Horror films will never be the same.
Christopher Lee, the British actor who was best known for his haunting portrayals of Count Dracula, the Frankenstein and Fu Manchu, died at Westminster Hospital in London on Sunday after respiratory issues and heart failure, according to The Guardian. Lee was 93.
Reportedly, Lee's wife, Gitte Kroencke, who had been married to the veteran actor for 54 years, informed the family first, before waiting to release the sad news to the public.
Unbelievably, Lee's IMDB portfolio counts 281 credits in a legendary career that spanned nearly 70 years. He's best known, though, for epitomizing evil in memorable roles in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and Horror of Dracula (1958).
Though those were the most sticking roles of his career, Lee wasn't the most proud of them, shunning titles as 'horror film icon' through the years.
He also drew rave reviews for his haunting role in The Mummy (1959). In addition to the more scary roles, Lee played a sinister villain against Roger Moore's James Bond in The Man With the Golden Gun (1974).
Younger audiences will recognize his recurring roles of Saruman in Lord of the Rings and Count Dooku in Star Wars, which seemingly gave him a whole new acting life. According to IMDB, Lee's last completed role was in 2014's Angels in Notting Hill, in which he played The Boss, Mr. President.
Lee was knighted in 2009, becoming Sir Christopher Lee. He is survived by Kroencke and their daughter Christina. Rest in Peace.
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