brainee

Damn I know ... "full long life" and all. But still sucks to hear.

He's the real life "Most Interesting Man in the World". What made Lee's career so interesting, especially compared to other horror legends (like Price, Karloff, Lugosi), was how he managed to revitalize his career so late. The 80s were not good at all for Lee. More than just being in bad movies ... he looked like he aged decades since just the mid 70s (when he seemed so dynamic in things like Wicker Man and the Bond movie). But while that was where guys like Karloff and Lugosi finished at, Lee turned it around to become a legend to a whole new generation.

Mike86

He definitely was a legend both in film and life in general. He lived a long life but that never makes anyone's passing easier. RIP.

Ash Ketchum

The first Lee movie I saw on the big screen was Mario Bava's HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, but Lee was dubbed by someone else. I had earlier seen a trailer for HORROR OF DRACULA shown in front of the Disney movie, THE MISADVENTURES OF MERLIN JONES. It was quite a bloody trailer and it was part of a Horror double bill with HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM, which had an even bloodier trailer. Good times. It would be a few years, but I did get to see HORROR OF DRACULA on the big screen at a revival theater at the start of my Freshman year at College, only the second Lee film I would see on the big screen. Throughout the '70s, I saw quite a few of his older films on TV and caught current ones on the big screen, including DRACULA A.D. 1972, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, THE WICKER MAN, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, AIRPORT '77, END OF THE WORLD, CIRCLE OF IRON and ARABIAN ADVENTURE.

There's a great book called "The Films of Christopher Lee" that offers a career survey in which the authors devote a section to every one of his film credits and interviewed Lee about every one of them! As expected, he had more to say about some of the films than others and recalled some more happily than others, but it's a fascinating way to structure a career survey. I need to consult it when I get home.

ddrknghtrtns

Haven't seen it mentioned, but Horror Express (1972) is a good Lee / Cushing flick to watch.

mndtrp

I agree, he's got an impressive legacy behind him.

robin2099

This actually doesn't make me sad. This man lived such an incredible and long life. He did more and left more of a legacy than so many people. If ever the term legend was used it would be to describe him.

Trevor

Stolen from somewhere but:

His words carried the weight that would break a lesser man's jaw.

islandclaws

Few men have lived such a long, noble, full life. His death brings with it the end of an era. When you see how much Lee was accomplishing, even into his 90s, it makes death seem so unfair. Imagine what he could've done with another 93 years. A legend among legends.

hdnmickey

Ever movie he appeared in was better simply because he was cast. Even those couple SW prequels and the brief moments in the Hobbit trilogy.

Mondo Kane

Was his real voice used in this? If so, I would've loved to have heard him do more roles with an American accent.

Giantrobo

RIP Sir.

Drexl

I am not as familiar with Lee's filmography as others, but I can certainly see that he was loved and had a heck of a life. RIP.

Ky-Fi

"When told by Peter Jackson to imagine how a man being stabbed in the back sounds, he told him he didn't have to imagine it."

That has to be one of the all-time greatest lines between an actor and director.

B5Erik

Christopher Lee was an amazing man. We likely won't see another like him in our lifetimes.

His body gave out, but his spirit could have kept him going for another few centuries. He had a lot left in the tank.

PhantomStranger

He had such a presence on the silver screen. If I had ever directed a movie, I would have demanded Christopher Lee play a role. I will always think of him with Peter Cushing, confronting evil together in some timeless European setting.

He will be missed.

kenbuzz

Damn.





Damn.

Ash Ketchum

Author Herman Wouk ("Winds of War," "City Boy," "The Caine Mutiny") had the same birthday as Lee (May 27), but was born seven years earlier--in 1915. He's still with us, which means he just turned 100!

RichC2

I read "Lee" as "Me" and wanted to compliment your typing skills for a 93 years old.

Decker

Plus he has one of the most awesome classic album cover cameos ever :



RIP Sir Christopher. The World shall never see your like again.

rexinnih

RIP, a long and great career.

eXcentris

"Imagine what dying would feel like."

"I don't have to, I played Death."

RIP

rw2516

In 1999 a friend and I went to a horror/sci-fi film convention outside Washington D.C. Christopher Lee was the headliner.
The convention started on a Friday. The first event on Friday afternoon was a book signing. Lee was signing copies of his autobiography, Tall, Dark and Gruesome. We all gathered in a room off the hotel lobby, and one by one got our book signed and shook his hand.
Later that night was the opening ceremony in the auditorium. Each film personality was introduced with film clips before coming out on stage. Lee, being the big star, was last.
Next to last was Michael Ripper. If you're not familiar with the name, he was a British character actor who popped up in several British horror/sci-fi films of the 50s and 60s. Small parts credited as taxi driver, gravedigger, bartender, etc. Kind of a British Dick Miller. More often than not his character would receive an untimely death compliments of this monster or that.
He was 86 years old, in ill health, and this was the very first time he had ever been to America.
Following a video montage of Mr. Ripper being killed this way and that by various monsters he was introduced. Out comes this little old man aided by his daughter, or niece, can't remember which, to a rousing standing ovation that went on for several minutes. It was moving to see this little guy, bit actor with a small b, treated like a rock star.
Then Christopher Lee was introduced. He came out on stage and said, "It was always a pleasure to appear in a Michael Ripper film". That's class.

There's a humorous story about Peter Cushing in his autobiography. They were working on a film together and Lee was complaining to Cushing that he hardly had any lines. Cushing replied, "Have you read the script? You're lucky!"

JeffTheAlpaca

He was honored at the BAFTAs a couple of years ago.

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Josh-da-man

I always wanted to hear his World War II stories.

Chad

"Peter Jackson began coaching Lee on the sound a man makes when he’s stabbed to death. Lee, very calmly stopped Jackson and informed him that he was well aware how a man reacted upon being stabbed from first hand experience."

I honestly thought he'd make it to 100 and then some.

RIP.