Ricardo Montalban dies
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV’s “Fantasy Island,” died Wednesday morning at his home, a city councilman said. He was 88.
Montalban’s death was announced at a meeting of the city council by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. Garcetti did not give a cause of death.
“The Ricardo Montalban Theatre in my Council District — where the next generations of performers participate in plays, musicals, and concerts — stands as a fitting tribute to this consummate performer,” Garcetti said later in a written statement.
Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in “Fiesta.” He also starred with the swimming beauty in “On an Island with You” and “Neptune’s Daughter.”
A later generation knew Montalban as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over an island resort where visitors were able to fulfill their lifelong dreams. “Fantasy Island” received high ratings for most of its 1978-1984 span on ABC television and still appears in reruns.
In a 1978 interview, he analyzed the series’ success:
“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.”
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AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.
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Two of Mr Montalbon’s most powerfull and popular performences were the reacurring charector of the arogant villinous Khan in Star Trek,both the original series in the 60s and later in “Star Trek 3,The Wrath of Khan”. He totally submerged his famous aristocratic poise in his screen portrayal of a techno/barbarian who has embraced the mythic example Captain Ahab as a model with which to focus his all consuming hatred of Captain Kirk. His delivery of the Ahab quote “He tasks me!” as the ultimate reason of his hate was no less chilling than Gregory Peck’s original delivery of it in Moby Dick.
I am not a die hard Treker. But a good movie,and a good job, speaks for itself.
Nuff said, John