Here is the biography of Ricardo Montalban:
Ricardo Montalban was a legendary actor, born on November 25, 1920, in Mexico City to Castilian Spanish immigrants. He was the youngest of four children and grew up in a family of modest means. Montalban's early life was marked by a strong sense of cultural identity and a passion for the arts.
As a teenager, Montalban moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. He began by working in theater, earning a bit part in the stage play "Her Cardboard Lover" in 1940. He then went on to appear in several other plays, including "Our Betters" and "Private Affair".
Montalban's breakthrough role came in 1947 when he was cast as a robust bullfighter and twin brother of Esther Williams in the musical film "Fiesta". He went on to appear in several other films, including "On an Island with You" (1948),"Neptune's Daughter" (1949),and "Latin Lovers" (1953).
Montalban's most iconic role was as the villainous Khan Noonien Singh in the 1966 episode of the television series "Star Trek". He reprised this role in the 1982 film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".
In addition to his film work, Montalban was a prolific television actor, appearing in a wide range of shows, including "Death Valley Days", "Bonanza", "Burke's Law", and "Dr. Kildare". He also had a recurring role as Mr. Roarke in the popular television series "Fantasy Island", which aired from 1977 to 1984.
Montalban was a dedicated advocate for Latino representation in the entertainment industry and was involved with several organizations, including the "Nosotros" organization, which he helped to found. He was also a vocal critic of Hollywood's portrayal of Mexicans and worked to promote more accurate and nuanced representations of Latino culture.
Throughout his career, Montalban received numerous awards and nominations, including an Emmy Award for his role in the miniseries "How the West Was Won" (1976) and a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the musical "Jamaica" (1957).
Montalban died on January 14, 2009, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most beloved and respected actors of his generation.
