Ricardo Montalban has died at 88

Ricardo Montalban died this morning at home in Los Angeles from complications related to old age. May we all be so lucky to expire in the same manner. Montalban was a big-screen star from the 1940's through the 1960's, starring in dozens of films during that period. But his largest fame was to come from the small screen, portraying the mysterious Mr.Rourke on Fantasy Island. That series ran from 1978 through 1984.



Also during that time, he served as a commercial spokesperson for Chrysler Corporation, particularly known for his silky allusion to the "soft Corinthian leather" of the Chrysler Cordoba.



Montalban also had a role in the 1967 "Star Trek" television episode, "Space Seed," in which he portrayed Khan Noonian Singh. He reprised that role on the big screen with great success in the 1982 film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". As Khan, Montalban was deliciously over the top, vowing to wreak revenge on Star Trek Admiral James T. Kirk: "I'll chase him 'round the moons of Nivea, and 'round the Antares maelstrom, and 'round perdition's flames before I give him up."



He had been confined to a wheelchair in recent years, in nearly constant pain from a congenital condition that affected his spine. Despite that, he continued to work, most recently recently, as the voice of Señor Señor Sr. on the Disney Channel's animated series "Kim Possible." Montalban is survived by two daughters, Laura Montalban and Anita Smith; two sons, Mark Montalban and Victor Montalban; and six grandchildren.