Providing as much mystery as entertainment, Fantasy Island constantly had audiences on the edge of their seat. Mr. Roarke turned characters’ dreams into a reality, though it wasn’t always what they had anticipated.

Mr. Roarke was a confusing figure; at times, he seemed more superhuman than man, though he frequently showed islanders the kindness of a friend.

During an interview with the Associated Press, actor Ricardo Montalbán described his own theory of Roarke’s origins.

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“I had to discover in my own mind what Roarke really was,” said Montalban. “I thought, ‘Is he God? No, he is not omnipotent. Is he the devil? No, he is a good man.”

Ultimately, the actor seemed to settle somewhere in the middle. Roarke wasn’t quite human, but something else entirely. “I decided to make him an archangel, suffering from the sin of pride,” said the actor. “For penance, he is assigned to purgatory, with an angel at his side. He reviews the people who are tested as to whether they will go to heaven or the other place.”

Complex backstory aside, Roarke served as a guide to both characters and viewers alike. Montalbán confessed that providing the exposition of the series was a challenge as a performer.

“That was the single most difficult job of my career,” said the actor. “Ninety-nine percent of my dialogue was exposition, and only actors appreciate how difficult that is.”