Ricardo Montalban Has Passed Away

Ricardo Montalban, the actor who portrayed Khan Noonien Singh on Star Trek, died today at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 88. AP has just reported that Montalban’s passing was announced by Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. RadarOnline reports Montalban died of natural causes.

 

Montalban began his career in Hollywood in the 40s, after moving to the US from his native Mexico. As an actor he appeared in dozens of films and television series over the last seven decades. Montalban is best known to the general public for his role as the enigmatic Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island in the 70s and 80s. Trek fans remember Montalban as the genetically engineered Khan Noonien Singh from the Original Series episode "Space Seed," and probably more notably, in the 1982 feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. Montalban’s unforgettable performance has immortalized him as perhaps Star Trek’s greatest villain, helping propel Wrath of Khan to the top of most fan and critic lists as the best of the Star Trek feature films.

This extended clip from TWOK shows why Trek fans will never forget Montalban…and Khan.

More on Ricardo Montalban’s life and seven decade career at:

UPDATE: Montalban remembered on NBC news

 

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Im shocked!

RIP, Mr. Mantalban. You will be missed, along with Khan, Senor Senor Sr., and all the other wonderfully rich characters you portrayed.

We’ve also had the passing of Patrick McGoohan from “The Prisoner” today.

The best Star Trek Villian to date – may he Rest in Peace.

A quick correction, then feel free to erase this — his name is spelled “Montalban”, not “Mantalban”.

Star Trek greats are passing away to often these days. RIP Ricardo!

Among my favorite actors. His Senor Senor Senior turned me into a hardcore Kim Possible fan.

KHAAAAAAAN!

NOOOOO! Both Patrick McGoohan and Ricardo Montalban in the same day! This is too much!

Thank you Mr. Montalban and Mr. McGoohan for all the great entertainment over the years.

Rest in peace.

there will never be another Khan…rest in peace

An excellent, iconic, and prolific actor. He will be missed indeed. Rest in peace, sir.

Typo: his name is spelled “Montalban”

Mr Rourke was a bad MoFo. He will be missed.

Sad news.

Er…

Is Ricardo MOntalban.

Greetings.

El Chaco Veloz

Very sad. He was a class act all the way. True gentlemen of his caliber just aren’t coming out of the molds any more. Rest in peace Ricardo…your amazing legacy will live forever.

They’re all dying, whats up with this?

this sucks, change it.

THE WOMEN!!

=h=

“All good things must come to an end.”

Damn…..

Awesome actor. His wife passed not too long ago. Rest in peace.

Ricardo:

Thanks for the memories, and rest in peace.

I wish you godspeed, Ricardo.

Rest In Peace.

Oh no…

KHANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!

KHANNNNNN!

RIP.

Rest well…

Ricardo brought Khan alive in a way, that will be remembered long after this sad day.

Very sad news. He gave Trek it’s best villain, hands down. His performance in STII:TWOK was simply amazing. Rest in peace, sir.

Oh, this is such sad news. He may have played the greatest villain in Trek history, but he seemed like such a genuinely nice man in real life. Plus, who could forget Mr Roarke! Or his role in Planet of the Apes? A significant loss.

RIP Ricardo. Wow, can’t believe Khan’s gone.

Just saw this. 88 is a damn good run. God Bless. What a gentleman.

This is terribly sad news. What a consummate professional and gentleman. I still remember attending a seminar done right after the release of TWOK and he was the highlight of the event. So nice to us fans and so full of humor.

My condolences to his family.

He lived a very long fulfilling life and seemed nothing but gracious in interviews I have seen him in. Pure class. Rest In Peace Ricardo.

RIP. We’ll never forget you.

2009 sucks…

“I should warn you, such men dare take what they want.”—Khan Noonien Singh

Wow! Bummer. I always really liked him. A great prescence. One of the greatest ever on Star Trek! And there were a lot. Always loved him. An inspirational figure. He lived a long life. Wow.

“My name is Khan. Please sit and entertain me.” —Khan Noonien Singh

He freaked me out when I saw Star Trek II in a Newton Iowa theater when I was eleven years old. I kept saying to myself It’s Mr. Rourke just pretending to be bad. I had to walk up the asile when his character Khan put the worms in the helmets. Khan Noonien Singh biggest Star Trek heavy ever.

“Each of you in turn will go in there! Die while the others watch!”

“I have five times your strength. You’re no match for me!”

Ok. I’m done.

Rest in peace.

Earlier today, after reading about Patrick McGoohan’s passing, I thought about not hearing anything about Mr. Montalban in a while…So when I get to the Trekmovie site, WOW, what a shocker!!! May they both rest in peace.

Easily the best Trek movie villain. A Classic actor. The island is closed.

Khan = best Trek villain of all-time

RIP Mr. Montalban

Save me a fine, corinthian leather seat up there, Mr. Montalban :(

A damn fine actor. You will be missed…

Wouldn’t have been Wrath of Khan with out you. Thanks for the best Star Trek movie of all time. Rest in Peace man

“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!”

Mr. Montalban was so iconic he will be sadly missed.

Best.
Villain.
Ever.

RIP…

A memorable actor and great voice.

Sad news,,

Ive typed afew things out on my keyboard but I keep deleting what I say,,

Star Trek and Hollywood has lost a true icon,,

Thanks for the great legacy you leave behind for us to continue to enjoy, Mr. Montalban. Not only in “Star Trek,” but your career overall, including from movies and TV guest spots to Mr. Roarke and even that “rich Corinthian leather” in those Chrysler Cordoba land yachts you piched.

This is a brutal day for cult TV fans with his passing and that of Patrick McGoohan. “The Prisoner” was and is brilliant, and was produced during the same creatively fertile, socially questioning time of the ’60s as Trek.
“I am not a number, I am a free man!” — Number Six

Chekov: You lie! On Ceti Alpha Five there was life! A fair chance…
Khan: THIS IS CETI ALPHA FIVE!

Maybe Ricardo rest in peace.

RIP Ricardo/Kahn. He will be missed.

One question, in ST:TWOK his chest was rock solid, was it his natural chest or some type of fitting giving us the illusion of a chest the likes of the govenerator? I remember thinking about that when I saw the movie in the theaters, and a rewarching on Dvd.

Does anyone know for sure?

I always remember him doing the car commercial, was the car the Cordova?

RIP, he will be missed.