I remember reading a review of Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, where the critic said that Ricardo Montalban had been miscast in the movie. Apparently the critic had never seen Space Seed.
My Google Fu is not mighty today. Can anyone find that review?
Did he say why he thought Montalban was “miscast”? Because he was the world’s only Sikh who spoke with a Mexican accent?
I don’t remember his reason(s). But it was hilarious how clueless he was, given the original actor in the TV series.
Yeah, obviously not a Trekkie.
My first reaction to the thread title was, “Seriously? Somebody said that? Montalban was perfect in that role.” But then this comment made me laugh and realize I had never thought of it that way.
The Space Seed Trek episode was made at a time when white actors were routinely playing Native Americans in movies and TV. I suppose I felt Montalban’s performance was compelling enough that I never thought carefully that the character was meant to be Asian.
Montalbahn as Khan being Asian was never in my mind either.
I read several reviews that are easily found. There were nit picky bad points they brought up but mostly the film was nicely reviewed and so much better than the first Star Trek movie.
Hey, one guy says Montalbahns pecks were real. I had always thought it fake.
I couldn’t find any saying he was mis-cast as Khan.
I’ll keep looking…
Maybe Khan Noonien Singh’s grandfather was of Asian descent, but he grew up in Mexico.
Honestly, Mike Ansara could have filled the role just as well.
Didn’t he also play a Klingon in the TV shows?
I’ve always liked “Space Seed” and Montalban’s portrayal of Khan. When I first saw the episode at the age of 14, I didn’t recognize his accent, and I probably wouldn’t have cared if I did.
Now that I’m older and wiser I can help but notice it. It doesn’t change my feelings toward either the TV episode or the movie, though. Khan is one of the best villains ever to appear on Star Trek.
Yes, he was Kang in “Day of the Dove.” His wife Mara was played by Susan Howard of Dallas fame.
In real life, he was married to Barbara “I Dream of Jeannie” Eden. He played a Jinn in several episodes of her series too.
I agree. The best villain ever.
That wasn’t a Klingon.
I love the movie because it leads to the Search for Spock. My all time favorite Trek movie.
I knew you’d have that info. Thanks.
He did (in Day of the Dove, about the entity that feeds off conflict - presaging Reddit), heavily made up. It wouldn’t have been the only time journeyman actors returned for multiple roles.
Speaking of Michael Ansara…
Looking at imdb, and guessing on some of his roles, I think Michael Ansara has played every ethnicity except his own (Syrian) - various Mexican and Hispanic, Native American, Egyptian, Sikh, Chinese, Babylonian, Hawaiian, Samoan, Albanian, Italian, generic Arabian, plus generic Caucasian. And, of course, Klingon (boney and non-boney)…
And as for the casting of Montalban, "All Sikhs are Sings, but not all Sings are played by turban wearing Sikhs.”
Not true:
Stranger
Michael Ansara was TV’s “go-to exotic”, the thing that Yul Brynner was for the movies. He was of Syrian ancestry, but first came to prominence playing Cochise, an American Indian, on the TV show Broken Arrow. he played Arabic characters in movies in the 1940s and 1950s, then an Apache in Only the Valiant. He contin ued playing Indians and Middle eastern types for years (including The Mummy in abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy). He moved on to Hispanic roles, then to aliens/SF roles in Star Trek and The Outer Limits (He was Qarlo Clobregny in “Soldier”), Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, and a jinn in I Dream of Jeannie.
This is all very fascinating, but did he speak with a Mexican accent? 
And how did he lose out on the part to Montalban?