Ricardo Montalban, the 88-year old actor who portrayed Khan Noonien Singh on Star Trek, died today at his home in Los Angeles. AP has just reported that Matalban?s passing was announced by Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. RadarOnline reports Motlablan died of natural causes.
Montalban began his career in Hollywood in the 40s, after moving to the US from his native Mexico. As an actor he appeared in dozens of films and television series over the last seven decades. Montalban is best known to the general public for his role as the enigmatic Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island in the 70s and 80s.
Trek fans remember Montalban as the genetically engineered Khan Noonien Singh from the Original Series episode "Space Seed," and probably more notably, in the 1982 feature film Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. Montalban?s unforgettable performance has immortalized him as perhaps Star Trek?s greatest villain, helping propel Wrath of Khan to the top of most fan and critic lists as the best of the Star Trek feature films.
R.I.P. Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnn!
My personal note: I will always remember him more than anything else in the role he played on the James Bond movie "The Man With The Golden Gun". He was one of the greatest bad guys ever in any of the 007 movies!