Makoto Iwamatsu, or “Mako” as he was known and credited in his roles, was a groundbreaking Asian actor who broke the mold around stereotypical Asian casting. These days Mako is most known for his voice acting in the iconic roles of Uncle Iroh in the show Avatar: The Last Airbender, and as the wonderful villain Aku in the show Samurai Jack. But Mako had a huge career before these roles, which spanned four decades and saw him step into roles in movies, television, and on stage.

At a time when most Asian roles were caricatures or stereotypes, Mako brought a depth and authenticity that expanded the capability and view of Asian actors in film and TV, which eventually earned him multiple awards and nominations, including his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was a pioneer in the realm of Asian-American actors in film, television, and on Broadway, and his larger effect upon the industry cannot be overstated.

With such a long, diverse, and impactful career, what are Mako’s best roles?

5 Akiro the Wizard - Conan the Barbarian (1982)

     Universal Pictures

As will become apparent with this list, perhaps the most signature aspect of Mako is his voice. This is a large part of why he became such a successful voice actor. But even in his on-screen roles, his voice was powerful and immediately noticeable, bringing a unique tone to all of his roles.

And perhaps the first place that the uniqueness of his voice was really on display was in Conan the Barbarian. Mako played the humorous and also dangerous Akiro the Wizard, who’s aggressive laughter practically jumped off the screen from his first moment in the film, when Conan meets him and, having been warned about demons, remarks with laughter that Akiro sounds like a demon himself. Mako reprised the role again in the sequel, Conan the Destroyer, and seemed to hone in on his boisterous style with this performance.

4 The Shogun - Pacific Overtures (1976)

One of Mako’s earliest projects was to dive into the world of Los Angeles theater. He was frustrated by the lack of good roles in film at the time, having been working in the industry for about 6 years by that point. So he and six other Asian-American actors (including the famous James Hong) founded the East West Players, the first Asian-American theater organization, dedicated to aiding Asian-American actors in finding better roles, as well as nurturing their talent.

This led him into Pacific Overtures, a 1976 Broadway musical in which Mako played 4 different roles, including the Shogun (a Japanese military leader). This musical later defined Mako’s style so much that voice actor Greg Baldwin, who took over his roles after Mako’s death in 2006, credits his love of this musical with his ability to mimic Mako’s unique sound. Baldwin uses the musical even today to find the right sound for Mako’s different roles. Mako’s impressive performance in this Broadway show earned him a Tony, his most impressive award in his career.

3 Aku - Samurai Jack

     Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution

Sometimes there is nothing more fun than playing a villain - they certainly get all the best lines. And from the performance that Mako gives as the signature antagonist of the show Samurai Jack, it was clear that Mako was having a blast playing this role. Aku’s voice is perhaps the most exaggerated version of Mako’s signature sound - and it absolutely defined Aku, who was the best villain of the show. His slow, exuberant laughter rings in the ear to this day, and his voice even narrated the opening of the show for years.

2 Po-Han - The Sand Pebbles (1966)

     20th Century Fox

Mako’s career started off with a bang. The Sand Pebbles was only his fourth film ever, seven years into his career, and saw him starring alongside the iconic Steve McQueen. This war film took place in the 1920s, and was about a rebellious young Navy machinist Jake Holman, played by McQueen, and is considered one of McQueen’s best performances. McQueen, Mako, and the rest of the cast and production crew brought their all to this film, making it the 4th highest grossing film of 1966, and earning it eight Academy Award nominations.

One of those nominations was for Mako (as well as a Golden Globe nomination), for his role as Holman’s friend, the engine worker Po-Han. The role could easily have been more superficial, but Mako excelled in his performance. His heartwarming and sincere acting connected with audiences, making him one of the earliest Asian-American actors to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

1 Uncle Iroh - Avatar: The Last Airbender

     MTV Networks

The most powerful and lasting impact Mako had on audiences was as Iroh, the “Dragon of the West,” in Avatar: The Last Airbender, considered the best animated show of the 2000s (and perhaps ever). Iroh was the wise, tea-drinking mentor and uncle of Zuko, who was one of Aang’s main antagonists. Iroh is a large reason why Zuko finds it in himself to overcome his internal conflict and accept his destiny.

And Mako, who had played the gruff yet humorous Aku from Samura Jack shortly before this, managed to take his signature rough voice and somehow soften it, adding warmth and authenticity to the sage advice and gentle humor that defined Iroh as a character. Without Mako’s experience and wholesomeness behind it, Iroh would not have been the same character, nor as beloved as he is today.

Mako had a profound impact on the show’s creators, as well. When Mako was dying of esophageal cancer, the creators of ATLA wrote the episode “Tales of Ba Sing Se”, as well as the powerfully sad song “Leaves from the Vine” in the episode, both in honor of and dedicated to Mako. The episode is all the more heartbreaking with the realization that Mako sang it knowing that he would die soon. Out of respect for Mako and his life and career, voice actor Greg Baldwin refuses to ever sing it himself.