News24 Bureau
London:Legendary English actor Sir Christopher Lee died at the age of 93 after being hospitalized for respiratory problems and heart failure.
The veteran actor passed away at 8:30 am on Sunday morning at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. His wife, former Danish model Brigit Kroencke decide to hold back information until all family and friends were informed, the Guardian reported. The couple had been married for more than 50 year and had a daughter, Christina.
The actor was knighted in 2009 and received BAFTA fellowship in 2011.
Lee made his debut in 1947 with Terence Young’s gothic romance Corridor of Mirrors.However, Lee got his first big break in 1957 with The Curse of the Frankensteinfor Hammer, in which he played the role of Frankenstein’s monster with Peter Cushing as Baron Victor Frankenstein.
Lee first appeared in the role of a Transylvania vampire in 1958 film Dracula. After playing Dracula in Uncle was a Vampirein 1959, he returned to the role of Dracula in Hammer’s Dracula: Prince of Darknessin 1965.
In 70s, Lee continued to gain fame in the horror genre with his role in The Wicker Man. He went on to play the role of Bond villain Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun and turned down a role in Halloween,which later turned out to be his biggest career regrets.
Concerned at being typecast in horror films in England, Lee left for America in 1977. In 1985, He appeared in Howling ii: Stirba- Werewolf Bitchalong with Red Brown and Sybil Danning. He made his last appearances as Sherlock Homes in 1991’s Incident at Victoria Fallsand 1992’s Sherlock Homes and the Leading Lady.
In 1998 he played the role of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in a biopic called Jinnah. Lee considered this as his best performance.
Lee also played the role of Sarumanin The Lord of the Ringstrilogy. In the commentary, he states he had a decades-long dream to play Gandalf but that he was now too old and his physical limitations prevented his being considered. The role of Saruman, by contrast, required no horseback riding and much less fighting.
Lee was one Tim Burton’s favourite actors and frequently appeared in his movies.
Apart from being a gifted actor, he was also known for his singing ability. After recording various musical pieces between 1986 and 1998, he released his first symphonic metal album Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Crossin 2010 andCharlemagne: The Omens of Deathin 2013. He was honoured with the "Spirit of Metal" award in the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden God awards ceremony.
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