Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Ricardo Montalbán

Ricardo Montalban photo by By ABC Television (eBay item photo front photo back) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Top 10 Remarquable Facts about Ricardo Montalbán

Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalban Merino was a television and film actor.

His career spanned seven decades during which he became known for performances in a variety of genres from drama to musicals and comedy.

In the early 1970s Ricardo portrayed Armando in the film Planet of the Apes however he also starred in both Escape from the Planet of the Apes in 1971 and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes in 1972.

Furthermore, in 1978 he won an Emmy Award for his role in the miniseries How the West Was won and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1993. Here are the top 10 remarquable facts about Ricardo Montalban.

Ricardo Montalban photo by ABC Television-Wikimedia Commons.

1. Ricardo appeared in Three-minute Musicals Produced for the Soundies Film jukebox

Ricardo appeared in three-minute musicals produced for the Soundies film jukebox.

Though he also appeared in many of the New York produced soundies as an extra or as a member of a singing chorus usually billed as Men and Maids of Melody.

However, although he had the lead role in He’s a Latin from Staten Island in 1941 in which he was billed simply as “Ricardo” he played the title role of a guitar strumming gigolo accompanied by an off-screen vocal by Gus Van.

Ricardo Montalban photo by Nate Cutler-Wikimedia Commons.

2. He Played Mr. Roarke on the Television Series Fantasy Island

From 1977to 1984 Ricardo played Mr. Roarke on the television series Fantasy Island.

Furthermore, he won an Emmy Award for his role in the miniseries How the West Was Won in 1978 and a Lifetime Award for the Screen Actors Guild in 1993.

Ricardo Montalban photo by ABC Television-Wikimedia Commons.

3. Ricardo Provided Voices for Animated Films and Commercials

Into his 80s he was professionally active where he provided voices for animated films and commercials and he also appeared as grandfather Valentin in the Spy Kids franchise.

In addition, during the 1970s and 1980s, he was a spokesman in automobile advertisements for Chrysler including those in which he extolled the “rich Corinthian Leather” used for the Cordoba’s interior.

Ricardo Montalban photo by ABC Television-Wikimedia Commons.

4. In late 1941 he returned to Mexico after Learning his Mother was Dying and there he Acted in a Dozen Spanish Language Films

In late 1941 Ricardo returned to Mexico after learning that his mother was dying. There he acted in a dozen Spanish language films and became a star in his homeland.

However, he had an uncredited appearance in a version of The Three Musketeers in 1942 starring Cantiflas.

More so he can be glimpsed in films such as El Verdugo de Sevilla starring as Ramon Navarro and The Saint That Forged a Country starring La Razon de la culpa.

5. Ricardo became a Star in Mexico Starring in the 1943 Film Santa

Ricardo became a star in Mexico in the Mexican romantic drama film Santa which was directed by Hollywood ex-pat Norman Foster.

However, he followed it with a support role in the 1943 Mexican war film Cinco fueron escodigos which was directed by Herbert Kline.

6. He was one of the Co-Founders of the Nosotros Foundation

Ricardo along with Richard Hernandez, Val de Vargas, Rodolfo Hoyos Jr., Carlos Rivas, Tony de Marco and Henry Darrow established the Nosotros Foundation in 1070 to advocate for Latinos in the movie and television industries.

However, he served as its first president and was quoted saying “I received tremendous support but there also were some negative repercussions. I was accused of being a militant and as a result, I lost jobs”.

7. The Nosotros Foundation Created the Golden Eagle Awards

The Nosotros created the Golden Eagle Awards annual awards show highlighting Latino actors.

Furthermore, the awards are presented in conjunction with the Nosotros American Latino Film Festival held at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre in Hollywood.

8. Ricardo Spoke about the Goal of the Nosotros Organization

Ricardo spoke about the goal of the Nosotros organization he said “Mexico is my mother; United States the best friend I will never have. And so I dream of the day when my mother will say, Ricardo, you have chosen a wonderful friend. And the day when the friend will say, Ricardo, you have a sensational mother. Brothers and sisters love thy neighbor as thyself. And this theatre, I think can be a little grain of sand towards that end. Here we have opened the doors not only for the opportunity of young talent to develop writers, directors, actors but also in coming together as a group in this society in which we live. Let’s open a hand of friendship and love and brotherhood. I will never see it complete while I am still alive, but I think this is the beginning and that is what makes me so happy to see this come to fruition”.

9. He was a Catholic

Ricardo was a practicing Catholic and once claimed that his religion was the most important thing in his life.

However, he was a member of the Good Shepherd Parish and the Catholic Motion Picture Guild in Beverly Hills California.

Furthermore, in 1998 Pope John Paul II made him a knight of the order of St Gregory the Great the highest honor a Roman Catholic lay person can receive from the church.

10. Ricardo Died at the Age of 88

Ricardo died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 88 on January 14^th, 2009.

However according to his son-in-law Gilbert Smith he died of “complications from advancing age”.

More so the precise cause of death was revealed to be congestive heart failure. Ricardo is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City California.