Rip Christopher Lee

[lovecraft68]

Movie legend Christopher Lee has passed away at the age of 93.

If you grew up a horror fan as I did Lee was a truly iconic figure leading Hammer films dominance of the genre in the sixties.

I remember not just the movies but rushing to the corner store for the latest issue of famous monsters magazine that featured Lee in just about every issue.

Lee transcended horror and became memorable for his role as Scaramanga in the man with the golden gun as well as appearing with best friend Peter cushing In hounds of the baskervilles and of course Rochefort In Three Musketeers. Lee had a resurgence in his late seventies as Sauron in LOTR and Star Wars.

At Six foot five and with that powerful voice and menacing glare Lee was the perfect vampire crazed killer and evil sorceror. The man was damn good at being bad Especially as such legendary icons of evil Lucifer and Rasputin.

An interesting note is he was the only member of lotr to have met Tolkien

Lee died of respiratory failure one June 7th and his wife of 54 years waited until the family all knew before making it public.

This is one of those passings that make me feel as if I just lost a piece of my childhood.

RiP Dear Count

 

[DesEsseintes]

A wonderful, Renaissance man. The cast on the LOTR extended commentaries make clear their reverence for him, not least in his profound knowledge of and love for Tolkien's works. And once, in a very minor way and as part of a children's chorus at an open air charity theatre performance in Brighton, I got to act with him. There were almost 200 of us, he was already in his late 60s or early 70s, and he took the time to shake the hand of every one of us.

A scholar, a warrior, and a gentleman. Ave atque vale.

 

[DreamCloud]

93, 54 years of marriage and immortalized in iconic characters on film.

A life truly well lived.

 

[legerdemer]

Movie legend Christopher Lee has passed away at the age of 93.....

Lee transcended horror and became memorable for his role as Scaramanga in the man with the golden gun as well as appearing with best friend Peter cushing In hounds of the baskervilles and of course Rochefort In Three Musketeers. Lee had a resurgence in his late seventies as Sauron in LOTR and Star Wars.

At Six foot five and with that powerful voice and menacing glare Lee was the perfect vampire crazed killer and evil sorceror. The man was damn good at being bad Especially as such legendary icons of evil Lucifer and Rasputin.
...

This is one of those passings that make me feel as if I just lost a piece of my childhood. ...

Thanks for the post, LC - he played Saruman, not Sauron, in LOTR. Easy slip.

Indeed, a gentleman and a scholar. And evidently a real mensch.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Yes. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee were absolutely outstanding entertainment for me.

Lee was by no means just an actor either, and owned some serious and rare books on the matters he portrayed on film as an actor.

Well, actually, they still ARE providing entertainment and their work lives on.

 

[Handley_Page]

To me, it was his eyes; staring out from the screen in film.
But his voice was ina class of it's own. the character of "Death" in the discworld films (Cosgrove - Hall), for example.

Thank you, Sir Christopher, for the entertainment you provided.

 

[lovecraft68]

Thanks for the post, LC - he played Saruman, not Sauron, in LOTR. Easy slip.

Indeed, a gentleman and a scholar. And evidently a real mensch.

You are correct, but seeing I typed that entire post on my phone...it could have been much worse

 

[Tigersman]

I first saw him in the old Hammer vampire movies. Years later, I saw him in a tv movie, Golaith Awaits, where he played the ship's captain. Just when I thought I would never see him again, he appeared in a James Bond movie and then Star Wars, not to mention playing Sherlock Holmes. He was a true artist of his craft. I fear we will never see the likes of him again.

 

[GriffyD_Boy]

I heard about this while at work today.

RIP, he will definitely be missed.

 

[PennLady]

It was a small part, but I liked his role as the bookstore proprietor in "Hugo."

He was just such a presence. Sigh.

 

[Seanathon]

I just watched the 2013 Christmas message he posted for his fans on Youtube, which seemed to be a heartfelt farewell from an actor to his fans. To me, he will always be Count Dracula, but I loved his late career renaissance and the power and presence he brought to the roles of Count Dooku, Saruman and, of course, Dr. Wilbur Wonka.

Rest in Peace big guy.

 

[DeYaKen]

I loved the title of his autobiography.
"Tall, Dark and Gruesome."

 

[Bramblethorn]

I loved the title of his autobiography.
"Tall, Dark and Gruesome."

Indeed. I think it was retitled to "Lord of Misrule" in later editions, but I prefer that one.

There's an interesting reminescence from Peter S. Beagle ("The Last Unicorn") here:

I remember him assuring me that “if, by the time you come to make your live-action version of your movie, I have passed on, do not let it concern you. I have risen from the dead several times. I know how it’s done.”

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Saruman, Dracula....what's not to love? RIP, Sir Christopher.

 

[Black_and_White_Writer]

I can think of no better response than the one a friend of mine gave on a forum or two he's on. He said I could post it here.

So here goes:

Being a man of nearly 43 years of age, Sir Christopher Lee, like the late Peter Cushing and international actors like Vincent Price, Bela Lugosi and Great Britain's Boris Karloff were the gentlemen that steered me through my formative years, my adolescence and into my adult life. I've always loved and watch Sir Christopher Lee's films and admired and loved him in them, from Dracula and Terror of the Tongs, his first 'starring' billed role.

I have admired him and loved his work and as I've grown I've loved his outlook on life, his very essence. He's a truly great and wonderful gentleman. I'm glad I have been alive at the same time as so many great and wonderful people. Someone to truly admire and aspire to be like... a gentleman in every aspect of his life.

Like many fans of the fantastic, the horrific and the whimsical in cinema; Sir Christopher Lee stood like a Titan, a Colossus of the cinema. To just remember him from Dracula or his Hammer films is to do him a criminal injustice. He was a man for all seasons, a true Renaissance man. I feel greatly for his family, friends and colleagues.

I am hearted to think of him at rest and at peace with his great friend the late Peter Cushing, and others like Vincent Price and Boris Karloff.

Rest in Peace Sir Christopher Lee. I will miss you and mourn you. Thank you for making my life as rich and pleasurable as it was with your magical talent. Thank you for being you, a remarkable gentleman in every aspect of life, a true inspiration. Rest in peace.

This sums up how I feel too about Sir Christopher Lee.