10 Great Star Trek Performances That Made You Love Bad People
2. Khan - Ricardo Montalban
The second greatest villain in the Star Trek universe, Ricardo Montalban's Khan is legendary. Appearing in only one episode and one feature film, Montalban manages in that time to make every single viewer, if not root for him, then revel in the scenes containing him.
Introduced in the Original Series, he embodies the character fully from the beginning. This is a man who believes in his superiority because, to him, it should be obvious. He feels that he should rule because he is destined to. Oddly, he is not evil in this first incarnation - he is simply pragmatic and removing Kirk is the best course of action.
The same cannot be said for his return in the Wrath of Khan. Driven mad by his exile and the death of his wife, he blames Kirk entirely. The grudge match that occurs between them is now considered the best of the films and leads to some of the best scenes in the franchise.
Montalban is simply so engaging that is it impossible to look away when he is on screen. His wild Rod Stewart hair and that chest fill the shots and his calm-then-insane speeches are as memorable today as they were in 1982. Sadly, Montalban passed away several years ago but thanks to his performance as Khan, he will forever be remembered by Star Trek fans as the greatest foe Kirk ever faced and one of the most entertainment villains in the franchise.