Sir Christopher Lee dies at 93

[Leitmotif]

Sir Christopher Lee, the veteran actor and star of many of the world's biggest film franchises, has died aged 93.

The English-born actor, who made his name playing Dracula and Frankenstein's monster in the Hammer horror films, appeared in more than 250 movies.

He was best-known for his villainous roles - including Scaramanga in James Bond and evil wizard Saruman in The Lord of the Rings.

The actor's other credits include The Wicker Man and Star Wars.

The actor is reported to have died on Sunday at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London, after being hospitalised for respiratory problems and heart failure.

Sad day

 

[Fwiffo]

Rather remarkable he was able to keep his looks and posture into his 80s. And for sure the man had no issues with hair loss. Only see him with a cane recently.

 

[Arnathor]

Scaramanga had a dirty style!

 

[Journeyman]

Sir Christopher Lee was one of the last of that rare breed of actors whose real lives were far more action-packed and exciting than the roles that they played on screen.

Lee worked in the RAF's intelligence branch during WWII and was, apparently, seconded to Special Operations Executive (SOE), the organisation that the British formed during WWII to conduct espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines and to support local resistance movements in Axis-occupied territories.

I don't know how true it is, but I've read that Sir Christopher helped to plan the assassination of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich, the head of the SD (Sicherheitsdeinst) and the man in charge of the "Final Solution". He was the highest-ranking Nazi killed by the Allies in WWII. He also helped to track down Nazi war criminals in Europe in 1945 and 1946, before he was demobilised in 1947 and decided to become an actor!