Happy Birthday, Ricardo Montalban

[BrianWC]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Most people do not know of his bad back problems - painful and debilitating to most. He must be really tough.
Kind of like President Roosevelt - it was not publicly shown.


I remember reading about 5 or so years ago that he is permanatly in a wheelchair because of a botched back surgery.

 

[moribundman]

Actually, he fell off an equine and damaged a nerve in his spine when shooting a western some six decades ago.

 

[MarkC]

Did he at least hit the western?

 

[moribundman]

 

[BrianWC]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Actually, he fell off an equine and damaged a nerve in his spine when shooting a western some six decades ago.

Yes, I knew he had practically lifelong trouble. But it was just recently that he was left confined to a chair.

Here's a quote from Memory Alpha:

Quote:
By 1993, the injury Montalban sustained in the 1950s had grown to the point at which Montalban required spinal surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery left him in constant pain, unable to walk, and confined to a wheelchair.

 

[moribundman]

I was merely pointing out the cause if his back trouble.

 

[BrianWC]

And I was just making sure that I wasn't pulling the wheelchair thing out my butt.

 

[Silk]

He was in the Spy Kids movie with Antonio Banderas,complete with wheelchair.Fortunately I never saw a single episode of Love Boat,so have only seen him appear as a bit player in movies all my life.He has such a wonderful voice.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
I might argue Mr. Rourke defined him.


Well, maybe for TV or non-Trek fans. However, look at how many great lines from "Khan" people are quoting here. The only line I think most people recall from "Fantasy Island" is "Da plane, Boss! Da plane!" And that wasn't his line.

When you come down to it, it would be simpler to list the TV shows of the '60s and '70s he *wasn't* in. Usually TV actors are remembered for their starring roles in regular series, not for guest parts -- but FI was his only series (I think).

 

[Benzadmiral]

Oh, and another story about Montalban --

In 1973 I saw his live stage production of "Don Juan in H*e*l*l*," the third act of Shaw's "Man and Superman." It wasn't even a production with costumes and the like. It was a staged reading in which the actors wore tuxedos, and the one actress an evening gown. They were performing; it just wasn't a full show with movement, sets, and costumes.

Despite those limitations, one speech earned him a standing ovation. . . .

 

[eljefino]

You observed his 87th birthday too, mori... maybe you could have dragged up the old thread?

 

[moribundman]

I am not going to recycle an icon's birthday post!