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It’s been reported that Sir Christopher Lee has passed away on Sunday morning. The legendary actor was 93 years old and had been married to his wife, to Birgit Krøncke Lee, for over 54 years.
Lee first appeared onscreen in 1946 and his contribution to acting and genre entertainment is absolutely immeasurable. For decades he was best known as Dracula (in the famous Hammer horror films), but you probably best know him for his work in The Lord of the Rings films. In recent years, he’s popped up in such famous franchises as Star Wars and has collaborated with the likes of Tim Burton and Martin Scorcese.
It’s impossible to communicate the full scope of his legacy, but there are certainly a few iconic roles that even the most casual Lee fan should be acquainted with. So, in memory of Sir Christopher Lee’s life, here are some highlights from his epic body of work.
Dracula In The Hammer Horror Films
Christopher Lee first solidified his place in film history when he resurrected Dracula for a new generation in a string of B-movies for the British production company, Hammer. While he appeared in tons of films as the vampire (and appeared in still more horror flicks for the production house), we would suggest that you start at the beginning with 1958’s Horror of Dracula. [Where to Stream Horror of Dracula]
Saruman in 'The Lord Of The Rings' films
If Sir Christopher Lee had retired in the ’90s, he would have still left behind an indelible mark on pop culture. Still, he didn’t relent. Lee became a villain for a whole new generation when he played Saruman in The Lord of the Rings films. Peter Jackson’s films managed to push both fantasy (and Sir Christopher Lee) into the mainstream like never before. [Where to Stream The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers]
Count Dooku in the 'Star Wars' prequels
Don’t call it a comeback; Sir Christopher Lee worked non-stop for seven decades. Nevertheless, the success of The Lord of the Rings suddenly made Lee the go-to bad guy for every trendy film franchise. Case in point: he appeared as Count Dooku — a Jedi Master gone bad — in two of the Star Wars prequels. Dooku might have been up there in years, but he was able to take on Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Master Yoda. Oh, and he had a sweet Solar Sailor. [Where to Stream Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith]
Everyone in Sherlock Holmes
You know how Sherlock Holmes is one of the most popular characters in film and television history? Apparently more than 70 actors have played him in over 200 films. Well, Christopher Lee didn’t just play Sherlock on screen in a couple of TV movies (that you can stream here on Hulu), he also played Mycroft Holmes in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Henry in The Hound of the Baskervilles. How’d he pull off playing all those characters? Elementary, my dear readers. All those films were filmed more than a decade apart. [Where to Stream The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes]
Metal God in REAL LIFE
There are many other Christopher Lee performances we could give a spotlight to. He was a Bond villain, a Tim Burton favorite, and appeared in a swath of prestigious film and television projects. However, we want to pay homage to the man’s voice. Lee started off with an interest in opera, but as time went on, he developed a deep interest in heavy metal. This obsession with metal only intensified as he got older and he released a critically-acclaimed album, Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross, in 2010. In 2012, he became the oldest living performer to land on Billboard with his twisted holiday anthem, “Jingle Hell.” Last year, he put out Metal Knight, which honors Don Quixote. Why Don Quixote? Because Lee said, “as far as I am concerned, Don Quixote is the most metal fictional character that I know.”
Christopher Lee wasn’t just a badass on screen; he was one in real life.
[Stream Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross and Metal Knight on Spotify]
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