Obits

Horror Icon, Actor Christopher Lee Dies at 93

By Movie Geeks | June 11, 2015

Christopher Lee has died at age 93. The veteran actor died at 8.30am on Sunday, June 7 at London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

Telegraph reports: “He had been treated there for respiratory problems and heart failure over the preceding three weeks and turned 93 in hospital. Lady Lee chose to delay the public announcement of Sir Christopher’s passing until she had informed close family members. The couple were married for more than 50 years.”

Sir Christopher Lee, 1922-2015. Here’s Sir Christopher in perhaps his most iconic Hammer role, as Count Dracula. pic.twitter.com/aut4FYBqqV

— Hammer (@hammerfilms) June 11, 2015

Lee appeared in more than 250 movies, but for many was forever known as the vampire Count Dracula in a slew of “Hammer Horror” movies — the gory, gothic thrillers churned out by the British studio in the 1950s and 1960s that became hugely popular.

Christopher Frank Carandini Lee was born on May 27, 1922. He and Vincent Price were born on the same date; Price was born in 1911. Lee received a knighthood in 2009 for services to drama and to charity.

Younger generations came to know the legendary actor as Count Dooku in STAR WARS: Episodes II and II and Lord Saruman in the LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy.

Such sad news to hear that Sir Christopher Lee has passed away: http://t.co/F5IopHPgsm pic.twitter.com/n0UfIjeZBL

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) June 11, 2015

BAFTA:

His reputation assured by the 1970s, he burnished it further with roles in THE WICKER MAN (1973), THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1973) and as Scaramanga to Roger Moore’s James Bond in THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1975). Lee often said the performance of which he was most proud was that of Jinnah (1998), the story of the revered founder of Pakistan.

His first American role was in AIRPORT 77.

By this time though a new generation of filmmakers who had grown up enjoying Lee’s work began to seek him out for their films. Tim Burton cast him in SLEEPY HOLLOW(1999) and CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (2005). He also featured in Martin Scorsese’s HUGO CABRET.

Read WAMG’s Top 10 Favorite Christopher Lee movie roles here.

In 2011, Sir Christopher Lee received the BAFTA Fellowship for his outstanding career in film.