It’s in today’s news that actor, Ricardo Montalban has died, aged 88.
He’s remembered for his role of Mr Roarke on the 1960’s television show, Fantasy Island. For mine, I’ll always remember him as Khan Noonien Singh, as he appeared in the Star Trek episode “Space Seed”, and later when he reprised the role as a much older Khan in “Star Trek – Wrath of Khan”. A wonderful actor who wrapped himself in his characters. I especially enjoyed his latter portrayal as the incensed and driven maniac tyrant, possessed by his hatred of James Kirk to the point of self destruction.
When questioned by his own people about his obsession with Kirk, Khan responds –
“He tasks me! He tasks me! And I shall have him. I’ll chase him round the moons of Nibia and round the Antares malestrom and round perdition’s flames before I give him up.”
and at the last, when death stares him in the face, and Kirk looks like getting away…
“To the last I will grapple with thee! From hell’s heart I stab at thee…. For hate’s sake… I spit my last breath at thee!”
A magnificent character, villain and actor. His worth will be sadly missed.