Ricardo Gonzálo Pedro Montalbán Merino (born November 25, 1920) is a Mexican television, theatre, and film actor. He has a career spanning decades and multiple notable roles. During the late 1970s, he was the spokesperson in automobile advertisements for Chrysler Cordoba (in which he famously extols the "Corinthian leather" used for its interior). From 1977-1984 he was the lead character Mr. Roarke in the television series Fantasy Island. He also played the villainous Khan Noonien Singh in both the 1967 "Space Seed" episode of the first season of the original Star Trek series, and again in the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. He won a "Supporting Actor" Emmy Award in 1978, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1993. Though currently in his 80s, he continues to perform, often providing voices for animated films and commercials, such as one that aired during the 2007 Super Bowl XLI.

Wife Georgiana's sister was actress Loretta Young.

(1993) Had a 9 1/2 hour operation on his spine to repair an injury he received making Across the Wide Missouri (1951). He has been in constant pain ever since and confined to a wheelchair.

Brother of actor Carlos Montalbán.

For years, was a commercial spokesman for Chrysler Corp. automobiles.

Half-brother-in-law of Polly Ann Young, Sally Blane and Loretta Young, half-uncle of Judy Lewis (I) and Christopher Lewis (I).

Agreed to reprise his role of "Khan" in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982) for only $100,000 because he loved the role so much.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1958 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Jamaica."

Is the only "Star Trek" movie villain who previously appeared on "Star Trek" (1966). He played Khan Noonien Singh in the "Star Trek" (1966) episode "Space Seed" and Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982).

Appeared in episodes of three different series with Madlyn Rhue: "Bonanza" (1959), "Star Trek" (1966) and "Fantasy Island" (1978). They played husband and wife in the first two of these.

In 1970, he founded the non-profit organization "Nosotros" whose goal is "to help fulfill the goals of persons of Spanish-speaking origin in the motion picture and television industry." (www.nosotros.org).

In 1999, he purchased an old Hollywood theater designed by the well known architect John C. Austin and built in 1927: "conceiving a plan to rebuild this theater to benefit the diverse community and to build a state-of- art school to compliment this live theater.".

He plays a Japanese gangster in the "Hawaii Five-O" (1968) episode "Samurai." The eye makeup is so binding Montalban cannot blink. As a result the continuous shots of Montalban are always short. The effect is a little jarring. Most people blink when they move their head to readjust their eyes. Montalban never does when moving his head on camera, giving the character a sort of drugged or Zombie appearance. In any case, he neither looks nor sounds Japanese.

Best remembered by the public for his starring role as "Mr. Rorke" on "Fantasy Island" (1978).