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Ricardo Montalban, the mexican actor who played Mr Roarke in Fantasy Island died today at age 88 in Los Angeles, California. No cause of death was disclosed yet.
Here´s some trivia about Ricardo Montalban, may he rest in peace
Wife Georgiana’s sister was actress Loretta Young.
In 1993, he had a 9 1/2 hour surgical operation on his spine to repair an old back injury he received while filming Across the Wide Missouri (1951). He has been in constant pain ever since and confined to a wheelchair as a paraplegic.
Brother of actor Carlos Montalbán.
For years, was a commercial spokesman for Chrysler Corp. automobiles.
Half-brother-in-law of Polly Ann Young, Sally Blane and Loretta Young, half-uncle of Judy Lewis and Christopher Lewis.
Agreed to reprise his role of “Khan” in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) for only $100,000 because he loved the role so much.
Was nominated for Broadway’s 1958 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for “Jamaica.”
Is the only “Star Trek” movie villain who previously appeared on “Star Trek” (1966). He played Khan Noonien Singh in the “Star Trek” (1966) episode “Space Seed” and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982).
Appeared in episodes of three different series with Madlyn Rhue: “Bonanza” (1959), “Star Trek” (1966) and “Fantasy Island” (1978). They played husband and wife in the first two of these.
In 1970, he founded the non-profit organization “Nosotros” whose goal is “to help fulfill the goals of persons of Spanish-speaking origin in the motion picture and television industry.” (www.nosotros.org).
In 1999, he purchased an old Hollywood theater designed by the well-known architect John C. Austin which was built in 1927: “…conceiving a plan to rebuild this theater to benefit the diverse community and to build a state-of-the-art school to compliment this live theater.”.
He plays a Japanese gangster in the “Hawaii Five-O” (1968) episode “Hawaii Five-O: Samurai (#1.4)” (1968). The eye makeup is so binding Montalban cannot blink. As a result the continuous shots of Montalban are always short. The effect is a little jarring. Most people blink when they move their head to readjust their eyes. Montalban never does when moving his head on camera, giving the character a sort of drugged or Zombie appearance. In any case, he neither looks nor sounds Japanese.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as “Mr. Roarke” on “Fantasy Island” (1978).
Had four children with Georgiana Young. Sons: Victor Montalban, Mark Montalban (b. 1947); Daughters: Laura Montalban (clothing designer, b. 1949) and Anita Montalban (b. 1952).
it seems like Montalban must have been a contender for Lady’s Man of the year at least a few times during his lifetime