Ricardo Montalban

Actor

Among television viewers, Ricardo Montalban is remembered as Mr. Roarke, the mysterious host of Fantasy Island (1978-1984), and as a pitchman for the "rich Corinthian leather" of the luxury Chrysler Cordoba. Montalban was one of a handful of Latin leading men who broke into Hollywood movies in the 1950s and 1960s, though he was often cast as an Arab, a Native American or in other ethnic roles. Montalban also played creepy superdude Khan, Captain Kirk's nemesis in a famous episode of TV's Star Trek and in a 1982 movie, The Wrath of Khan. Early in the 2000s he played Grandfather in the Spy Kids film series.

Extra credit: Hollywood legend Loretta Young is Montalban's sister-in-law... Montalban founded Nosotros, an organization promoting Latino involvement and image in the film industry; Nosotros also was the name of a 1945 film starring Montalban.

Montalban joins Adrienne Barbeau and Bruce Willis in our loop These Actors Do Cartoon Voices.

Other TV stars of the 1970s: Robin Williams (Mork and Mindy), Robert Blake (Baretta) and John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter).