Ricardo Montalban Has Died
by John Nolte
The clip is from the otherwise forgettable Esther Williams musical, Fiesta (1947). According to IMDB you’re watching Montalban’s American film debut. He was 26 at the time and would work steady for another sixty years. That gorgeous creature he’s dancing with is Cyd Charisse. We lost her in June.
Throughout his career Montalban moved easily between film and television, always making a memorable impression, most especially as one of history’s all-time great screen villains — James T. Kirk’s nemesis Khan, in the second Star Trek film.
Personally, I was always impressed with Montalban in John Ford’s Cheyenne Autumn (1964). Not his performance, but his presence. Unfortunately, there was no performance to give. Ford uncharacteristically presents his American Indian characters as one-dimensional. Noble is great, but boring when that’s all there is. Montalban registers with a personality and charm even a listless script couldn’t snuff. He also had a wonderful closing moment in John Wayne’s The Train Robbers (1973) and showed a real flair for comedy in The Naked Gun (1988). That’s just four examples of his range and talent.
Ricardo Montalban could say he danced with a goddess and nearly brought down Captain Kirk.
Not a bad career. Not bad at all.
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53 Comments
Ricardo Montalban and Patrick McGoohan on the same day, this has been rough….
Indeed, a lot of people will be playing their Star Trek II DVDs tonight. Nice to see his role in The Naked Gun get mentioned as well.
Ludwig (offering a cigar): “Cuban?”
Drebin: “No. Dutch-Irish. My mother was from Wales.”
And for you non-Trek fans out there, you can check out this site for more info:
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Khan_Noonien_Singh
RIP
I remember watching him on Fantasy Island. He also was on one of the Spy Kids films.
He will be missed.
John,
Enjoying your work here at Big Hollywood and really like the site. Talk to Andrew and tell him that your public wants their Daily Dose of Hubba Hubba!
He was class, pure class. I am sorry to hear of his passing. Truly sorry.
(BTW, that damned dress of Cyd’s was too long. Major mistake. You couldn’t see her feet at all. What on earth was Wardrobe thinking of?)
Years ago, I read an excerpt of his autobiography/memoirs, and he talked about working a Broadway play and missing his family terribly, and hoping it would close—-until he realized that his wish was a selfish act, when others livelihoods depended on it.
Married to the same woman his entire life, he brought wonderful humanity to every character, and stole Spy Kids 3 from Slyvester Stallone.
Devote Catholic, and conservative (National Review subscriber!) who made a career in Hollywood—what a transition he saw, from his sister in law Loretta Young having to deny her biological child to today’s morality.
The likes of Montalban will be missed.
I agree, Carolyn, class, pure class—and he looked cooler in a white suit than Don Johnson ever did.
He was class. The very embodiment.
Was gonna say “a great American,” but just read on his bio that he never naturalized.
So: He was a great Mexican. And a great American, in the hemispherical sense.
+ His wife died 2 years ago, after they remained married for 63 years.
Don’t forget he introduced “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (with Esther Williams) in “Neptune’s Daughter”. His late wife, of 63 years, bless them, was Loretta Young’s sister.
Rest in peace, sir.
Rest in Peace.
Also a member of the squad from BATTLEGROUND, which lost Van Johnson last week. Montalban played Rodriguez, the tough kid from LA who had never seen snow before.
Worked with him briefly years ago–a perfectly lovely, elegant old gentleman, sadly hobbled by his chronic back pain. His wife was with him; clearly they were still gaga over each other, and very touching how she helped him move about. True, OSWEET, he never applied for American citizenship; also a founder of Nosotros and the Golden Eagle Awards, both highlighting Latino arts/artists.
This makes me sad. Its not just because I enjoyed watching him but because we are losing our links to an era that are irreplaceable. Sigh…..Betcha the Duke already had drinks ready in Valhalla for RM’s arrival.
[...] Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Ricardo Montalban Has Died [...]
A good conservative and part of the best Star Trek movie.
Above all else, his coffin should be lined with fine, Corinthian leather. And the hearse should be a Chrysler.
Has anyone else noted the troubles Chrysler has been in since they dropped RM as a spokesman?
“KHAAAAAANNNN!!!” he bellowed in mourning.
Rest in peace Ricardo, you were always a class act.
Did you hear about the time Ricardo had a Tattoo removed from his ass?
Great tribute, well-done. What strikes me about the man was how gracious and generous he always was in discussing a Hollywood career that must have had a great many disappointments for him. When he talked about dancing with Charisse, all he focused on was how good she made him look. And he’s right, if you look at that number, he’s keeping up and looks handsome, but the moves are obviously not trained.
I liked him very much in two of his early noirs, Border Incident and Mystery Street. And he was marvelous playing a bullfighter in an old Columbo episode, just perfect for the part.
Boy, did I love that guy. Possessor of possibly the greatest male chest in Hollywood history, apparently he was quite a presence even in a wheelchair, when he wanted to be. He turned vinyl into a new kind of leather with only the sound of his voice. I’ll always remember him at the Kennedy Center honors thing for Reagan.
BUT, let’s not forget that his performance on record (with Esther Williams)of Loesser’s classic, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is what sent Muslim Brotherhood ideologue Sayyid Qutb over the edge at a “church Hop” sixty years ago… I kind of love that. John, I can’t find the video available, but maybe you can, with the vast resources at your fingertips…
Ricardo Montalban was a great lost. Such stong presence in whatever he did.
We also lost the great Patrick McGoohan today.
Here’s a point to ponder about Montalban. In Star Trek 2 he doesn’t have any scenes where he’s face to face in the same room with William Shatner’s Kirk.
Now any other actor doing that would leave the audience feeling cheated, that the film lacked something, but not Montalban. Montalban pumped so much sheer presence into the part, you really didn’t need them to be together.
[...] Ricardo Montalban Has Died [...]
Yes, a real class act. R.I.P. Ricardo!
(And that dance number was very cute–although it seemed like the choreographer couldn’t decide if Ricardo was dancing a JIG or FLAMENCO…)
Here’s the clip of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”:
http://vodpod.com/watch/279944-baby-its-cold-outside
Thanks, BIBI, for the clip. That’s one of my all-time favorite numbers.
“Two Weeks with Love” is probably my favorite movie. What a loss.
I wanted Khan to win.
let us not forget the role of Senor Senior, Sr. in the “Kim Possible” series and also the role of the grampa in “Spy Kids,” after he’d been wheelchair bound. Planet of the Apes? Montalban was one of those actors you always sat up for when he came on-screen.
RIP, Ricardo. Thank you for giving us the most memorable and most quotable villain in sci-fi movie history. And thank you for saying “soft corinthian leather.” We will never forget you.
I knew Mr. Montalban. Although a Mexican citizen, he loved this Country dearly, and made an attempt in about 1993 to become a citizen. Unfortunately, the processes were impractical and highly public, and he did not want to raise the issue of his citizenship to the forefront.
I have always liked the movie “Sayonara”, but I think Montalban was miscast as a Kabuki actor attracted to Marlon Brando’s fiance. Of course, that kind of casting would not happen today, as Asian-American groups would be up in arms. I’m sure Montalban saw it as an acting challenge, but IMHO, it did not work.
May he rest in peace.
JEB, you beat me to it: “Above all else, his coffin should be lined with fine, Corinthian leather. ” Good one.
Class.
Great late night movie memory, I wish I could remember the name or even find it. Old b&w starring Ricardo Montalban as a very poor, very ignorant Portuguese, peasant fisherman with some distant drop of aristocratic blood who is roped in by a couple of con men who intend to play on that lineage and marry him off to a wealthy, American industrialist’s daughter for the money. First, they have to make him presentable and plausible as an aristocrat and therein lies the humor. As a man of such bearing and stature, he play against type with enthusiasm and great humor. Absolutely hilarious.
A fine man. He will be missed.
[...] UPDATE: A brief eulogy for Mr. Montalban from John Nolte. [...]
[...] Hollywood » Blog Archive » Ricardo Montalban Has Died unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt(And that dance number was very [...]
While I have not seen all of his films or TV appearences, I have enjoyed watching him since his first US flim, He was a great man and a claas act. I will certainly miss him.
Neil
“To the last, I will grapple with thee… from Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee!”
Khan’s last words in ST2 (a quote from Moby Dick actually). I can’t imagine anybody else but Montalban saying this. It was really a great scene in the best of the ST movies.
“To the last, I will grapple with thee… from Hell’s heart, I stab at thee! For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee!”
Only Ricardo Montalban could have pulled such a line off in STII. Best bad guy ever! RIP
Another actor from the movie “Battleground” died in less than a month. First Van Johnson, than Montalban. Who is next.
What a wonderful, wonderful clip. My Mom, may she rest in peace, would have been delighted. She died almost a year and a half ago … about the same age as Senor Montalban. Momma always sort of glowed whenever Senor Montalban appeared in anything we were watching together. I remember once catching her with this lovely, lovely smile on her lovely old face watching him in something. I said something about “I’ll bet all you ladies like him, huh?” She didn’t even say anything, just sort of glowed and nodded her head and gazed.
He’s one of those rare actors who showed such ageless class. And he gave Momma such joy. May he rest in peace.
I dare to hope that perhaps in a better place perhaps he and Momma and his many admirers may be granted an opportunity to talk and dance late into the night.
Oh and hey. I have to admit that in that wonderful wonderful clip, I was watching & listening to Montalban, yes, but I just plain couldn’t help looking over at Cyd Charisse. Again and again and again … whew.
Momma would understand …
But now DH please: Big Hollywood is great, but we really really really need a Daily Dose of Hubba Hubba.
Please … ?
“You look marvelous, absolutely marvelous”
Khan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a wonderful voice Mr. Montalban had. I notice voices, especially distinctive ones and his was one for the ages. So soft, so courtly, yet he could rage if need be. RIP sir, you were a gentleman.
“You look mahhhhvelous…” was not a Ricardo Montalban take-off by Billy Crystal, Olden Atwoody. That would be Fernando Lamas, most famous for marrying Arlene Dahl and spawning that acting legend, Lorenzo Lamas.
RIP Sr. Montalban.
His coffin will be lined with “fine, Corinthian leather”.
RIP…
Being the age I am, I saw so many wonderful movies in the 50’s, before and after. They were fun movies and the stars were really STARS. Now, we are losing them and it makes me so sad. Ricardo was handsome and entertaining. Who could ever forget him in anything he did? Only one to a lifetime. He will be missed.
I am really going to miss KHAAAAAAAAN!!!
I for one will always remember him for his performance as Guitierrez in Freakazoid.
“Laugh with me!”
RIP Mr. Montalban, you are missed.
I saw a movie on Turner Classic called “Mystery Street” he was in a couple of weeks ago. It is a great movie of his.
None of the ST2 posts note that Montalban originally played the role of Khan in “Space Seed,” one of the best and most entertaining episodes of the original Star Trek TV series. He was always entertaining and fun to watch. Thank you, Mr. Montalban.
I’m sorry to see Mr. Montalban pass away. He used to come into the retail store where my husband worked and request specifically for my husband to help him with his purchases. My husband really enjoyed helping him, said he was a very nice gentleman. May his family be comforted at this time.
Hey guys!
Looks like he was also a subscriber to the National Review.
As one of the bloggers at Babalu Blog said to me a long time ago, “De los buenos quedamos pocos.” (”Fewer of us good ones remain.”)
Strangely enough last Sunday I was poking around Hulu and ran across a recent episode of “Th Family Guy” where the late gentleman played a talking brown bull. He gave a stirring speech to the press about the horrors of this particular meat processing facility, and then moments later was awkwardly apologetic when Lois declined letting him love in the Griffin Household. Such range
. It may have been his last performance as it was this seasons episode.
Scott
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