Ricardo Montalban: a classic ‘Star Trek’ villain

Above: Ricardo Montalban played one of his most memorable roles in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." (Photo/Paramount Pictures)

When you hear the name Ricardo Montalban, it can – depending on your age – mean a variety of things.

Montalban, who died in 2009 at the age of 88, had a long acting career. Mexican-born, he moved in his teens to Los Angeles and later New York where he appeared in a number of short films (called Soundies).

But his career began in earnest when he returned to Mexico and soon became a star. By 1943, he was headlining in a number of films, and by the decade’s end had both attracted the attention of MGM and signed a Hollywood contract.

He starred opposite the likes of Esther Williams, Dick Powell, June Allyson and Cyd Charisse, all big stars of the day. He even appeared on the cover of Life magazine in 1949.

By the mid-1950s, however, Montalban began working mostly in television. He did appear in the Broadway musical “Jamaica” from 1957-59, and he could be seen in the occasional movie and heard on the radio. But it was television that provided him the most work.

And it was his television roles for which he is most remembered today, mainly because of his seven-year stint as Mr. Roarke in the series “Fantasy Island,” opposite co-star Hervé Villechaize and each week’s rotating cast.

His final major movie role, though, may be his most memorable: It came in the 1982 film “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Montalban was cast as the same character, Khan Noonien Singh, he played in a 1967 episode titled "Space Seed" of the original “Star Trek” television series.

And that is the film that will play Sunday, Monday and Wednesday in 40th-anniversary screenings at the area Regal Cinemas theaters at NorthTown Mall, Spokane Valley and Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Stadium.

“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” will screen at all three theaters on Sunday at 4 and 7 p.m., then at 7 p.m. only on Monday and Wednesday.

If you go, think of the film not only as one of the best “Star Trek” offerings but also as a fitting tribute to one of the 20th-centuries most memorable actors.