He really took the advice of Sir Laurence Olivier that, “No part is too small, no check is too large.” But in practice, that it not a bad way to do things. It meant he was always working, seen as a reliable villain who could play just about any role.
Seriously, who else could have been in The Sword and the Sorcerer as an evil king, Invasion U.S.A. as a Russian(?) terrorist, and The Forbidden Dance (and actually dance villainously)?
I agree, it’s these pros that keep the wheels turning in movies far better than many big name stars.