Khan is gone. Ricardo Montalban dies at 88

Ricardo Montalban died today at the age of 88.  I remember seeing this smooth, elegant, powerful actor for the first time on the original Star Trek as Khan Noonien Singh. Soon, it was Mr. Roark on Fantasy Island. There have been many rolls since, but his portrayal as Khan in the movie Star Trek II will be remembered as the single most dramatic and passionate villain in the Star Trek universe and, possibly, in the history of movies. 

Mr. Montalban wrote the manual on how to make a sci-fi villain more than just a two-dimensional character that gives the hero something to do. He made Khan a person that, even though you wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley, you still respected.

He was an actor who defined a major character in the realm of science fiction. There's one less star shining in the universe, and space is much darker without him.  He will be missed.