Ricardo Montalban, Patrick McGoohan Pass Away

Two of Hollywood's greatest have passed away within a day of each other. The Associated Press has reported that actors Patrick McGoohan and Ricardo Montalban have passed away.

McGoohan passed away Tuesday at the age of 80 after a short illness. McGoohan created and starred in the cult classic sci-fi television show The Prisoner in the 1960s. He was a warden in Escape From Alcatraz, the 1979 Clint Eastwood film. He also was a judge in the 1996 John Grisham drama A Time to Kill. McGoohan also won two Emmys for his work in the detective drama Columbo.

Younger generations are likely to remember McGoohan for his role in Braveheart as the evil King Edward I a.k.a. Longshanks. Truly villainous in his performance, McGoohan proved that even at 67, he was still in his prime. His last role was at 74 in the Disney film Treasure Planet as Billy Bones.

Familiar to older and younger generations alike, Ricardo Montalban acted up until his death Wednesday. He was 88. Montalban was probably best known as the mysterious Mr. Roarke on the television series Fantasy Island. Because of his distinctive Spanish accent, he was widely known for his romantic leads in his early acting career in the '40s and '50s. In 1976, Montalban won an Emmy for his portrayal of a Sioux chief in the television miniseries How the West was Won.

Montalban was confined to a wheelchair from 1993 till his death after a spinal operation left him paralyzed from the waist down. However, his physical limitations didn't stop him from working. Until his death, Montalban took part in a variety of television shows, lending his voice to Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Dora the Explorer and Kim Possible.

I was most familiar with Montalban in two very different films: Khan in Star Trek's The Wrath of Khan and Grandfather in the Spy Kids films. Looking at the two films, it's truly sad to see the athletic icon of The Wrath of Khan confined to his wheelchair in Spy Kids. Though the rest of the film was a mess, Montalban had a touching moment in Spy Kids 3 when his wheelchair-bound character, Grandfather, was given the ability to walk.

Without any doubt, both of these actors will be greatly missed.

Andrew Dalton, 'Prisoner' Actor Patrick McGoohan Dies in LA, Associated Press

Bob Thomas, 'Fantasy Island' Star Ricardo Montalban Dies at 88, Associated Press

Ricardo Montalban Biography, MSN.com

RIP: Ricardo Montalban and Patrick McGoohan, Comingsoon.net