| Ricardo Montalban
(American film, stage, television actor | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Born | November 25, 1920 Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico | ||
| Died | January 14, 2009 Los Angeles, California, USA | ||
| Spouse | Georgiana Young | ||
Ricardo Montalbán (born November 25, 1920), known for being a prominent actor in American television, film and theater. Montalbán was the youngest of four children to Castilian Spanish immigrants, Ricarda Merino and Jenaro Montalbán, a dry goods store owner. Montalbán, who was born in Mexico, moved to Los Angeles as a teen and lived with his much older brother Carlos Montalbán, who was then pursuing show business as both an actor and dancer. The two brothers moved to New York for a while. Late in 1941, Montalbán returned to Mexico after learning that his mother was dying. There, he acted in a dozen Spanish-language films and became a star in his homeland. Montalbán married actress and model Georgiana Young (born Georgiana Paula Belzer) in 1944. The couple had four children together. In 1993, Montalbán had a 9 1/2 hour surgical operation on his spine to repair an old back injury he received while filming the 1951 film "Across the Wide Missouri". During the filming Montalbán was thrown from his horse, knocked unconscious, and trampled by another horse, resulting in a traumatic back injury that never healed. He was confined to a wheelchair as a paraplegic for the rest of his life after the 1993 surgery when the pain continued to increase over the years. Despite constant pain, Montalbán continued to perform appearing in many diverse films and television programs.
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Film, Television and Theater career[edit]
MGM signed Montalbán to a long term contract after becoming a star in Mexico in the late 1940's. Montalban's first leading role was in the 1949 film noir "Border Incident".
Montalbán played in several film roles throughout the 1950's in the United states and Mexico. Montalbán continued to also act in theater and was nominated for Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Jamaica."
Montalban continued to guest star on TV shows namely: Colgate Theatre, Playhouse 90, Riverboat, Adventures in Paradise, Startime, Death Valley Days, Bonanza, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Christophers, The Chevy Show, The Loretta Young Show, Zorro, The Untouchables, Checkmate, Cain's Hundred, The Lieutenant, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and The Lloyd Bridges Show among many others.
Montalbán starred in the two films "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" (1971) and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) notable for the starring role of Armando in the films.
Montalbán won an Emmy Award for his role in the 1978 miniseries "How the West Was Won".
One of Montalban's most well-known roles was that of Mr. Roarke in the television series "Fantasy Island", from 1978 to 1984. The series "Fantasy Island" was one of the most popular on television at moments during it's run. Montalban's character and his sidekick, Tattoo (played by Herve Villechaize), were pop icons.
Montalban played an entirely different role by appearing as the genetically-engineered Human named Khan Noonien Singh in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan", which he reprises from a 1967 episode of the "Star Trek" television series titled "Space Seed". Aside from "Fantasy Island", Montalban is probably best remembered for his portrayals of Khan in "Star Trek" television and film works.
He also appeared in the second "Spy Kids" film in 2002, and the third one in 2003, as the kids' grandfather. Montalban appeared in episodes of three different television series with actress Madlyn Rhue : "Bonanza", "Star Trek" and "Fantasy Island". For years, Montalban was a commercial spokesman for Chrysler Corporation automobiles.
Prior to Montalbán's death in January 2009, he recorded the voice for a guest character in an episode of the animated series American Dad! According to executive producer Mike Barker, it was Montalbán's last role.
Honor and Catholicism[edit]
Montalbán was a devout Catholic. The deeply spiritual Montalban once said that the guiding force in his life was his Catholic faith. He was a member of the Good Shepherd Parish and the Catholic Motion Picture Guild in Beverly Hills, California. In 1998, Pope John Paul II made him a Knight Commander of St. Gregory the Great, the highest honor bestowed upon non-clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. And 1988, then-Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid gave Montalban the Recognition of Merit award, the highest honor bestowed on Mexican civilians, for his work helping to raise more than $10 million after the Mexico City earthquake. In 1986, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, Montalbán recorded a public service announcement celebrating United States generosity and hospitality to him as a foreign-born actor.
Montalbán received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1993. In October, 2003, Montalban received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Catholic Media Associates for his "tenacity and faith" that Montalban said "has seen me through my many years in entertainment."
Shortly after his death, Montalbán was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California
Filmography[edit]
Television[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | General Electric Theater | Esteban | 1 episode |
| 1957 | Wagon Train | Jean LeBec | 1 episode |
| 1958 | Frances Farmer Presents | Tio | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Adventures in Paradise | Henri Privaux | 1 episode |
| 1959 | Riverboat (TV series) | Lt. Andre B. Devereaux | Episode: "A Night at Trapper's Landing" |
| 1960 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Tony "Pepe" Lorca | Episode: "Outlaw in Town" |
| 1960 | Death Valley Days | Joaquin Murietta | 1 episode |
| 1960 | Bonanza | Matsou | 1 episode |
| 1961 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | Karl Steiner | 1 episode |
| 1961 | Hamlet | Claudius | Television film |
| 1961 | The Untouchables (1959 TV series) | Frank Makouris | Episode: "Stranglehold" |
| 1962 | Cain's Hundred | Vincent Pavanne | 1 episode |
| 1962 | The Lloyd Bridges Show | Navarro | Episode: "War Song" |
| 1962 | The Virginian (TV series) | Enrique Cuellar | Episode: "The Big Deal" |
| 1963 | Ben Casey | Henry Davis | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Lieutenant | Pfc. John Reading | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Defenders (1961 TV series) | "Spanish John" Espejo | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Satine | Episode: "The Dove Affair" |
| 1966 | The Wild Wild West | Colonel Noel Bartley Vautrain | Episode: "The Night of the Lord of Limbo" |
| 1966 | Dr. Kildare (TV series) | Damon West | 4 episodes |
| 1966 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Delgado | Episode: "The King of Diamonds Affair" |
| 1966 | Daniel Boone (1964 TV series) | Count Alfonso De Borba | Episode: "The Symbol" |
| 1966 | I Spy | General Vera | Episode: "Magic Mirror" |
| 1967 | Star Trek | Khan Noonien Singh | Episode: "Space Seed" |
| 1967 | Mission: Impossible (1966 TV series) | Gerard Sefra | Episode: "Snowball in Hell" |
| 1967 | Combat! (TV series) | Barbu | 1 episode |
| 1968 | Ironside (1967 TV series) | Sgt. Al Cervantes | 1 episode |
| 1968 | The High Chaparral | El Tigre | Episode: "Tiger by the Tail" |
| 1968 | It Takes a Thief (1968 TV series) | Nick Grobbo | 2 episodes |
| 1968 | The Virginian (TV series) | Louis Boissevain | Episode: "The Wind of Outrage" |
| 1968 | Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series) | Tokura | Episode: "Samurai" |
| 1968 | The High Chaparral | Padre Sanchez | Episode: "Our Lady of Guadalupe" |
| 1970 | Gunsmoke | Chato | 1 episode |
| 1970 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Rick Rivera | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Here's Lucy | Prince Phillip Gregory Hennepin of Montalbania | 1 episode |
| 1972 | Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series) | Alex Pareno | Episode: "Death Wish on Tantalus Mountain" |
| 1973 | Griff (TV series) | Episode: "Countdown to Terror" | |
| 1973 | Death Follows the Psycho | Human Time Bomb | |
| 1974 | Wonder Woman (TV series) | Abner Smith | Pilot |
| 1975 | Switch (American TV series) | Jean-Paul | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Columbo | Luis Montoya | Episode: "A Matter of Honor" |
| 1976-1977 | Executive Suite (TV series) | David Valerio | 8 episodes |
| 1977 | Police Story (TV series) | Major Sergio Flores | 1 episode |
| 1978 | How the West Was Won (TV series) | Satangkai | 4 episodes |
| 1978–1984 | Fantasy Island | Mr. Roarke | 124 episodes |
| 1985–1987 | The Colbys | Zachary "Zach" Powers | 48 episodes |
| 1986 | Dynasty (TV series) | Zachary "Zach" Powers | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | B.L. Stryker | Victor Costanza | 1 episode |
| 1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Vaacclav Maryska | 1 episode |
| 1991 | Dream On (TV series) | Alejandro Goldman | 1 episode |
| 1993 | The Golden Palace | Lawrence Gentry | 1 episode |
| 1994 | Heaven Help Us (TV series) | Mr. Shepherd | 13 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | Freakazoid! | Armando Gutierrez | Voice 5 episodes |
| 1997 | Chicago Hope | Colonel Martin Nieves | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Manuel Kaire | 1 episode |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Vartkes | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Titans (2000 TV series) | Mr. Sanchez | 1 episode |
| 2002 | Dora the Explorer | El Encantador | Episode: "The Missing Piece" |
| 2002–2007 | Kim Possible | Señor Senior Sr. | Role shared with Earl Boen
5 episodes |
| 2008 | Family Guy | The Cow | Voice Episode: "McStroke" |
| 2009 | American Dad! | General Juanito Pequeño | Voice Episode: "Moon Over Isla Island" |
Film[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Soundies | Chorus Member / Crowd Extra | Musical Shorts |
| 1942 | The Three Musketeers (1942 film) | Uncredited | |
| 1942 | El verdugo de Sevilla | Jacobito | Uncredited |
| 1942 | The Saint Who Forged a Country | Soldado | Uncredited |
| 1943 | La razón de la culpa | Anunciador en barco | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Santa | Jarameño | |
| 1943 | Cinco fueron escogidos | Stefan | |
| 1943 | Five Were Chosen | ||
| 1944 | The Escape (1944 film) | Teniente | |
| 1945 | Cadetes de la Naval | Cadet Ricardo Almagro | |
| 1945 | Nosotros | Armando Suárez | |
| 1945 | La hora de la verdad | Rafael Meija | |
| 1945 | La casa de la zorra | Alberto Salcedo | |
| 1946 | Pepita Jiménez | Luis Vargas | |
| 1947 | Fantasía ranchera | ||
| 1947 | Fiesta (1947 film) | Mario Morales | |
| 1948 | On an Island with You | Ricardo Montez | |
| 1948 | The Kissing Bandit (film) | Fiesta Specialty Dancer | |
| 1949 | Neptune's Daughter (1949 film) | José O'Rourke | |
| 1949 | Border Incident | Pablo Rodriguez | |
| 1949 | Battleground (film) | Rodriguez | |
| 1950 | Mystery Street | Lieutenant Peter Morales | |
| 1950 | Right Cross | Johnny Monterez | |
| 1950 | Two Weeks With Love | Demi Armendez | |
| 1951 | The Mark of the Renegade | Marcos Zappa | |
| 1951 | Across the Wide Missouri (film) | Ironshirt | |
| 1952 | My Man and I | Chu Chu Ramirez | |
| 1953 | Sombrero | Pepe Gonzales | |
| 1953 | Latin Lovers | Roberto Santos | |
| 1954 | The Saracen Blade | Pietro Donati | |
| 1954 | Sombra verde | Federico Gascón | |
| 1954 | Queen of Babylon | Amal | |
| 1955 | A Life in the Balance | Antonio Gómez | |
| 1956 | Three for Jamie Dawn | George Lorenz | |
| 1957 | Desert Warrior (film) | Prince Said | |
| 1957 | Sayonara | Nakamura | |
| 1960 | Let No Man Write My Epitaph | Louie Ramponi | |
| 1961 | Rage of the Buccaneers | Captain Gordon | |
| 1962 | Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man | Major Padula | |
| 1962 | The Reluctant Saint | Father Raspi | |
| 1963 | Love Is a Ball | Duke Gaspard Ducluzeau | |
| 1964 | Cheyenne Autumn | Little Wolf | |
| 1964 | The Fantasticks | El Gallo | TV movie |
| 1964 | ¡Buenas noches, año nuevo! | Fernando | |
| 1965 | The Money Trap | Pete Delanos | |
| 1966 | Madame X (1966 film) | Phil Benton | |
| 1966 | The Singing Nun (film) | Father Clementi | |
| 1967 | The Longest Hundred Miles | Father Sanchez | |
| 1968 | Sol Madrid | Jalisco | |
| 1968 | Blue (1968 film) | Ortega | |
| 1969 | Sweet Charity (film) | Vittorio Vitale | |
| 1969 | Desperate Mission (TV Movie) | Joaquin Murrieta | TV movie |
| 1971 | The Face of Fear | Sgt. Frank Ortega | TV movie |
| 1971 | The Deserter (1971 film) | Natachai | |
| 1971 | Escape from the Planet of the Apes | Armando | |
| 1972 | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | Armando | |
| 1973 | The Train Robbers | The Pinkerton Man | |
| 1974 | The Mark of Zorro (1974 film) | Captain Esteban | TV movie |
| 1976 | Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood | Silent Film Star | |
| 1976 | Joe Panther | Turtle George | |
| 1977 | Mission to Glory: A True Story | Gen. Lafuente | |
| 1977 | Captains Courageous (1977 film) | Manuel | TV movie |
| 1982 | Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | Khan Noonien Singh | |
| 1984 | Cannonball Run II | King | |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Vincent Ludwig | |
| 2002 | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | Grandpa Valentin Avellan | |
| 2003 | Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over | Grandpa Valentin Avellan | |
| 2006 | The Ant Bully (film) | The Head of Council | Voice |
| 2010 | The Crashbox Movie | Robo-Oreo | Voice |