Mako Iwamatsu was a Japanese-American actor and voice actor, born on December 10, 1933, in Kagoshima, Japan. He is best known for his roles in films such as The Sand Pebbles and RoboCop. Mako was also a prominent voice actor, lending his voice to characters in animated series and films, including Avatar: The Last Airbender. In addition to his acting career, Mako was an advocate for Asian American representation in Hollywood. He received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Sand Pebbles and was recognized for his contributions to the arts before his passing on July 21, 2006.