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How Fantasy Island fulfilled one of Ricardo Montalbán's dreams
The series offered Montalbán a glimpse of shelter.
During the early days of Fantasy Island, no one understood how influential the show would become, least of all series star Ricardo Montalbán.
A star of both the stage and screen, Montalbán had acted in his fair share of successes and flops. Because of his extensive experience, the actor knew not to develop an attachment to a program before you were guaranteed success. “Hollywood destroyed all of my dreams and fantasies,” the actor said during an interview with The Daily News. “They were shattered when I was very young. But I’m still an optimist. I haven’t been conquered by despair. I’m simply a realist today.”
Montalbán also acknowledged that while he didn’t know the future of Fantasy Island, he had faith in the series.
“Could Fantasy Island be a big hit for me?” asked Montalbán. “I don’t know. I know it’s a series that will satisfy viewers. It has all of the attributes of a good anthology - we do three stories in an hour - but it also has someone, myself, for instance, and the island for people to identify with week in and week out.”
Moreover, the series offered Montalbán security, a luxury that few actors were afforded. “It’s a series, too, that does fulfill one fantasy for me. I get a chance to work and stay at home with my wife instead of traveling all over the country playing theaters. Now if it only lasts.”
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