Actor Ricardo Montalban died today at the age of 88. Many will remember the Emmy Award-winning, handsome actor with the rich voice as Mr. Roarke on the ABC series, "Fantasy Island." Or, maybe they'll recall his Chrysler car commercials in which he talked about "soft Corinthian leather." Still others will note his roles in MGM musicals or other early films in his career. My favorite role of his? Khan in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." He ate up the screen with a fun fervor of bravado and intimidation.

As a Latino actor early in his career, he too often was typecast as a Latin lover or other stereotype. But perhaps what you don't know is that he was determined to dig for better roles and to forge more opportunities for the Latino actors who followed him. The LA Times obituary posted today includes this passage:

Within the entertainment industry, Montalban was widely respected for his efforts to create opportunities for Latinos, although he and others believed that his activism hurt his career. In 1970, he founded the nonprofit Nosotros Foundation to improve the image and increase employment of Latinos in Hollywood.

"He paved the way for being outspoken about the images and roles that Latinos were playing in movies," said Luis Reyes, author of "Hispanics in Hollywood" (2000).

I will always remember that, whatever role I saw him, he carried himself with a dignity, self-respect and grace that you don't see enough these days in the entertainment industry.

Rest in peace, Mr. Montalban.

[Photo: Kirk McKoy for the Los Angeles Times]