Ricardo Montalban

Ricardo Montalbán was a Mexican and American actor who had a career spanning seven decades. He was known for his roles in various genres, from crime and drama to musicals and comedy. He was born in Mexico City and moved to Los Angeles as a teenager, where he pursued acting. He made his Hollywood debut in the musical Fiesta (1947) and signed a contract with MGM, where he played the Latin lover stereotype in several films. He also appeared in some noir and war films, such as Border Incident (1949) and Battleground (1949). He returned to Mexico in the 1950s and starred in several films there, earning acclaim and awards. He also worked on Broadway and television, where he won an Emmy for his role in How the West Was Won (1978). He became famous for his roles as Mr. Roarke in Fantasy Island (1977-1984) and Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982). He also voiced characters in animated films and commercials, and appeared in the Spy Kids franchise. He was a vocal advocate for the rights and dignity of Hispanic actors in Hollywood, and founded the Nosotros Foundation to promote their interests. He was married to actress Georgiana Young for 63 years, until her death in 2007. They had four children and six grandchildren. He died in 2009 from congestive heart failure, at the age of 88. He was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. He was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild.