Ricardo Montalban, the velvet voiced Mexican born actor who greeted the plane as Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island, died in his Beverly Hills home Wednesday. He was 88.

Born in Mexico City and partially educated in the U.S., Montalban began his career in the early '40s playing bit parts on Broadway and lead roles in films from his native country. In 1947, MGM brought him to Hollywood to be a romantic lead.

While he enjoyed a long career in film, he became an icon both as the white-suited Roarke, the star of the high rated ABC drama, and as Kahn, Captain Kirk's nemesis in the 1982 film Star Trek: The Wrath of Kahn. Younger audiences know him as Grandpa Cortez in the Spy Kids films.

Montalban was proceeded in death by one year by his wife of 63 years, Gorgiana Young, the younger sister of his frequent co-star Loretta Young.

He is survived by four children and six grandchildren.