Nook NotesPick a film
Ricardo Montalban

Actor

Ricardo Montalban

Born November 25, 1920 in Mexico City, MexicoDied January 14, 200978 films

Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino (November 25, 1920 – January 14, 2009) was a Mexican-American 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.

Start here

The best way into Ricardo Montalban's work
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan posterFirst watchStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan19827.5as Khan Noonien SinghThe starship Enterprise and its crew is pulled back into action when old nemesis, Khan, steals a top secret device called Project Genesis.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

78 films as actor
  1. 2006The Ant BullyHead of Council (voice)
  2. 2003Spy Kids 3-D: Game OverGrandfather
  3. 2002Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost DreamsGrandfather
  4. 1988The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!Vincent Ludwig
  5. 1984Cannonball Run IIKing
  6. 1982Star Trek II: The Wrath of KhanKhan Noonien Singh
  7. 1978Return to Fantasy IslandMr. Roarke
  8. 1977Captains CourageousManuel
  9. 1977Fantasy IslandMr. Roarke
  10. 1977Mission to Glory: A True StoryGeneral Lafuente
  11. 1976Joe PantherTurtle George
  12. 1976Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved HollywoodSilent Film Star
  13. 1974The Mark of ZorroCaptain Esteban
  14. 1974Wonder WomanAbner Smith
  15. 1973MustangNarrator (voice)
  16. 1973The Train RobbersThe Pinkerton Man
  17. 1972Conquest of the Planet of the ApesArmando
  18. 1972Chango, Guardian of the Mayan TreasureNarrator
  19. 1972Fireball ForwardJean Duval
  20. 1971The Face of FearSergeant Frank Ortega
  21. 1971Escape from the Planet of the ApesArmando
  22. 1971Sarge: The Badge or the CrossAl Matteo
  23. 1970The DeserterNatachai
  24. 1970The AquariansDr. Luis Delgado
  25. 1970Black Water GoldAlejandro Zayas
  26. 1969The Desperate MissionJoaquin Murieta
  27. 1969The PigeonJohn Stambler / Kane
  28. 1969Sweet CharityVittorio
  29. 1968BlueOrtega
  30. 1968Sol MadridJalisco
  31. 1967Space SeedKhan
  32. 1967The Longest Hundred MilesFather Sanchez
  33. 1967Code Name: HeraclitusJanacek
  34. 1966Alice Through the Looking GlassThe White King
  35. 1966The Singing NunFather Clementi
  36. 1966Madame XPhil Benton
  37. 1965The Money TrapPete Delanos
  38. 1964¡Buenas noches, año nuevo!Fernando
  39. 1964The FantasticksEl Gallo
  40. 1964Cheyenne AutumnLittle Wolf
  41. 1963Love is a BallDuke Gaspard Ducluzeau
  42. 1962The Reluctant SaintDon Raspi
  43. 1962Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young ManMajor Padula
  44. 1961Rage of the BuccaneersCaptain Gordon, the Black Buccaneer
  45. 1960Play of the Week: RashomonBandit Tasmoro
  46. 1960Let No Man Write My EpitaphLouie Ramponi
  47. 1957SayonaraNakamura
  48. 1957Desert WarriorPrince Said
  49. 1957Child of TroubleTeddy Green
  50. 1956Three for Jamie DawnGeorge Lorenz
  51. 1955A Life in the BalanceAntonio Gómez
  52. 1954The Queen of BabylonAmal
  53. 1954UntouchedFederico Vascon
  54. 1954The Saracen BladePietro Donati
  55. 1953Latin LoversRoberto Santos
  56. 1953SombreroPepe Gonzales
  57. 1952My Man and IChu Chu Ramirez
  58. 1951Across the Wide MissouriIronshirt
  59. 1951The Mark of the RenegadeMarcos Zappa
  60. 1950Two Weeks with LoveDemi Armendez
  61. 1950Right CrossJohnny Monterez
  62. 1950Mystery StreetPeter Moralas
  63. 1949BattlegroundRoderigues
  64. 1949Border IncidentPablo Rodriguez
  65. 1949Neptune's DaughterJose O'Rourke
  66. 1948The Kissing BanditFiesta Specialty Dancer
  67. 1948On an Island with YouRicardo Montez
  68. 1947FiestaMario Morales
  69. 1947Fantasía ranchera
  70. 1946Pepita JiménezLuis Vargas
  71. 1945La casa de la zorra
  72. 1945The Hour of Truth
  73. 1945NosotrosArmando Suárez
  74. 1945Cadetes de la naval
  75. 1944La fugaTeniente
  76. 1943Cinco fueron escogidos
  77. 1943SantaJarameño
  78. 1942The Three Musketeers(uncredited)