Just a few days after his 93rd birthday, Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, otherwise known as Christopher Lee, passed away. Christopher has been an actor since the 1940s, making a notable impact in the 70s with his work as Count Dracula.
My generation truly felt Christopher’s impact in 2001 with his enormous on-screen presence as Saruman, the force that drove the evil of Sauron. Lee’s ability to capture the feeling of betrayal with Saruman is second to none. With his billowing white hair and white robes, Saruman felt very warm and comforting early in in the LotR series, but his drive for the ring removed all doubt about his intentions.
“We must join with him, Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise, my friend.” (quote courtesy IMDB)
Lee has spanned the gamut in regards to movies. From the Dracula Series, to various TV specials, James Bond, the aforementioned Lord of the Rings, and the Star Wars prequels, Lee’s time on this earth will never be forgotten. After researching the actor a bit further, I discovered that Christopher also involved himself in the music industry. In 2014 at the age of 92 (!), Lee released “Metal Knight,” a heavy metal album (Wikipedia).
To date, Lee has won 22 awards and been nominated for 8, and he’s credited in acting in over 280 movies, television shows, and videogames. (stats from IMDB)
Thank you Sir Christopher! May you rest in peace!
