Christopher Lee
Biography
Christopher Lee was an English actor and singer who, over a career spanning more than 60 years, became known for his commanding voice and screen presence, often playing villains in horror and franchise films. Born in Belgravia, London, he began with small roles in films such as Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) and Moulin Rouge (1952). His fame came as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, starting with Dracula (1958). He starred opposite Peter Cushing in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) and The Mummy (1959). Other horror credits included The Devil Rides Out (1968) and The House That Dripped Blood (1971). He received praise for The Wicker Man (1973) and The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). Later he reached new audiences as Saruman in The Lord of the Rings films and Count Dooku in Star Wars. He was knighted in 2009 and received BAFTA and BFI Fellowships. He also recorded heavy metal albums.
93years old at death
- Born Belgravia
- Died London
- Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
- Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (birth name)Also credited as Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee
Movie Career
- Films
- 134
- Career span
- 76 years1948 to 2024
Genres
Photos
Did you know?!
A first
Lee entered the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart at No. 22 with "Jingle Hell" at 91 years and 6 months, becoming the second oldest living performer to enter the music charts. The song later climbed to No. 18, making him the oldest person with a top 20 hit.
A role that slipped away
Lee tried out for a part in The Longest Day, but he was rejected for not looking like a military man. Some film books wrongly give him a role in the film, and he had to correct that for the rest of his life.
A role that slipped away
Lee passed on playing Dr. Barry Rumack in the 1980 disaster spoof Airplane!, a part that went to Leslie Nielsen. He later described that choice as a big mistake.
A role that slipped away
Lee could not play the Specialist in Tommy (1975) because he was busy filming the Bond movie in Bangkok, so the director Ken Russell gave the part to Jack Nicholson.
A role that slipped away
John Carpenter offered Lee the role of Samuel Loomis in Halloween before Donald Pleasence took it, and Lee later told Carpenter that turning it down was the biggest regret of his career.
Christopher Lee movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring2001 Adventure, Drama, Fantasyas Saruman
IMDb rating 8.92.2M votes
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones2002 Action, Adventure, Fantasyas Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus
IMDb rating 6.6832K votes
Most often with
Terence Fisher directed nine of these films, Don Sharp six and Tim Burton five. Peter Cushing appears in twenty of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Peter Cushing's page
Michael Gough's page
Michael Ripper's page
Oliver Reed's page
Johnny Depp's page
Nigel Green's page
Terence FisherDirector, 9 films, 1957 to 1968
All films by Terence Fisher
Don SharpDirector, 6 films, 1964 to 1979
All films by Don Sharp
All films by Tim Burton
Also five films together3 more actors
- Tsai ChinSax Rohmer's The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969), The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968), The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967), The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966) and The Face of Fu Manchu (1965)
- Howard Marion-CrawfordSax Rohmer's The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969), The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968), The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967), The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966) and The Face of Fu Manchu (1965)
- Rupert DaviesThe Oblong Box (1969), Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968), Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), Five Golden Dragons (1967) and The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Christopher Lee's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$6.6 billion
42 of the 134 films have a worldwide figure, in dollars of the day.
Of the 134 films: 42 worldwide figure; 5 us gross only; 8 never in cinemas; 79 figure not found.
- 42Worldwide figure
- 5US gross only
- 8Never in cinemas
- 79Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 82% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$1.0B15.6% of the total
- 2$926M14.1% of the total
- 3$871M13.3% of the total
- 4$850M12.9% of the total
- 5$649M9.9% of the total
- 6$475M7.2% of the total
- 7$372M5.7% of the total
- 8$246M3.7% of the total
$1.2 billionfrom the other 34 films with a worldwide figure, 18% of the total
Awards
Twelve awards and honors from 1983 to 2011, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAFTA | |||
| 2011 | Fellowship | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 2011 | Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres | Won | |
| 2009 | Knight Bachelor | Won | |
| 2001 | Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | |
| 1997 | Commander of the Order of Saint John | Won | |
| 1994 | Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement | Won | |
| 1983 | Sitges Film Festival Best Actor award | House of the Long Shadows | Won |
| 1939–45 Star | Won | ||
| Africa Star | Won | ||
| Defence Medal | Won | ||
| France and Germany Star | Won | ||
| Italy Star | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.