The great Ricardo Mantalban has passed on to the great “Fantasy Island” in the sky.
Ricardo Montalban, the suave leading man who was one of the first Mexican-born actors to make it big in Hollywood and who was best known for his role as Mr. Roarke on TV’s “Fantasy Island,” has died. He was 88.
Montalban died Wednesday morning at his Los Angeles home of complications related to old age, said his son-in-law, Gilbert Smith.
Yes. Yes. “Fantasy Island.” Even I couldn’t resist a reference in the lead. He and Tattoo are finally reunited. But the Montalban role that I think will go down in history is (naturally, from the picture I chose) his turn as Kahn in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.” He chewed up every bit of scenery in every take — not an easy task with William Shatner on the set. And Montalban was given great lines like this one:
To the last, I will grapple with thee… from Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee!
He tasks me. He tasks me and I shall have him! I’ll chase him ’round the moons of Nibia and ’round the Antares Maelstrom and ’round Perdition’s flames before I give him up!
I’ve done far worse than kill you, Admiral. I’ve hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her; marooned for all eternity in the center of a dead planet… buried alive! Buried alive…!
Classic. That was by far the best of the Star Trek movies, thanks to Montalban’s unforgettable performance. There’s a reason why Kirk’s KAAAAAHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNN!!!!!! resonates in pop culture. Montalban’s Kahn was worth the yelling.
All that said, however, three words crossed my lips as soon as Mrs. Zaius informed me that Montalban was gone … Rich Corinthian Leather. As you see from the clip below, Montalban actually says “soft Corinthian leather — at least in this commercial. That guy … the “Most Interesting Man in the World” who does those cheeky “don’t mess with him” commercials for Dos Equis? Ricardo Montalban picked guys like that out of his stool.
R.I.P. to a Hollywood original.
DAMN!!! He was the coolest dude on the planet. Cool enough to make Chrysler look classy.
I’m sure we’re all mighty relieved to hear that, Jim.
By the way, as fate would have it, I was home for lunch today. Turned on the TV and “Biography” was on. It was a bio of … Ricardo Montalban!
It has been said elsewhere that the macho pecs Ricardo sported in “The Wrath of Kahn” were prosthetics. Not according to Biography. Montalban’s son came on to tell the world his dad took the role very seriously, and hit the weights hard for weeks.
The pecs are his! Montalban’s macho legacy has been restored, and all is now right in the world.
Great insights, Mike. I never heard those anecdotes before.
It seems the director just barely kept Montalban from going over the top … he seemed pretty close to teetering over the edge for the whole movie. If we got the Full Montalban, I think projectors all over America in 1982 would have burst into flames.
Best,
Jim
Sam and Jim:
‘Star Trek II’ was the best of the series with the original cast. If the final edited-down version were wound any tighter, it would implode. I even reviewed it favorably in a local newspaper on its first release in 1982.
I read one of those behind-the-scenes/making of books on ‘Trek II’:
*Montalban’s first day on-set involved the director coaxing him down from being way over the top: too violent and demonstrative. He was told to underplay the menace and did so brilliantly.
*He completed all of his scenes a week or so before Shatner ever showed up (remember, they were never on the same stage at the same time). Kudos to him and Shatner for reacting believably to a green screen (or no screen at all) every time they confronted each other.
*And somebody brought in a small, remotely-controlled robot equipped with a microphone: When an unsuspecting Montalban stormed into the scene ready to murder someone, he almost tripped over the robot, which was announcing, “The plaaane, boss, the plaaane!” Montalban almost fell over laughing.
I don’t believe I ever saw Ricardo Montalban give a bad performance — and that’s just about the greatest praise one can give an actor.
Best regards,
Mike