Source: THR | Posted By: Dan Geer
After a long and prolific career and very full life, legendary actor Chrisopher Lee has died at the ripe old age of 93. It has been reported that he was admitted to Westminster Hospital in London for “respiratory problems and heart failure,” and passed away soon after on Sunday morning, June 7th. His wife, former Danish model Gitte Kroenckemost, informed the press that she wanted to allow enough time for family to receive the news before making it public. Read on for more on the career of one of the most seasoned actors of our time.
Normally, I do not post full articles on famous people in the film industry passing away. But this is very different. Sir Christopher Lee first started acting in 1946, and really never stopped since. He has 281 acting credits on IMDB, and played some of the most iconic roles in film history – mainly villains, but still played many different types of roles. That, and he is one of my most favorite actors of all time.
His biggest claim to fame is his history with Hammer Films, being cast in several roles for the studio, with many alongside Peter Cushing (known by most as “Grand Moff Tarkin” from the original Star Wars). Even when it was revived a few years back in 2007 after an almost 30 year hiatus, he returned to work for Hammer, playing a small role in The Resident (2011). But of course his most well-known role for the studio was that of Count Dracula, where he played the legendary blood-thirsty vampire for 7 films from 1958-1973. He also played the Frankenstein monster for Hammer Films in The Curse of Frankenstein, and many, many other villainous (as well as non-villainous) parts for the the company over the years.
His career landed him a wide variety of iconic roles time and time again, all the way from the assassin in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, to Count Dooku in the Star Wars prequels, and even the great Saruman from The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies (he was even the only person from the cast and crew to have actually met J.R.R. Tolkien).
The man also had a music career over the years, having worked with a few metal bands in the mid 2000s (yes, you read that right). In 2010, Lee released the first album from his own symphonic metal concept group Charlemagne, using a combination of both his spoken word and singing abilities, combined with the instrumental talents of seasoned metal artists. The groups produced two albums before Lee’s death.
The man appeared to be unstoppable, having worked throughout the majority of his life. Christopher Lee did not know pain nor fear, and even tasted man-flesh (see what I did there?) throughout his amazing career as an actor, composer, musician, and highly-studied individual. But in the end, Lee was never a wizard or vampire, and is subject to mortality just like the rest of us. We all must depart this dimension some day, and he was able to still enjoy life all the way up to his passing. But his deep brooding voice and overall presence as a British actor, as well as the genuine decency he had toward others as a person, will surely be missed. But even though he’s gone, at least his films and music will live on for decades to come, and we can all enjoy his terrific work time and time again.
So long, Christopher Lee. You were the best.
For more on Lee and his amazing accomplishments, check out i09‘s article, 22 Incredible Facts About the Life and Career of Sir Christopher Lee. Your mind will be blown.
