Ricardo Montalban Passes Away

[RedTigrr]

Khan has died - Ricardo Montalban Passes Away at 88

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is the best of the Star Trek films, hands down. And it's mostly due in part to the villain Khan Noonien Singh played by Ricardo Montalban whose voice was silenced today.

Ricardo Montalban died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 88.

No cause of death was given.

R.I.P KHAN!

From 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."

Bummer......

[Sinewav]

KHHHAAAAAAAANN!!!!!!!!

That sucks. I didn't realize that Khan and the Fantasy Island guy were the same.

[TSori]

Man, I thought he was going to live forever.

[The Damned]

Damn, he was looking pretty good for 88 years old. I'd have said 70, 72 tops.

[Palpable]

Let's not forget his classic turn as Vincent Ludwig in the Naked Gun. RIP.

[Dyne]

Wow. That's sad. I really liked him. I've seen Star Trek 2: Wrath of Kahn, and The Naked Gun. I was just thinking about The Naked Gun the other day, and how I wanted to watch it again. Guess I'm going to have to go pick it up now.

[FR]

No way....

[RedTigrr]

Unfortunately it is so. So in his memory, I am going to watch the episodes of Freakazoid with him in it.

[Nec5]

He was also a great villain in The Naked Gun. Awesome guy.

[The Coop]

Well that's a bummer. I remember Fantasy Island when I was pretty young, and of course, the famous Khan. I even remember his playing an Indian in an old western or two (which gave me a chuckle). He always seemed like an interesting person, and he certainly made his characters memorable.

I imagine where he is right now, everything is upholstered with soft Corinthian leather, and everyone's a wienie but him.

R.I.P. Ricardo.

[Jago]

I especially enjoyed him as Khan in the original TV series and even more so in the second ST movie. He played an excellent villain, and you definitely felt his thirst for vengeance in ST2, which also happens to be among my favorite soundtracks. May he rest in peace.

[Toadofsky]

I remember him in Planet of The Apes 3 (Escape) and 4 (Conquest) (neither one was that bad either).

[Murmeli Walan]

Proof I'm a total dork: when my mom told me this news today. I immediately shouted "KKKKHHHHHAAAAAANNNNN!" She laughed after I reminded her that he was in ST2.

RIP.