Today we bring you the sad news that one of cinema’s most defining and celebrated careers has come to an end: Sir Christopher Lee has passed away at the age of 93. It’s understood that the screen veteran had been admitted to London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital following respiratory and pulmonary problems. He is survived by his daughter and wife of 50 years, Gitte.
Few actors of the 20th century can hold a candle to Lee’s long and prestigious career, stretching all the way back to gothic comedy Corridor of Mirrors. From there, his starpower exploded, leading to a string of overly successful turns in Hammer horror films, most notably as the titular reanimated monster in Terence Fisher’s The Curse Of Frankenstein. It wasn’t long before Lee became a staple for the studio, and his career veered toward the stratosphere after his seminal turn as Dracula and its sequel Prince of Darkness.
As the decades passed, Christopher Lee soon made his way into blockbuster territory, playing the villainous Francisco Scaramanga for Bond thriller The Man With The Golden Gun. More recently, Star Wars fans will perhaps recognize Lee for his role as Count Dooku in the prequel films, not to mention his defining performance as Saruman The White in Peter Jackon’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
A former Special Forces soldier, heavy metal vocalist and celebrated author, he was a man of many talents. Christopher Lee was knighted in 2009, before receiving the BAFTA fellowship award two years later. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.