As part of my journalism training at the Press Association last summer, I was required to master the art of obituary writing and Sir Christopher Lee was the lucky demi-corpse I picked from The Deathlist. Having spent a morbid Sunday afternoon delving into this man's great life under the pretence that he had already pegged it, I developed quite a soft spot for this fine actor and had hoped this obituary remain in the realm of fiction for a little while longer.
Britain’s most distinguished horror villain, actor Sir Christopher
Lee was famed for his personification of some of cinema’s greatest miscreants.
The actor’s portrayal of Count Dracula,
Count Dooku and Saruman cemented him as Hollywood’s man on the
dark-side.
Sir Christopher’s deep, strong voice and 6ft 5 stature made him
instantly recognisable to audiences. His height had initially hindered his
acting career but as Dracula he became a Hammer horror legend. One of cinema’s
hardest working actors, Sir Christopher appeared in 280 films.
The actor’s career with Hammer began with the film, The Curse of Frankestein but it was as
Dracula that he is perhaps remembered most fondly. It was during his years with
Hammer that the actor established his working relationship and lifelong
friendship with Peter Cushing.
By the mid-seventies the actor had grown tired of his role as
Dracula and feared becoming typecast. In an attempt to move away from the
horror genre, Sir Christopher appeared in The
Three Musketeers, The Four
Musketeers: Milady’s Revenge, and The
Man with the Golden, in which he played Bond villain Francisco Scaramanga. James
Bond creator Ian Fleming was the actor’s step-cousin.
In more recent years he enjoyed global recognition as Count Dooku in
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the
Clones and as Saruman in The Lord of
the Rings and The Hobbit film
trilogies. The actor famously auctioned off his memorabilia from the film,
including Saruman’s iconic staff and Aragorn’s sword. He said: “I feel it is
now time that someone else is able to enjoy their magic.” Sir Christopher was
gifted the sword as show of appreciation for his work in the films. He was
known to be an accomplished swordsman and had exceptional knowledge of
Tolkien's works.
Christopher Lee was born in Belgravia, Westminster, London in 1922.
He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following his
release from military service he joined the Rank Organisation to train as an
actor in its Charm School. He married his wife, former Danish model Birgit
Kroencke in 1961. His daughter Christina outlives him.
The actor
regularly appeared in the films of American director Tim Burton. Sir
Christopher was cast for roles in Charlie
and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
and Alice in Wonderland. As the
Gentleman Ghost in Sweeney Todd, Sir
Christopher recorded ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd”.
Although Sir
Christopher voiced many characters throughout his career, the actor was lesser
known for his singing talents. Classically trained, he is credited on many film
soundtracks but it is metal music that the actor loved most. At the age of 91
his single ‘Jingle Hell’ made him the oldest living performer to have ever
entered the music charts.
The actor was
awarded an OBE in 2001 and was subsequently knighted in the 2009 Queen’s
Birthday Honours list for his contributions to film, television and charity. He
received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2011.
Sir Christopher Lee, actor, was born on May 27, 1922. He died June 11 2015, aged 93
