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NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > WILLIAM SHATNER CELEBRATES RICARDO MONTALBAN DEATH

WILLIAM SHATNER CELEBRATES RICARDO MONTALBAN DEATH

January 14 2009

Los Angeles. CA – Legendary actor Ricardo Montalban has passed away at the age of 88 after suffering deteriorating health over the last few years. The actor was best known for his roles as the mysterious Mr. Roarke on ‘Fantasy Island’ and as the malevolent Khan of the original Star Trek series and the second instalment of the film series, ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’.

In the latter role Montalban played the blood enemy of Captain James T. Kirk. Bent on revenge, Khan destroys his followers and himself in his quest to kill the Enterprise captain. Like his character in the film, Montalban has passed away before William Shatner, bringing great relief and celebration to the actor and his family.

“My heart goes out to the family of Ricardo. He was a great actor and a great man and it was my privilege to not only work alongside him but to be blessed with the ability to call him a friend,” said Shatner in a statement. “That said I am quite glad he passed on before me. Not only do I enjoy being alive, It’s validation for all the Star Trek fans out there that good does triumph over evil. There had been a draft of the script that involved Khan killing Kirk but I am more glad than ever that they decided to change that ending, otherwise I might be the one being eulogized. Rest in Peace Ricardo.”

The irony of Montalban’s role in the film is inherent in its plot, which involves a device capable of creating life from a dead planetary body, an event with which the film climaxes killing second in command Spock, and eventually resurrecting him in the following instalment.

“The technology used in that movie definitely does not exist and there’s a good chance it never will which is really a shame for the Montalban family, and I guess anyone who doesn’t want to die. It really is an irony ridden role, but I guess it always was. It’s not like he was going to live forever,” said Scrape TV technology analyst Ken Kevins. “In the original series Khan was found floating in space after being cryogenically frozen. It’s unlikely that will happen either because that process is seriously flawed in real life. By flawed I mean it doesn’t work at all. It looks like this is the end of Khan. So much for revenge.”

In fiction revenge is rarely successful. There is no evidence to suggest that the real life actors had any kind of enmity for each other, though reportedly very few people like William Shatner very much.

“Shatner has made a lot of enemies, most notably with George Takei but No one has said much about his relationship with Montalban, off screen at least. They did have great chemistry though so it would be difficult to imagine anything other than hatred between the two,” said Scrape TV Entertainment analyst Tracey Temple. “I sincerely doubt the way the film was written had anything to do with the order of death between the two men. There was after all a ten year age gap and I’ve never heard of a situation where a screenwriter was able to actually manipulate the death of an actor. If that were the case they would probably get paid a whole lot more.”

Montalban was also considered a ground breaker, helping break down barriers for Latino actors in Hollywood. Many actors including Edward James Olmos who have benefited from following in his footsteps eulogized the actor, though few are famous enough to make a recognizable quote.

“Montalban was not what one would call a great actor. He was a ham, but a fantastic ham which is probably why he worked so well alongside Shatner,” continued Temple. “There’s no arguing the relish with which he attacked that role despite its cartoonish nature. And of course he starred in ‘Fantasy Island’ which wasn’t exactly the height of artistic achievement. Nonetheless he entertained many for a lot of years. It’s just unfortunate he wasn’t able to spit his last breath at Shatner. He was most famous for playing a modern day Captain Ahab but it’s a good thing he didn’t lose his life trying to harpoon the Shat.”

Montalban will be laid to rest in a private ceremony in a coffin instead of a photon torpedo tude as some have speculated.    

Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent

NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > WILLIAM SHATNER CELEBRATES RICARDO MONTALBAN DEATH

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