Ricardo Montalban
Born
November 25, 1920
Died
January 14, 2009 (88 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Mexico City, Mexico
Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino (November 25, 1920 – January 14, 2009) was a Mexican actor. He had a career spanning seven decades (motion pictures from 1943 to 2006) across radio, television, theatre, and film. During the mid-1970s, Montalbán was most notable as the spokesman in automobile advertisements for the Chrysler Cordoba, in which he famously extolled the "soft Corinthian leather" used for its interior. He also advertised the Chrysler New Yorker. From 1977 to 1984, he became famous as Mr. Roarke the main star in the television series Fantasy Island. He played Khan Noonien Singh in both the 1967 episode "Space Seed" of the first season of the original Star Trek series, and the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. He won an Emmy Award in 1978 for his role in the mini series How the West Was Won and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1993. Into his 80s, he continued to perform, often providing voices for animated films and commercials, and appearing in several Spy Kids films as Grandfather Valentin.
Known For
I Know Catherine, the Log Lady
Self (archive footage)
2025
Star Trek: Short Treks
Khan (voice) (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2018
Perdida
2009
The Ant Bully
Head of Council (voice)
2006
American Dad!
General Juanito Pequeño (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Grandfather
2003
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams
Grandfather
2002
Kim Possible
Señor Senior Sr. (voice) · (5 episodes)
2002
Titans
(1 episode)
2000
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Vartkes (voice) · (1 episode)
2000
Laurindo Almeida, Muito Prazer
Self
1999
Family Guy
The Cow (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Behind the Planet of the Apes
Self
1998
Love Boat: The Next Wave
Manuel Kaire · (1 episode)
1998
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line
Self
1997
Freakazoid!
Armondo Guitierrez (voice) · (5 episodes)
1995
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child
King Carlos (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
Chicago Hope
(1 episode)
1994
Heaven Help Us
(13 episodes)
1994
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
1994
The Golden Palace
Lawrence Gentry · (1 episode)
1992
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Self
1991
Burt Reynolds' Conversations with...
Self · (1 episode)
1991
Marian Apparitions of the 20th Century: A Message of Urgency
Narrator
1991
Dream On
Alejandro Goldman · (2 episodes)
1990
B.L. Stryker
(1 episode)
1989
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Vincent Ludwig
1988
American Masters
Self · (1 episode)
1986
The Colbys
Zach Powers · (49 episodes)
1985
Murder, She Wrote
Vaclav Maryska · (1 episode)
1984
Cannonball Run II
King
1984
Fatima
Himself
1984
All-Star Party for Frank Sinatra
Self
1983
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Khan Noonien Singh
1982
Space For Women
Narrator
1981
Dynasty
(2 episodes)
1981
Dynasty
Zachary 'Zach' Powers · (1 episode)
1981
B. J. and the Bear
(1 episode)
1979
Where Dreams Come True
Narrator
1979
The Magic of David Copperfield
(1 episode)
1978
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
Self
1978
El asalto al castillo de la Moncloa
Felipe (archive footage)
1978
Fantasy Island
Mr. Roarke · (152 episodes)
1978
Return to Fantasy Island
Mr. Roarke
1978
Captains Courageous
Manuel
1977
Fantasy Island
Mr. Roarke
1977
Mission to Glory: A True Story
Gen. Lafuente
1977
Joe Panther
Turtle George
1976
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Silent Film Star
1976
McNaughton's Daughter
Dist. Atty. Charles Quintero · (3 episodes)
1976
Switch
Jean-Paul · (1 episode)
1975
The Mark of Zorro
Captain Esteban
1974
Wonder Woman
Abner Smith
1974
Fade In
Himself
1973
Mustang
Narrator (voice)
1973
Griff
(1 episode)
1973
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
The Train Robbers
The Pinkerton Man
1973
St. Augustine: The Oldest City
(Self) Narrator
1973
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Armando
1972
Fireball Forward
Jean Duval
1972
The Face of Fear
Sergeant Frank Ortega
1971
Nichols
Colonel Diego Alcazar · (1 episode)
1971
Columbo
Luis Montoya · (1 episode)
1971
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
(1 episode)
1971
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Armando
1971
Sentinels of Silence
1971
Sarge: The Badge or the Cross
Al Matteo
1971
The Deserter
Natachai
1970
The Aquarians
Dr. Luis Delgado
1970
Dan August
(1 episode)
1970
Black Water Gold
Alejandro Zayas
1970
The Desperate Mission
Joaquin Murieta
1969
The Pigeon
John Stambler / Kane
1969
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Rick Rivera · (1 episode)
1969
Bracken's World
(2 episodes)
1969
Sweet Charity
Vittorio
1969
Here's Lucy
Prince Phillip Gregory · (1 episode)
1968
Hawaii Five-O
Tokura · (1 episode)
1968
The Name of the Game
(1 episode)
1968
Hawaii Five-O
Alex Pareno · (1 episode)
1968
The Name of the Game
Bernard Torres · (1 episode)
1968
The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
Self · (1 episode)
1968
Blue
Ortega
1968
Sol Madrid
Jalisco
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self · (2 episodes)
1968
It Takes a Thief
Nick Grobbo · (2 episodes)
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
Self · (1 episode)
1967
The High Chaparral
El Tigre · (1 episode)
1967
The High Chaparral
Padre Eduardo Sanchez · (1 episode)
1967
Ironside
(1 episode)
1967
The Longest Hundred Miles
Father Sanchez
1967
Code Name: Heraclitus
Janacek
1967
Alice Through the Looking Glass
The White King
1966
Mission: Impossible
Gerard Sefra · (1 episode)
1966
Felony Squad
(2 episodes)
1966
Star Trek
Khan Noonien Singh · (1 episode)
1966
The Singing Nun
Father Clementi
1966
Madame X
Phil Benton
1966
The Wild Wild West
(1 episode)
1965
The Long, Hot Summer
(1 episode)
1965
The Money Trap
Pete Delanos
1965
¡Buenas noches, año nuevo!
Fernando
1964
The Fantasticks
El Gallo
1964
Cheyenne Autumn
Little Wolf
1964
Daniel Boone
Count Alfonso De Borba · (1 episode)
1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
(2 episodes)
1964
Slattery's People
(1 episode)
1964
The Rogues
(1 episode)
1964
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
(2 episodes)
1963
The Great Adventure
Philip Crow · (2 episodes)
1963
The Great Adventure
Jean Lafitte · (1 episode)
1963
Burke's Law
Nicholas Amenor · (1 episode)
1963
Burke's Law
Armand Dubovier · (1 episode)
1963
The Greatest Show on Earth
(1 episode)
1963
The Lieutenant
(1 episode)
1963
Love Is a Ball
Duke Gaspard Ducluzeau
1963
The Reluctant Saint
Don Raspi
1962
Combat!
Barbu · (1 episode)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (3 episodes)
1962
The Virginian
Enrique Cuellar · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Louis Boissevain · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Francisco Sosentes · (1 episode)
1962
The Lloyd Bridges Show
(1 episode)
1962
Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man
Major Padula
1962
Rage of the Buccaneers
Captain Gordon, the Black Buccaneer
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (1 episode)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
Alcoa Premiere
(1 episode)
1961
Ben Casey
(1 episode)
1961
Dr. Kildare
Damon West · (4 episodes)
1961
The Dick Powell Show
Stephen Baird · (1 episode)
1961
Cain's Hundred
Vincent Pavanne · (1 episode)
1961
The Defenders
'Spanish John' Espejo · (1 episode)
1961
Play of the Week: Rashomon
Bandit Tasmoro
1960
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
Louie Ramponi
1960
Checkmate
(1 episode)
1960
Play of the Week
(1 episode)
1959
Adventures in Paradise
Captain Henri Privaux · (1 episode)
1959
Riverboat
Lt. Devereaux · (1 episode)
1959
Bonanza
Matsou · (1 episode)
1959
The Dick Clark Show
Self · (1 episode)
1958
Sayonara
Nakamura
1957
Desert Warrior
Prince Said
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1956
Three for Jamie Dawn
George Lorenz
1956
The 20th Century Fox Hour
(1 episode)
1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Cochise · (1 episode)
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Tony Lorca · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Chato · (1 episode)
1955
A Life in the Balance
Antonio Gómez
1955
The Queen of Babylon
Amal
1954
Untouched
Federico Vascon
1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
(1 episode)
1954
Climax!
Pete McLean · (1 episode)
1954
Climax!
Joe Bermudes · (1 episode)
1954
The Saracen Blade
Pietro Donati
1954
Letter to Loretta
Self - Guest Host / Gino · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Joe Martinez · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Angelo Pelligrini · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Nemo Rustin · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Frank · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Frank Montclair · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Tony Santos · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Father Garcia · (1 episode)
1953
Letter to Loretta
Father William Gomez · (1 episode)
1953
Latin Lovers
Roberto Santos
1953
Sombrero
Pepe Gonzales
1953
General Electric Theater
Esteban Espinosa · (1 episode)
1953
My Man and I
Chu Chu Ramirez
1952
The Million Dollar Nickel
Himself
1952
Hallmark Hall of Fame
El Gallo · (1 episode)
1951
Across the Wide Missouri
Ironshirt
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Pietro · (1 episode)
1951
The Mark of the Renegade
Marcos Zappa
1951
Two Weeks with Love
Demi Armendez
1950
Right Cross
Johnny Monterez
1950
Star Time
Self · (1 episode)
1950
Mystery Street
Peter Moralas
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Panelist · (1 episode)
1950
Battleground
Roderigues
1949
Border Incident
Pablo Rodriguez
1949
Neptune's Daughter
Jose O'Rourke
1949
The Kissing Bandit
Fiesta Specialty Dancer
1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (1 episode)
1948
On an Island with You
Ricardo Montalban
1948
Fiesta
Mario Morales
1947
Fantasía ranchera
1947
Pepita Jimenez
Luis Vargas
1946
La casa de la zorra
1945
The Hour of Truth
1945
Nosotros
Armando Suárez
1945
Cadetes de la naval
1945
La Fuga
Teniente
1944
Cinco fueron escogidos
1943
Santa
Jarameño
1943
The Three Musketeers
(uncredited)
1942
He's a Latin from Staten Island
1941