An interested-looking Audrey Totter listens to a story from Ricardo Montalbán at the famous Romanoff’s in Beverly Hills in 1951. Audrey was a prominent radio star who transitioned, with much less success, to the movies.


Ricardo, on the other hand, remained a popular actor, especially when television emerged. Proud of his Latino heritage, he also felt stifled by it. “Mexico is my mother; the United States, the best friend I will never have… I dream of the day when my mother will say, ‘Ricardo, you have chosen a wonderful friend.’”


After becoming a star in Mexico with films like *Santa* (1943), Montalbán returned to Hollywood in the 1940s, where MGM considered changing his name to “Ricky Martin” to fit the “Latin Lover” archetype. He resisted this, maintaining his identity, but found himself typecast in roles like bandidos and gigolos.He co-founded the Nosotros Foundation in 1970 with other Latino actors to advocate for better representation in Hollywood. He faced backlash, with some accusing him of being a militant, which cost him roles. However, his efforts led to the creation of the Golden Eagle Awards and the renaming of the Doolittle Theater in Hollywood to the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre, the first major U.S. theater named after a Latino performer.


In a 1988 interview, he reflected on the financial struggles of being a working actor in the 1960s, earning modest fees for TV guest spots while supporting a wife and four children. His role as Mr. Roarke in *Fantasy Island* (1977–1984) was a turning point, providing financial stability and elevating him to legacy status. He noted, “It really actually saved my life.” It was a stroke of luck as the studio wanted Orson Welles or John Huston for the part. Producer Aaron Spelling insisted on Ricardo as he considered Orson would be a problem, baed on his reputation as being difficult, and Huston was not physically capable at that time.


For me, though, he’s best remembered as Khan in the *Star Trek* series and movie. My favourite of all the Star Trek movies, mostly because of Ricardo.



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