Ricardo Montalban, who played the genetically engineered super human - Khan Noonien Singh in the Original Star Trek series episode "Space Seed", and later reprised the role in the early 1980's in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, passed away on January 14th, 2009 at the age of 88.

Montalban died in his Los Angeles home of complications related to old age, said his son-in-law, Gilbert Smith.

Outside the Star Trek universe, Montalban was best known to television audiences as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, the host of  "Fantasy Island". On this tropical island resort, visitors had the opportunity to live out their fantasies — usually at the unexpected expense of a difficult life lesson.  The show ran from 1978 to 1984.

Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in "Fiesta," and starred again with the swimming beauty in "On an Island with You" and "Neptune's Daughter."

He appeared as a Japanese kabuki actor in "Sayonara" and an Indian in "Cheyenne Autumn".  His other films included "Madame X," "The Singing Nun," "Sweet Charity," "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" and "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes."

Montalban had coined a cultural catchphrase as the celebrity spokesman for mid-1970s models of the Chrysler Cordoba. He unwittingly opened himself up to endless imitation when he described the car's optional seats as being "available in soft, Corinthian leather."

He had been confined to a wheelchair in recent years, in nearly constant pain from a congenital condition that affected his spine. But he was philosophical about his suffering.  "My acting ability, what I have achieved in my life, I think has grown because of the physical pain," he said.

A deeply spiritual man, Montalban once said that the guiding force in his life was his Catholic faith. In 1998, Pope John Paul II made him a Knight Commander of St. Gregory, the highest honor bestowed upon non-clergy in the Roman Catholic Church.

Also in 1988, then-Mexican President, Miguel de la Madrid, gave Montalban the Recognition of Merit award, the highest honor bestowed on Mexican civilians, for his work helping to raise more than $10 million after the Mexico City earthquake.

From 1965 to 1970, Montalban was vice president of the Screen Actors Guild, which gave him a life achievement award in 1993.

He is survived by two daughters, Laura Montalban and Anita Smith; two sons, Mark Montalban and Victor Montalban; and six grandchildren.