Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Actor Ricardo Montalban dies
88-year-old actor Ricardo Montalban died at his Hollywood Hills home today. Montalban's first screen roles were in films in his native Mexico. Then, says KPCC's Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, he crossed over and never looked back.
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez: A generation of television audiences knows Montalban as Mr. Rourke – the tall, handsome man in the white suit who welcomed visitors to Fantasy Island.
Ricardo Montalban (as Mr. Rourke): Our guests are arriving on time, to the second.
Guzman-Lopez: Montalban had decades of Hollywood experience by the time he played this role. Around the time of World War II, when he was in his early twenties, he arrived in a film capital that didn't quite know what to do with him.
Montalban: When I first came to Hollywood, they wanted to change my name. They said, "Nobody can say Ricardo Montalban, Montalban, Mendelbaum, what is it?" They wanted change my name to Ricky Martin.
Guzman-Lopez: He played plenty of bandits and shady characters, but he also lobbied hard for starring roles. He headlined in musicals opposite acrobatic swimming queen Esther Williams and dancer Cyd Charisse. In 1957 he played a Kabuki actor alongside Marlon Brando in the Oscar-winning film "Sayonara."
[Audio from the film "Sayonara"]
Sponsored message
Guzman-Lopez: Actor Tony Plana, who plays the father in the TV show "Ugly Betty," remembered seeing that film as a young actor.
Tony Plana: I was stunned to see a Latino playing a Japanese, and playing him so well. So effectively. This is a real actor.
Guzman-Lopez: Plana said Ricardo Montalban's Nosotros organization nurtured him when he was new to Hollywood. The group offers support and presents awards to Latino actors.
Plana and others say that in recent years Montalban was in great pain and used a wheelchair after an accident. Montalban's wife of 63 years died almost two years ago. The couple had four children.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
