Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in "Fantasy Island," died this morning at his home at 88.Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in Fiesta. He also starred with the swimming beauty in On An Island With You and Neptune's Daughter. A later generation, people knew him as the faintly mysterious, white-suited man presiding over his island resort, or for me, a mulleted space pirate from the second Star Trek movie. Of course, I can not let his love of fine Corinthian leather go unmentioned.
In a 1978 interview, he analyzed Fantasy Island's success: "What is appealing is the idea of attaining the unattainable and learning from it. Once you obtain a fantasy it becomes a reality, and that reality is not as exciting as your fantasy. Through the fantasies you learn to appreciate your own realities." Sure...like having a midget sidekick.
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