by Gene Turnbow, station manager

British actor Sir Christopher Lee is photographed before his interview with APTN, at the AP office in north London, Friday March 5, 2010 (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)

It is with great sadness that we relate the passing of one of the most remarkable and prolific actors of our age. Sir Christopher Lee has passed on at the age of 93.

Active in theater and film for more than six decades, Lee had starring roles in Man with the Golden Gun, all the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies directed by Peter Jackson, two Star Wars movies, a  string of Hammer films, and so many more. He was legendary for his portrayals of both Dracula and Fu Manchu in a score of films, and even played the incarnation of Death himself in three films based on Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. Amazingly, he was also a singer, and released several albums, some of which were heavy metal.

Lee died at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on 7 June 2015 at 8:30 am after being admitted for respiratory problems and heart failure shortly after celebrating his 93rd birthday in hospital. His wife delayed the public announcement until 11 June, in order to break the news to their family.

Sir Christopher helped define generations of fantasy in cinema, and is one of the best loved actors in his genre. The world is a lesser place without him, but all the greater for what he gave to the world.

– 30 –

SCIFI Radio Staff
SCIFI Radio Staff

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