---
name: "Ricardo Montalban"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ricardo-montalban"
fi1m_id: "ricardo-montalban"
imdb_id: "nm0001544"
tmdb_id: 1793
wikidata_id: "Q333595"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 November 1920"
died: "14 January 2009"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 9
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 9
updated: "2026-10-04T18:40:17.452330+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ricardo Montalban

## Identity

Ricardo Montalban

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ricardo-montalban
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ricardo-montalban
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001544
- **TMDB ID:** 1793
- **Wikidata ID:** Q333595
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Montalb%C3%A1n, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333595, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001544/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1793

Actor. Born 25 November 1920 in Mexico City, Mexico. Died 14 January 2009.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 November 1920, Mexico City, Mexico
- **Died:** 14 January 2009
- **Active:** 1949–1999
- **Also known as:**  Ricardo Montalbán,  Ricardo Montalvan , ریکاردو مونتالبان
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 9 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 80 (1), 1960s 83 (1), 1970s 79 (3), 1980s 69 (3), 1990s 63 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 81 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 5, Comedy 3, Drama 3, Science Fiction 3, Crime 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $327m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Montalb%C3%A1n, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333595, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001544/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1793

## Streaming the US now

- **Hulu:** [*The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!*](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md) (88)
- **Apple TV:** [*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan.md) (85)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Conquest of the Planet of the Apes*](https://film.one/film/conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md) (73)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ricardo Montalban

> Ricardo Montalban's polished authority made him a persuasive villain and a disciplined comic actor. We especially enjoy him when he stays entirely respectable while everything around him becomes ridiculous.

Ricardo Montalban plays Vincent Ludwig in *The Naked Gun* (1988) as though there were nothing peculiar about the film at all. He does not compete with Leslie Nielsen's solemn detective for the right to be funny; his composure gives the nonsense something to work against. We laughed because Montalban keeps acting as if this were ordinary business, even when the film around him plainly has other ideas. It is an excellent supporting performance, from an actor whose polished manner could too easily be mistaken for mere decoration.

His early Hollywood work often made a narrower use of him. *Fiesta* (1947), his Hollywood debut opposite Esther Williams, led to an MGM contract and romantic leads that repeatedly confined him to the suave Latin lover. The later authoritative roles gave that elegance more purpose, with Mr. Roarke in *Fantasy Island* (1977–1984) bringing him wide recognition. Khan Noonien Singh in *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan* (1982) put his charm and gravitas to threatening use. These parts help explain why his presence in a police spoof is funny before he makes any concession to it.

Director David Zucker makes good use of that presence, and gives Montalban company who understand the same approach. Priscilla Presley's Jane Spencer also seems to have arrived expecting ordinary acting to be enough, while George Kennedy's Ed Hocken fits comfortably alongside them. Ira Newborn's music takes Nielsen's detective seriously, reinforcing the supporting cast's refusal to signal every joke. We can enjoy the absurdity without having the entire cast insist that we notice it. They leave Nielsen room, and spare him the job of supplying every laugh himself.

That restraint cannot rescue every gag: *The Naked Gun* has a few crude, tired jokes that deserved better judgement. Montalban's contribution is a pleasure, though, because he supports the comedy without demanding that it stop and admire him. For an introduction to his lighter work, start here, with the warning that the jokes have not all aged as well as the acting.

## On Fi1m (9)

- *Family Guy* (1999), Fi1m 63, as The Cow (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), Fi1m 88, as Vincent Ludwig — [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md)
- *Cannonball Run II* (1984), Fi1m 35, as King — [page](https://film.one/film/cannonball-run-ii.md)
- *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan* (1982), Fi1m 85, as Khan Noonien Singh — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan.md)
- *Conquest of the Planet of the Apes* (1972), Fi1m 73, as Armando — [page](https://film.one/film/conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Columbo* (1971), Fi1m 86, as Luis Montoya — [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *Escape from the Planet of the Apes* (1971), Fi1m 77, as Armando — [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Star Trek* (1966), Fi1m 83, as Khan Noonien Singh — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-1966.md)
- *Battleground* (1949), Fi1m 80, as Roderigues — [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md)

## Complete filmography (157)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Star Trek: Short Treks* (2018), series, as Khan (voice) (archive footage)
- *Perdida* (2009), Actor
- *The Ant Bully* (2006), as Head of Council (voice)
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as General Juanito Pequeño (voice)
- *Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over* (2003), as Grandfather
- *Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams* (2002), as Grandfather
- *Kim Possible* (2002), series, as Señor Senior Sr. (voice)
- *Titans* (2000), series, Actor
- *Buzz Lightyear of Star Command* (2000), series, as Vartkes (voice)
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as The Cow (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Love Boat: The Next Wave* (1998), series, as Manuel Kaire
- *Freakazoid!* (1995), series, as Armondo Guitierrez (voice)
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as King Carlos (voice)
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Martin Nieves
- *Heaven Help Us* (1994), series, Actor
- *That's Entertainment! III* (1994), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *The Golden Palace* (1992), series, as Lawrence Gentry
- *Marian Apparitions of the 20th Century: A Message of Urgency* (1991), as Narrator
- *Dream On* (1990), series, as Alejandro Goldman
- *B.L. Stryker* (1989), series, Actor
- *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), as Vincent Ludwig — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md)
- *The Colbys* (1985), series, as Zach Powers
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Vaclav Maryska
- *Cannonball Run II* (1984), as King — Fi1m 35, [page](https://film.one/film/cannonball-run-ii.md)
- *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan* (1982), as Khan Noonien Singh — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan.md)
- *Dynasty* (1981), series, as Zachary 'Zach' Powers
- *B. J. and the Bear* (1979), series, Actor
- *Where Dreams Come True* (1979), as Narrator
- *The Magic of David Copperfield* (1978), series, Actor
- *El asalto al castillo de la Moncloa* (1978), as Felipe (archive footage)
- *Fantasy Island* (1978), series, as Mr. Roarke
- *Return to Fantasy Island* (1978), as Mr. Roarke
- *Captains Courageous* (1977), as Manuel
- *Fantasy Island* (1977), as Mr. Roarke
- *Mission to Glory: A True Story* (1977), as General Lafuente
- *Joe Panther* (1976), as Turtle George
- *Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood* (1976), as Silent Film Star
- *McNaughton's Daughter* (1976), series, as Dist. Atty. Charles Quintero
- *Switch* (1975), series, as Jean-Paul
- *The Mark of Zorro* (1974), as Captain Esteban
- *Wonder Woman* (1974), as Abner Smith
- *Mustang* (1973), as Narrator (voice)
- *Griff* (1973), series, Actor
- *Police Story* (1973), series, Actor
- *The Train Robbers* (1973), as The Pinkerton Man
- *St. Augustine: The Oldest City* (1973), as (Self) Narrator
- *Conquest of the Planet of the Apes* (1972), as Armando — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Chango, Guardian of the Mayan Treasure* (1972), as Narrator
- *Fireball Forward* (1972), as Jean Duval
- *The Face of Fear* (1971), as Sergeant Frank Ortega
- *Nichols* (1971), series, as Colonel Diego Alcazar
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Luis Montoya — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour* (1971), series, Actor
- *Escape from the Planet of the Apes* (1971), as Armando — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/escape-from-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Sentinels of Silence* (1971), Actor
- *Sarge: The Badge or the Cross* (1971), as Al Matteo
- *The Deserter* (1970), as Natachai
- *The Aquarians* (1970), as Dr. Luis Delgado
- *Dan August* (1970), series, Actor
- *Black Water Gold* (1970), as Alejandro Zayas
- *The Desperate Mission* (1969), as Joaquin Murieta
- *The Pigeon* (1969), as John Stambler / Kane
- *Marcus Welby, M.D.* (1969), series, as Rick Rivera
- *Bracken's World* (1969), series, Actor
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Tokura, Alex Pareno
- *Sweet Charity* (1969), as Vittorio
- *Here's Lucy* (1968), series, as Prince Phillip Gregory
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Bernard Torres
- *Blue* (1968), as Ortega
- *Sol Madrid* (1968), as Jalisco
- *It Takes a Thief* (1968), series, as Nick Grobbo
- *The High Chaparral* (1967), series, as El Tigre, Padre Eduardo Sanchez
- *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor
- *Space Seed* (1967), as Khan
- *The Longest Hundred Miles* (1967), as Father Sanchez
- *Code Name: Heraclitus* (1967), as Janacek
- *Alice Through the Looking Glass* (1966), as The White King
- *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as Gerard Sefra — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md)
- *Felony Squad* (1966), series, Actor
- *Star Trek* (1966), series, as Khan Noonien Singh — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-1966.md)
- *The Singing Nun* (1966), as Father Clementi
- *Madame X* (1966), as Phil Benton
- *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, Actor
- *The Long, Hot Summer* (1965), series, Actor
- *The Money Trap* (1965), as Pete Delanos
- *¡Buenas noches, año nuevo!* (1964), as Fernando
- *The Fantasticks* (1964), as El Gallo
- *Cheyenne Autumn* (1964), as Little Wolf
- *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Count Alfonso De Borba
- *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.* (1964), series, as Satine
- *Slattery's People* (1964), series, Actor
- *The Rogues* (1964), series, Actor
- *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Philip Crow, Jean Lafitte
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Nicholas Amenor, Armand Dubovier
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1963), series, Actor
- *The Lieutenant* (1963), series, Actor
- *Love is a Ball* (1963), as Duke Gaspard Ducluzeau
- *The Reluctant Saint* (1962), as Don Raspi
- *Combat!* (1962), series, as Barbu
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Enrique Cuellar, Louis Boissevain, Francisco Sosentes
- *The Lloyd Bridges Show* (1962), series, Actor
- *Hemingway’s Adventures of a Young Man* (1962), as Major Padula
- *Rage of the Buccaneers* (1961), as Captain Gordon, the Black Buccaneer
- *Alcoa Premiere* (1961), series, Actor
- *Ben Casey* (1961), series, Actor
- *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Damon West
- *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Vincent Pavanne
- *The Defenders* (1961), series, as 'Spanish John' Espejo
- *Play of the Week: Rashomon* (1960), as Bandit Tasmoro
- *Let No Man Write My Epitaph* (1960), as Louie Ramponi
- *Checkmate* (1960), series, Actor
- *Play of the Week* (1959), series, Actor
- *Startime* (1959), series, as Turk
- *Adventures in Paradise* (1959), series, as Captain Henri Privaux
- *Riverboat* (1959), series, as Lt. Devereaux
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Matsou
- *Sayonara* (1957), as Nakamura
- *Desert Warrior* (1957), as Prince Said
- *Child of Trouble* (1957), as Teddy Green
- *Three for Jamie Dawn* (1956), as George Lorenz
- *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, as Cochise
- *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Tony Lorca
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Chato
- *A Life in the Balance* (1955), as Antonio Gómez
- *The Queen of Babylon* (1954), as Amal
- *Untouched* (1954), as Federico Vascon
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, Actor
- *Climax!* (1954), series, as Pete McLean, Joe Bermudes
- *The Saracen Blade* (1954), as Pietro Donati
- *Letter to Loretta* (1953), series, as Joe Martinez, Angelo Pelligrini, Nemo Rustin, Frank, Frank Montclair, Tony Santos, Father Garcia, Father William Gomez
- *Latin Lovers* (1953), as Roberto Santos
- *Sombrero* (1953), as Pepe Gonzales
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Esteban Espinosa
- *My Man and I* (1952), as Chu Chu Ramirez
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as El Gallo
- *Across the Wide Missouri* (1951), as Ironshirt
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Pietro
- *The Mark of the Renegade* (1951), as Marcos Zappa
- *Two Weeks with Love* (1950), as Demi Armendez
- *Right Cross* (1950), as Johnny Monterez
- *Mystery Street* (1950), as Peter Moralas
- *Battleground* (1949), as Roderigues — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md)
- *Border Incident* (1949), as Pablo Rodriguez
- *Neptune's Daughter* (1949), as Jose O'Rourke
- *The Kissing Bandit* (1948), as Fiesta Specialty Dancer
- *On an Island with You* (1948), as Ricardo Montez
- *Fiesta* (1947), as Mario Morales
- *Fantasía ranchera* (1947), Actor
- *Pepita Jiménez* (1946), as Luis Vargas
- *La casa de la zorra* (1945), Actor
- *The Hour of Truth* (1945), Actor
- *Nosotros* (1945), as Armando Suárez
- *Cadetes de la naval* (1945), Actor
- *La Fuga* (1944), as Teniente
- *Cinco fueron escogidos* (1943), Actor
- *Santa* (1943), as Jarameño
- *The Three Musketeers* (1942), as (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Ricardo Montalban](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-31dd08f6606e.webp) Ricardo Montalban — Publicity photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Ricardo_Montalban_1958_%28cropped%29.webp?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize from the television program Fantasy Island. (1977)](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-0df20116d2ef.jpg) Photo of Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize from the television program Fantasy Island. (1977) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Fantasy_Island_Ricardo_Montalban_Herve_Villechaize.jpg/1280px-Fantasy_Island_Ricardo_Montalban_Herve_Villechaize.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Georgiana Young and Ricardo Montalban photographed in 1972 by Nate Cutler](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-ac250b7b1f45.jpg) Georgiana Young and Ricardo Montalban photographed in 1972 by Nate Cutler — Nate Cutler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Georgiana_Young_and_Ricardo_Montalban%2C_1972.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Georgiana Young and Ricardo Montalbán, 1972 photo.](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-73818cbb85be.jpg) Georgiana Young and Ricardo Montalbán, 1972 photo. — Nate Cutler, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Georgiana_Young_and_Ricardo_Montalb%C3%A1n%2C_1972.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ricardo Montalban](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-1fcfb1a3f1c2.jpg) Ricardo Montalban — Image via TMDB
- ![Ricardo Montalban](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-3d5b8f637976.jpg) Ricardo Montalban — Image via TMDB
- ![ON THE LINE—Pickets outside The Burbank Studios include, from left, stars Jack Klugman, Ricardo Montalban, Loretta Swit and Ralph Bellamy. They were among 1,000 (1980)](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-7d577f531a32.jpg) ON THE LINE—Pickets outside The Burbank Studios include, from left, stars Jack Klugman, Ricardo Montalban, Loretta Swit and Ralph Bellamy. They were among 1,000 (1980) — R. L. Oliver, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Jack_Klugman%2C_Ricardo_Montalban%2C_Loretta_Swit_and_Ralph_Bellamy_on_strike.jpg/1280px-Jack_Klugman%2C_Ricardo_Montalban%2C_Loretta_Swit_and_Ralph_Bellamy_on_strike.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ricardo Montalban](https://film.one/media/person/119361/gallery-c63852f9a49a.jpg) Ricardo Montalban — President (1981-1989 : Reagan). White House Photographic Office. 1981-1989, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/President_Ronald_Reagan_Attending_Dinner_at_The_Bloomingdale_Residence_in_Beverly_Hills_California_with_Charlton_Heston_Lydia_Heston_Ricardo_Montalban_and_Georgina_Montalban_-_DPLA_-_7b6c65fc5628589af3d27990b8ea5060.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 1958: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ricardo-montalban