About
"As an actor, you give, you receive. I tried to give affection and respect for everybody on the set, no matter what their position was. We are all human beings and I think that created an atmosphere that was very, very pleasant."
In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Ricardo Montalban (1920-2008) talks about his desire to keep his name despite the Hollywood pressure to change it to "Ricky Martin." He recalls appearing in one of the "soundies" of the 1940s— "He's A Latin From Staten Island." He relates his early courting by Hollywood and his eventual signing with MGM. He discusses the Latin stereotype of the Hollywood era and how he wasn't cast in Mexican roles but rather more "exotic" South American "types." He describes touring the country to promote movies, in the studios' attempt to steer the public from television. He speaks about studying acting in the early 1940s with Stanislavsky disciple Seki Sano. He underscores the importance of his work with Sano, who taught him about truth in acting. He describes his appearances on several "live" dramatic television anthologies of the 1950s, including Climax! and The Loretta Young Show. He discusses his recreation of the role of Khan from the 1967 "Space Seed" episode of Star Trek to the 1982 feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, which required him to review his earlier performance to recapture the spirit of the part. He speaks in great detail about the part with which he is most associated, "Mr. Roarke" on Fantasy Island. Regarding this series, he describes Aaron Spelling's concept, the use of "Roarke" in setting the stage for each episode and, the challenges of production. He looks back on his founding of Nosotros, an organization to promote opportunities for Hispanic actors and to help eradicate stereotypical images of them in Hollywood. He describes the organization's goals and how its founding caused him to be blacklisted temporarily from the industry. He also speaks about another of his well-known appearances on television— as spokesman for Chrysler Cordobas in commercials, forever associated with their "rich Corinthian leather." Karen Herman conducted the interview on August 13, 2002 in Century City, CA.
Highlights
Ricardo Montalban on the portrayal of Mexicans in film and television
Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Ricardo Montlaban on his advice to aspiring actors
Ricardo Montalban on the founding of Nosotros
Ricardo Montalban on his Fantasy Island character "Mr. Roarke"
Ricardo Montalban on the way of doing exposition on Fantasy Island
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years growing up in Mexico
On discovering his passion for theater; coming to the United States, and being signed to a contract at MGM
On working exclusively in films and, after his contract at MGM was over, going into television
On his first work in television; the portrayal of Mexicans in film and television; and some of his early live television roles on Climax and Playhouse 90
Chapter 2
On losing his contract at MGM and his first work in live television
On his acting training with Seki Sano and his approach to the craft
On substituting for his sister-in-law Loretta Young on The Loretta Young Show
On co-starring in the feature film Fiesta
On his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
On the difficulty of exposition (using an example from Fantasy Island); advice he received from Gene Lockhart
Chapter 3
On his roles in a Here's Lucy episode, Hallmark Hall of Fame's The Fantasticks, and Alice Through the Looking Glass
On his Emmy-winning role as an American Indian in How the West was Won
On guest-starring on The Defenders
On guest-starring on Bonanza and the need to bring dignity to his characters
On starring in Fantasy Island, the genesis of the series, his conception of "Mr. Roarke", and working with Herve Villechaize
Chapter 4
On Herve Villechaize's departure from Fantasy Island and ending the show after seven seasons
On the production aspects of Fantasy Island
On directing two episodes of Fantasy Island
On the guest stars of Fantasy Island, the locations where the show was filmed, his favorite episodes, the shooting of the final episode, and a star's role in creating a good atmosphere on the set
Chapter 5
On the opening sequence of Fantasy Island
On his role of "Zach Powers" on The Colbys
On his roles in Heaven Help Us and Chicago Hope; and the difficulty of getting parts later in his career
On his ads for Chrysler's Cordoba
On the founding of Nosotros; his ads for the Chrysler Cordoba
On his advice to aspiring actors and his thoughts on fame
Shows
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Ricardo Montalban on co-starring in the TV special Alice Through the Looking Glass (airdate: November 6, 1966)
Bonanza
Ricardo Montalban on his guest appearance on Bonanza episode "Day of Reckoning" (airdate: October 22, 1960) and his poor treatment by the cast
Chicago Hope
Ricardo Montalban on his guest-starring role on Chicago Hope
Climax!
Ricardo Montalban on his first live television appearance on Climax! in the teleplay "Island in the City"
Ricardo Montalban on training to fire a gun to synchronize with the shot in his live appearance on Climax! in the teleplay "The Mojave Kid"
Ricardo Montalban on one of his first television roles in the Climax teleplay "The Mojave Kid"
Colbys, The
Ricardo Montalban on his disappointment on starring in The Colbys
Ricardo Montalban on his character "Zack Powers" on The Colbys
Defenders, The
Ricardo Montalban on his guest appearance on The Defenders episode "Whitewash" (airdate: December 10, 1964)
Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on the way of doing exposition on Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on the genesis of Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on his Fantasy Island character "Mr. Roarke"
Ricardo Montalban on the character of "Mr. Roarke" and how Fantasy Island changed for him after the first season
Ricardo Montalban on the Fantasy Island character "Tattoo" and actor Herve Villechaize
Ricardo Montalban on Herve Villechaize's departure from Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on the decision to end Fantasy Island after seven seasons
Ricardo Montalban on the production aspects of Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on directing two episodes of Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on the guest stars on Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on location filming on Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on the last day of shooting Fantasy Island and the importance of the star in creating a good atmopshere on the set
Ricardo Montalban on the opening sequence of Fantasy Island
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Ricardo Montalban on co-starring in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Fantasticks (airdate: October 18, 1964)
Here's Lucy
Ricardo Montalban on guest starring (as Prince Phillip Gregory Hennepin Of Montalbania) on Here's Luc y in the episode "Lucy and Her Prince Charming" (airdate: November 27, 1972)
How the West was Won
Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978)
Loretta Young Show, The
Ricardo Montalban on substituting for his sister-in-law Loretta Young on The Loretta Young Show
Playhouse 90
Ricardo Montalban on appearing in the Playhouse 90 teleplay "Child of Trouble"
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse
Ricardo Montalban on actor Joseph Schilkraut's nervousness during a Schlitz Playhouse production
Star Trek
Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Ricardo Montalban on the Fantasy Island character "Tattoo" and actor Herve Villechaize
Emmy Awards
Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won
Pop Culture
Ricardo Montalban on the Fantasy Island character "Tattoo" and actor Herve Villechaize
Ricardo Montalban on his ads for Chrysler's Cordoba
Ricardo Montalban on the opening sequence of Fantasy Island
Representation on Television
Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won
Ricardo Montalban on playing his characters with dignity
Ricardo Montalban on the founding of Nosotros
TV Theme Songs
Ricardo Montalban on the opening sequence of Fantasy Island
Underrepresented Voices
Ricardo Montalban on the portrayal of Mexicans in film and television
Ricardo Montalban on Gene Lockhart's advice to him about maintaining an acting career
Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won
Ricardo Montalban on playing his characters with dignity
Ricardo Montalban on the founding of Nosotros
Professions
Actor
Ricardo Montalban on his acting training
Ricardo Montalban on the way of doing exposition on Fantasy Island
Ricardo Montalban on Gene Lockhart's advice to him about maintaining an acting career
Ricardo Montalban on the last day of shooting Fantasy Island and the importance of the star in creating a good atmopshere on the set
Ricardo Montlaban on his advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Commercials
Ricardo Montalban on his ads for Chrysler's Cordoba
Western Series
Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978)
People
Lew Ayres
Ricardo Montalban on directing two episodes of Fantasy Island
Lucille Ball
Ricardo Montalban on guest starring (as Prince Phillip Gregory Hennepin Of Montalbania) on Here's Luc y in the episode "Lucy and Her Prince Charming" (airdate: November 27, 1972)
Harve Bennett
Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Joan Blondell
Ricardo Montalban on appearing in the Playhouse 90 teleplay "Child of Trouble"
Christopher Hewett
Ricardo Montalban on Herve Villechaize's departure from Fantasy Island
E. G. Marshall
Ricardo Montalban on his guest appearance on The Defenders episode "Whitewash" (airdate: December 10, 1964)
Roddy McDowall
Ricardo Montalban on the guest stars on Fantasy Island
Nicholas Meyer
Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Merle Oberon
Ricardo Montalban on substituting for his sister-in-law Loretta Young on The Loretta Young Show
Jack Palance
Ricardo Montalban on co-starring in the TV special Alice Through the Looking Glass (airdate: November 6, 1966)
Seki Sano
Ricardo Montalban on studying with dialogue coach Seki Sano during the filming of the feature film Five Were Chosen
Wendy Schaal
Ricardo Montalban on the guest stars on Fantasy Island
George Schaefer
Ricardo Montalban on co-starring in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Fantasticks (airdate: October 18, 1964)
Joseph Schildkraut
Ricardo Montalban on actor Joseph Schilkraut's nervousness during a Schlitz Playhouse production
Aaron Spelling
Ricardo Montalban on the genesis of Fantasy Island
Barbara Stanwyck
Ricardo Montalban on his disappointment on starring in The Colbys
Herve Villechaize
Ricardo Montalban on the Fantasy Island character "Tattoo" and actor Herve Villechaize
Ricardo Montalban on Herve Villechaize's departure from Fantasy Island
John Wayne
Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978)
Orson Welles
Ricardo Montalban on the genesis of Fantasy Island
Loretta Young
Ricardo Montalban on substituting for his sister-in-law Loretta Young on The Loretta Young Show