Ricardo Montalban, often cast as the stereo-typical Latin lover and best known for his role as Mr. Roarke in 'Fantasy Island', died Wednesday morning of old age complications, aged 88-years. A suave leading man, Ricardo Montalban was one of the first Mexican-born actors, who made it big in Hollywood .

In 1970 he founded the non-profit Nosotros Foundation for improving the image and increasing employment for Latinos in Hollywood . Though, he was widely respected within the industry for his efforts in creating opportunities for Latino actors, his activism only served to hurt his career. Although, Montalban expressed appreciation for his success, he often complained Hollywood lacked respect for Mexican American actors. Under contract to MGM, he was made to portray Cubans, Brazilians and Argentines, but almost never Mexicans. 'Mexican is not a nice-sounding word and Hollywood is at fault for this because we have been portrayed in this ungodly manner.' He challenged Hollywood to stop stereo-typing Latin actors by casting them only in the roles of prostitutes, maids, gang-bangers and bandidos.

Outspoken about the images and the roles Latinos played in movies, according to actor Edward James Olmos, he was 'one of the true giants of arts and culture. .a stellar artist and a consummate person and performer with a tremendous understanding of culture .and the ability to express it in his work.'

In the 1940s, when he was already a star in Mexican movies, MGM put him under contract after casting him as a bullfighter opposite Esther Williams in 'Fiesta', with Montalban going on to star alongside movie greats like Clark Gable and Lana Turner. When film roles stopped coming his way in the 1970s, he performed onstage, eventually turning to TV. He went on to become familiar to millions, as the mysterious host whose signature line, 'Welcome to Fantasy Island,' opened ABC's hit show 'Fantasy Island' that aired from 1978 to
1984. During the 1970s and '80s, he familiarized himself to TV viewers as Chrysler's commercial spokesman, widely spoofed for his silky allusion to Chrysler Cordoba's 'soft Corinthian leather', even though no such leather existed.

While, 'Fantasy Island' helped renew his career and give him financial stability, Montalban's performance as Chief Satangkai in the
1978 ABC miniseries 'How the West Was Won' won him an Emmy. During the making of ' Fantasy Island ', his performance as Khan Noonien Singh in the 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' (1982), was rated as amongst one his best movie performances.

Born to parents of Castilian origin, he was incredibly handsome, giving style and dignity to all of his roles. A marvelous camera face, the physique of a trained dancer, talent, a fine voice (he could even sing), warmth and great charm, he seemed to have everything, always elegantly attired in a white suit and black tie. Judd Bernard, his publicist in the mid-1950s told The Times, Montalban 'was the kindest man, with a lovely sense of humor, a religious man, a marvelous family man.'

Deeply spiritual, Montalban once said his Catholic faith was the guiding force in his life. He married his frequent co-star Loretta Young's sister, Georgiana Belzer, a model, in 1944, a marriage that lasted 63-years, and of whom in 2004 he said, 'She is the only love of my life'. The only love of his life died in 2007, preceding him by one year, but he is survived by two daughters, Laura Montalban and Anita Smith; two sons, Mark Montalban and Victor Montalban; and six grandchildren.