Thursday, January 15, 2009

Goodbye, Mr. Roarke. Ricardo Montalban joins Herve Villechaize on that big Fantasy Island in the sky.

I wonder if his casket will be lined with fine Corinthian leather...



In addition to being the spokesman for the Chrysler Cordoba (that's the small Chrysler?! and other Chrysler models), Ricardo Montalban was an omnipresent figure in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He played the mysterious Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island, a Saturday night staple, along with the Love Boat, on ABC for years. And he played Khan Noonien Singh on the original Star Trek and, more famously, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

But I also have fond memories of Mr. Montalban, who, even though he was Mexican, always played someone of some other nationality, in many great old movies, including On an Island with You and Neptune's Daughter, both of which starred Esther Williams.

Sadly, now we must say adios to Senor Montalban. And so I leave you with this song, sung by his co-star of many years on Fantasy Island, Herve Villechaize, which, in this time of war and strife, I think is most appropriate.



Peace.

5 comments:

Sugar Daze said...

I can remember BEGGING my mom to let me stay up to watch the double feature of Love Boat & Fantasy Island every Saturday night as a kid. TV didn't get any better than that. Was pleasantly surprised to see Ricardo playing Grandpa to Juni and Carmen in the Spy Kids franchise. Even my 6 year-old knows he is (was). RIP Mr Roarke!

Anonymous said...

As soon as Ricardo arrived in Heaven, he took a meeting with Aaron Spelling, Bill Bixby, Sonny Bono, and Peter Lawford. They are a new "Fantasy Island." Sadly, Herve was not invited.

TommyMac71 said...

Personally, I'm waiting for Patrick Swayze's new movie: Dirt Nap Dancing

Anonymous said...

Another piece of my childhood gone...sigh...

Dave S. said...

Yes, that was the "small" Chrysler; it would fit comfortably into the trunk of a New Yorker.

"Look what they've done to my car", indeed...