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Ricardo Montalban

Actor

"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."

About This Interview

Ricardo Montalban (1920-2008) was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours in Century City, CA. Montalban talked about his desire to keep his name despite the Hollywood pressure to change it to "Ricky Martin".  He talked about appearing in one of the “soundies” of the 1940s— He’s A Latin From Staten Island.  He related his early courting by Hollywood and his eventual signing with MGM.  He discussed the Latin stereotype of the Hollywood era and how he wasn’t cast in Mexican roles but rather more “exotic” South American “types.”  He described touring the country to promote movies, in the studios’ attempt to steer the public from television. He spoke about studying acting in the early 1940s with Stanislavsky disciple Seki Sano.  He underscored the importance of his work with Sano, who taught him about truth in acting.  He described his appearances on several “live” dramatic television anthologies of the 1950s, including Climax! and The Loretta Young Show. He discussed 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 spoke in great detail about the part for which he is most associated, “Mr. Roarke” on Fantasy Island.  For this series, he described Aaron Spelling’s concept, the use of Roarke in setting the stage for each episode, and the challenges of production. He looked 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 described the organizations goals and how its founding caused him to be blacklisted temporarily from the industry.  He also spoke about another of his well-known appearances on television— as spokesman for Chrysler Cordobas in commercials, forever associated with their “rich Corinthian leather.”  The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on August 13, 2002.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • Alice Through the Looking Glass
  • Bonanza
  • Chicago Hope
  • Climax!
  • Colbys, The
  • Defenders, The
  • Fantasy Island
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame
  • Here's Lucy
  • How the West was Won
  • Loretta Young Show, The
  • Playhouse 90
  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse
  • Star Trek

People

  • Lucille Ball
  • E. G. Marshall
  • Aaron Spelling
  • Barbara Stanwyck
  • Orson Welles

Topics

  • Emmy Awards
  • Historic Events and Social Change
  • Pop Culture
  • Television Industry

Genres

  • Western Series

Featured Content

Video clip: Ricardo Montalban appears on I've Got a Secret where he acts out American idioms for the panel (airdate: August 7, 1957)

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  • Highlights
  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Highlights

  • Ricardo Montalban on the portrayal of Mexicans in film and television (04m 09s)Ricardo Montalban on the portrayal of Mexicans in film and television (04m 09s)
  • Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in <i>Star Trek</i> and in the feature film <i>Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan</i> (05m 25s)Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (05m 25s)
  • <DIV contenteditable="true" class="gx_free">Ricardo Montalban on his <i>Fantasy Island</i> character "Mr. Roarke"</DIV> (02m 02s)
    Ricardo Montalban on his Fantasy Island character "Mr. Roarke"
    (02m 02s)
  • <DIV contenteditable="true" class="gx_free">Ricardo Montalban on the founding of Nosotros</DIV> (10m 36s)
    Ricardo Montalban on the founding of Nosotros
    (10m 36s)
  • Ricardo Montlaban on his advice to aspiring actors (01m 36s)Ricardo Montlaban on his advice to aspiring actors (01m 36s)

Chapters

  • 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)
      (01m 17s)
  • Bonanza
    • Ricardo Montalban on his guest appearance on Bonanza episode "Day of Reckoning" (airdate: October 22, 1960) and his poor treatment by the cast (03m 28s)
  • Chicago Hope
    • Ricardo Montalban on his guest-starring role on  Chicago Hope (01m 19s)
  • Climax!
    • Ricardo Montalban on his first live television appearance on Climax! in the teleplay "Island in the City" (01m 21s)
    • 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" (04m 15s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on one of his first television roles in the Climax teleplay "The Mojave Kid" (01m 52s)
  • Colbys, The
    • Ricardo Montalban on his disappointment on starring in The Colbys (02m 21s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on his character "Zack Powers" on The Colbys (01m 28s)
  • Defenders, The
    • Ricardo Montalban on his guest appearance on The Defenders episode "Whitewash" (airdate: December 10, 1964) (01m 37s)
  • Fantasy Island
    • Ricardo Montalban on the way of doing exposition on Fantasy Island (01m 16s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the genesis of Fantasy Island (03m 40s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on his Fantasy Island character "Mr. Roarke" (02m 02s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the character of "Mr. Roarke" and how Fantasy Island changed for him after the first season (02m 41s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the Fantasy Island character "Tattoo" and actor Herve Villechaize (02m 18s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on Herve Villechaize's departure from Fantasy Island (04m 59s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the decision to end Fantasy Island after seven seasons (01m 22s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the production aspects of Fantasy Island (06m 31s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on directing two episodes of Fantasy Island (03m 21s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the guest stars on Fantasy Island (06m 06s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on location filming on Fantasy Island  (03m 30s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the last day of shooting Fantasy Island and the importance of the star in creating a good atmopshere on the set (03m 30s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the opening sequence of Fantasy Island (01m 27s)
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame
    • Ricardo Montalban on co-starring in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Fantasticks (airdate: October 18, 1964) (02m 03s)
  • 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) (00m 36s)
  • How the West was Won
    • Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978) (03m 54s)
  • Loretta Young Show, The
    • Ricardo Montalban on substituting for his sister-in-law Loretta Young on The Loretta Young Show (05m 04s)
  • Playhouse 90
    • Ricardo Montalban on appearing in the Playhouse 90 teleplay "Child of Trouble" (01m 14s)
  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars aka Celebrity Playhouse
    • Ricardo Montalban on actor Joseph Schilkraut's nervousness during a Schlitz Playhouse production (01m 07s)
  • Star Trek
    • Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (05m 25s)

People

  • Lew Ayres
    • Ricardo Montalban on directing two episodes of Fantasy Island (03m 21s)
  • 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)
      (00m 36s)
  • Harve Bennett
    • Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (05m 25s)
  • Joan Blondell
    • Ricardo Montalban on appearing in the Playhouse 90 teleplay "Child of Trouble" (01m 14s)
  • E. G. Marshall
    • Ricardo Montalban on his guest appearance on The Defenders episode "Whitewash" (airdate: December 10, 1964)
      (01m 37s)
  • Christopher Hewett
    • Ricardo Montalban on Herve Villechaize's departure from Fantasy Island (04m 59s)
  • Roddy McDowall
    • Ricardo Montalban on the guest stars on Fantasy Island (06m 06s)
  • Nicholas Meyer
    • Ricardo Montalban on his role of Khan in Star Trek and in the feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (05m 25s)
  • Merle Oberon
    • Ricardo Montalban on substituting for his sister-in-law Loretta Young on The Loretta Young Show (05m 04s)
  • Jack Palance
    • Ricardo Montalban on co-starring in the TV special Alice Through the Looking Glass (airdate: November 6, 1966)
      (01m 17s)
  • Seki Sano
    • Ricardo Montalban on studying with dialogue coach Seki Sano during the filming of the feature film  Five Were Chosen (09m 49s)
  • Wendy Schaal
    • Ricardo Montalban on the guest stars on Fantasy Island (06m 06s)
  • George Schaefer
    • Ricardo Montalban on co-starring in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Fantasticks (airdate: October 18, 1964) (02m 03s)
  • Joseph Schilkraut
    • Ricardo Montalban on actor Joseph Schilkraut's nervousness during a Schlitz Playhouse production (01m 07s)
  • Aaron Spelling
    • Ricardo Montalban on the genesis of Fantasy Island
      (03m 40s)
  • Barbara Stanwyck
    • Ricardo Montalban on his disappointment on starring in The Colbys
      (02m 21s)
  • Herve Villechaize
    • Ricardo Montalban on the Fantasy Island character "Tattoo" and actor Herve Villechaize
      (02m 18s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on Herve Villechaize's departure from Fantasy Island (04m 59s)
  • John Wayne
    • Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978)
      (03m 54s)
  • Orson Welles
    • Ricardo Montalban on the genesis of Fantasy Island
      (03m 40s)
  • Loretta Young
    • Ricardo Montalban on substituting for his sister-in-law Loretta Young on The Loretta Young Show (05m 04s)

Topics

  • Emmy Awards
    • Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978)
      (03m 54s)
  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television > Minorities
    • Ricardo Montalban on the portrayal of Mexicans in film and television (04m 09s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on Gene Lockhart's advice to him about maintaining an acting career (01m 51s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on playing his characters with dignity (01m 12s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978)
      (03m 54s)
    • Ricardo Montalban on the founding of Nosotros (10m 36s)
  • Pop Culture
    • Ricardo Montalban on his ads for Chrysler's Cordoba
      (01m 22s)
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Ricardo Montalban on the opening sequence of Fantasy Island (01m 27s)
  • Television Industry > Fame & Celebrity
    • Ricardo Montalban on the Fantasy Island character "Tattoo" and actor Herve Villechaize
      (02m 18s)

Genres

  • Commercials
    • Ricardo Montalban on his ads for Chrysler's Cordoba (01m 22s)
  • Western Series
    • Ricardo Montalban on his Emmy-winning performance as an American Indian in How the West was Won (1978)
      (03m 54s)
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Submitted by MarioT on Mon, 2012-01-02 07:16.

Ricardo M was a groundbreaker and a legend in entertainment. Thanks to you for interviewing him before he died.

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