His Special Forces work in the Second World War remains shrouded in mystery.
We do know that, in 1944, he climbed Vesuvius three days before it erupted.
A fine, operatic singer, he famously released a heavy metal album in his later 80s.
Ian Fleming was a cousin, Muhammed Ali a friend and once dedicated a victory to Lee.
Fluent in five languages, passable in another four, people like Lee dont really exist anymore.
In truth they probably never did.
But it is as an actor that Christopher Lee shall ultimately be remembered.
One of the greatest ever, one of the most iconic.
Most actors are lucky to have a single celebrated role.
If he hadnt played Saruman people would still marvel at his late career renaissance.
If he never played Scaramanga wed still think of Lee as the ultimate bad guy.
Sorry Bela, hard luck Gary Christopher Lee is the only Dracula who really counts.
TodayDraculais considered one of the iconic studios most successful productions.
Hed have Edward Cullen before his first glass of key in-B and not even blink.
He played the role seven times in total, ending withThe Satanic Rites Of Draculain 1973.
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Lee enjoyed a lasting affinity with Sherlock Holmes.
Strangely for a career steeped in villainy, Lee never played Professor Moriarty on film.
However, despite the titles, Lee is a long way from his monstrous Dracula persona.
Polite and charming, Summerisle appears a benevolent ruler over the island that bears his name.
Could he be involved in the recent disappearance of a little girl?
Investigating policeman Edward Woodward certainly has suspicions…
The climax is rightly one of the most famous in all cinema.
Inevitably, Lee played a Bond villain.
Inevitably, he was brilliant.
Whats not to love?
Lee auditioned for Gandalf but, nearly 80, was considered too old for the part.
Consolation arrived in the form of Saruman, the once-noble wizard fallen under the spell of Sauron.
His performance was lauded and elevated an already legendary actor to icon status.
Peter Jackson recalls Lee displaying an ancient scar and remarking, Errol Flynn gave me that.
A bridge between the Golden Age of Hollywood and its modern incarnation.
Unforgivably, Saruman was cut fromThe Return Of The Kingbut his final scenes survive on DVD.
Surely one of the films eight endings could have been sacrificed?
Fair to say theStar Warsprequels arent universally loved.
But they provided Lee with his second major franchise of the 21st century.
Not bad for a man deep into his eighties.
He even played the same basic function: to balance the CGI with some good old fashioned acting.
Foolishly, Dooku was absent from the first prequel and killed off at the beginning of the third.
At least this time he exited onscreen.
Obviously weve omitted some classics.
Share your favourite role of Sir Christophers below…
