Montalbán's best-known television role was the character of Mr. Roarke on the television series "Fantasy Island." For a while, the series was one of the most popular on TV.The mysterious Mr. Roarke ran a unique resort island in the Pacific Ocean where any fantasy can be fulfilled. Montalban's sidekick on the show was actor Herve Villechaize, who played Roarke's assistant "Tatoo." Both actors became popular icons during the series. Montalban also appeared in many other TV series, including "The Felony Squad," "Ironside," It Takes a Thief," "The High Chaparral," The Name of the Game," "Gunsmoke," "Dan August," "Bracken's World," "Marcus Welby M.D.," "The Virginian," "The Doris Day Show and "Here's Lucy," among many others. In 1975, Montalban became a TV spokesman for the new Chrysler Cordoba. The car became a very successful model and Montalban's commercials were parodied by various comics,
who impersonated his seductive voice and phrasing. In the commercials, Montalban described the "rich Corinthian leather" as "fine" and "soft." Comedian Dan Aykroyd impersonated him on "Saturday Night Live." The impact of the Montalban's commercial even surfaced again in 2006. As various magazines praised the "Star Trek" character of Khan, calling him "one of the greatest screen villains of all time," one magazine editor joked that "Kahn was so cool, we would've bought a Chrysler Cordoba if he'd told us to."
Montalban's later work eclipsed his earlier fame as a movie star at MGM and beyond. Some of the actor's movies at MGM ncluded:
"Two Weeks With Love" (1950-as a dancer with Jane Powell),
"Fiesta, " (1947- as a bullfighter with Esther Williams),
"On An Island With You," "The Kissing Bandit," "Neptune's Daughter" (in which
Montalban sang "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Esther Williams),
"Border Incident" (his first leading role, which put him on the front coverof Life Magazine in 1949),
"Battleground," "Mystery Street," "Across the Wide Missouri," (with Clark Gable),
"Latin Lovers" (with Lana Turner) and
"The Singing Nun" (with Debbie Reynolds), among many others.