Thanks also for mentioning Montalban’s activism within the performing arts. His altruism came at a personal cost and probably cost him getting bigger roles.

Here are some choice excerpts from a piece by Bob Thomas in the Huffingon Post regarding Montalban:

“The Spanish-speaking American boy sees Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid wipe out a regiment of Bolivian soldiers. He sees `The Wild Bunch’ annihilate the Mexican army. It’s only natural for him to say, `Gee, I wish I were an Anglo.’”

…

And when asked to play the grandfather in “Spy Kids 2″ and “Spy Kids 3,” Montalban told filmmaker Robert Rodriguez in his self-effacing way: “I’m old. I’m in a wheelchair. And I have a Mexican accent. Three strikes and you’re out,” recalled Joel Brokaw, another of the actor’s spokesmen.

“But Robert Rodriguez idolized Ricardo, and came up to his home in the Hollywood Hills to convince him to do the role,” Brokaw said. He did, and despite his obvious pain while waiting to do a scene, “something miraculous would happen,” Brokaw said. “As soon as Rodriguez said ‘Action,’ his pain would completely disappear, time and time again. I asked him about this. He smiled and said, ‘It’s impossible for my mind to do two things at once.’”

You and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, who stiffed McGoohan in their roster of the departed on last night’s awards ceremony.

To paraphrase Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters (and speaking to the Academy):

“You don’t deserve Patrick McGoohan!”

Montalban did show up, though. I enjoyed many of the varied roles he played over the years and was envious of suave nature. But for me, the role I will always think of him first of was in “Star Trek II” (“Khan!!”). He destroyed every other actor in that film, even the usual haminess of Shatner was overshadowed.

I think that in his 50 year+ career, Ricardo Montalban‘s dignified and varied presence in film and television accomplished more in altering images of Hispanic people than almost anyone. His work behind the scenes and in his community making it possible for Latinos to imagine a career in the performing arts was just as significant, from helping to establish La Raza to his establishment of a foundation to promote theater in the Latino community, he raised his singular voice and used his talent to make such a difference. How wonderful that his presence gave you the feeling that you were not alone.

As to Patrick McGoohan, I loved the man’s aloofness. Has any actor–other than perhaps Charlton Heston on a different scale–had such an impact by appearing so chronically miffed to find himself in such a plebian world? While he will undoubtedly be remembered for Secret Agent (aka Danger Man) and The Prisoner first of all, as well as the movies you mentioned, I would recommend seeking out his early work in Hell Drivers (1957), Brendan Behan’s The Quare Fellow (1962) and his appearances in Disney’s excellently produced The Scarecrow of Romney March (1963), (several of which were released theatrically). His unique brand of coolness was always there!

Great blog. Thanks so much for writing this.

So glad you wrote about them. We usually catch all the important passings here on the Morlocks but we gave these short shrift. Now you have done right by them!

Wonderful post!