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Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, a renowned English actor and vocalist whose extraordinary career made an enduring impression on the film industry, was born in Belgravia, London, on May 27, 1922. Lee was known for his versatility, having portrayed both villains and respected figures with equal skill throughout the course of a career spanning more than six decades.
Early Life
The couple that gave birth to Christopher Lee were Countess Estelle Marie and Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Trollope Lee. The military experience his father had in the 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps influenced him greatly in his early years. Before retiring in 1946, Lee himself had been an intelligence officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II, rising to the rank of flight lieutenant.
Career
Following many standout roles, Lee’s acting career took off and he became well-known across society. Most famously, he played Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror movies. He frequently appeared on television as a villain. Saruman in “The Hobbit” trilogy (2012–2014), Count Dooku in many Star Wars films (2002–2008), and Francisco Scaramanga in “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974) are just a few of the roles he has acted in.
Lee’s career as an actor was largely launched by three movies: the legendary horror pictures “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957) and “Dracula” (1958), in which he portrayed the evil marquis in “A Tale of Two Cities” (1958). His portrayal of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, in the 1998 biopic “Jinnah” was regarded as his finest work.
Due to his charitable and dramatic accomplishments, Lee received a knighthood in 2009. In 2011, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awarded him a Fellowship in recognition of his exceptional career. In 2013, the British Film Institute (BFI) Fellowship was awarded to him, further solidifying his reputation in the film business.
Known for his deep, resonant voice, Lee extended his artistic talents to music. He recorded opera and musical pieces from 1986 to 1998. In 2010, at the age of 88, he released the symphonic metal album “Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross.” The sequel, “Charlemagne: The Omens of Death,” followed in 2013, coinciding with Lee’s 91st birthday. His contribution to the metal genre earned him the “Spirit of Hammer” award at the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards.
In celebration of his 92nd birthday in 2014, Lee released “Metal Knight,” a third EP of covers featuring “My Way” and other tracks inspired by Carmen and the musical “Man of La Mancha.” Lee’s love for these songs was rooted in his belief that Don Quixote is the most “metal” fictional character.
What was Christopher Lee’s Cause of Death?
Christopher Lee passed away on 7 June 2015 at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. His cause of death was congestive heart failure.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Lee
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/22812395/christopher-lee-movies-height-cause-of-death/
