http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=347793>1=28103 Ricardo Montalban dies at 88 Jan. 14, 2009, 4:08 PM EST LOS ANGELES (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."
No more "Welcome to Fantasy Island.." "Revenge is a dish best served cold.. And it is very cold in space.." of course "The Chrysler Cordoba with Corinthian Leather."
I actually remember him more for these films: The Naked Gun Escape from the Planet of the Apes Conquest of the Planet of the Apes iMDB doesn't have him listed as dead yet either.
QUAAAAAAAAAN! We lose the best UT receiver and the best Star Trek villain ever in such a short period of time. This makes me sad. So was it a prosthetic chest he wore in The Wrath of himself? I've had people tell me different things. There's a giant hole in my random trivia.
In the cartoon Kim Possible he did the voice of the villain Señor Senior Sr. (who was, of course, father to Señor Senior Jr.). Bummer. Liked Montalban.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xi0CfTdHBbY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xi0CfTdHBbY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> 00:53.. his best work.........
RIP <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3d4HVq7MwQg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3d4HVq7MwQg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VYPsoxpt0BU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VYPsoxpt0BU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
