simpsons | Family Guy | William Shatner | Leonard Nimoy | Planet of the Apes | Priscilla Presley | O.J. Simpson | Carla Gugino

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