An era has ended today. The last of a group of legends has died. The man we could always “Count” on to rise again, will sadly rise no more.
The news was released this morning that 93-year-old Sir “Count” Christopher Lee passed away on Sunday, June 7th, 2015. It doesn’t seem possible, does it? Our immortal Count, mortal after all. News of his death is spreading like fire in Frankenstein’s castle, and like anyone who grew up on Hammer horror, I don’t want to believe it.
I obviously didn’t know Lee personally, but nevertheless, my heart is broken knowing that this man is no longer a part of this world. I want to write more about him, but something more than just a man has died today, and words simply fail me now. I do have a number of posts already that feature Lee’s wonderful film work, so I’ll link to them below.
“To be a legend, you’ve either got to be dead or excessively old!” But in his own case, that’s just not true. He became a legend the moment he stood at the top of that gothic staircase, wrapped in his Dracula cape, shrouded in menacing darkness. True legends are born, not made.
There’s really nothing for me to say except thank you, Mr. Lee, for your dedication and talent. For introducing a little girl to the fascinating realm of GOOD horror and making it so that she never wants to leave.
“They were both grand masters of their art but more importantly as human beings… wonderful people, wonderful actors and I miss them very, very much,” said Christopher Lee of Peter Cushing and Vincent Price. May you be reunited with them both now, and for the first time in nearly two decades, feel no heartache when you sit down with those glorious old films that the three of you made so long ago.
“I don’t play long parts. They must be short parts, but they’ve got to be parts that mean something, that matter, where people will notice when I’m on the screen, and people will remember the character after they’ve seen the film.” And remember you, we shall.
Gone, but certainly never forgotten. Christopher Lee. May the Count be left to his rest at last. I can simply say no more. :'(
Previous Christopher Lee Posts:
And Now the Screaming Starts
“Nightmare” Magazine, 1974: An Exclusive Interview with Christopher Lee
Lee and Price: Double Trouble
Dracula: The Hammer Years: Boobs, Blood & Bondage
The Art of Fear
Seeker of Truth 
I read that he was in Star Wars, but I think they were thinking of Peter Cushing. The young – uns get cinematic history mixed up.
RIP, The great Christopher Lee.
Actually, they were both in Star Wars! Peter Cushing was Grand Moff Tarkin in the original “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” (1977), but later Christopher Lee played Count Dooku in “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002), and “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” (2005). But I’ll always remember Lee for his work with Hammer. Truly one of the greatest actors who ever lived.
In all fairness, I have to say, I didn’t think too much of the 2nd trilogy. From what I saw, it undid a lot of what was laid down in the 1st trilogy. Midichlorians as the cause of he Force ? Took some of the magic & mystique away from the whole Jedi thing.
Your mileage may vary.
Anyway, Mr Lee had a nice long life, went down in cinematic legend – What better way to be remembered ?
Sad news for sure but a very nice tribute Wendy.
Thanks very much, Dan.
You may be able to say no more, but what you said was lovely! Since I’ve never been a horror fan, I’ve still never made the time for the Hammer films, but now I feel I really must. Thanks for this tribute to Christopher Lee.
Thanks, Mike, I appreciate that. I hope that you will get to check out some of Lee’s Hammer work because even if it’s not your favourite genre, Lee makes absolutely anything watchable.
And thanks so much for linking to my Lee and Price post. I really enjoyed your own Christopher Lee post this morning and am going to share the link here: http://thescifichristian.com/2015/06/rest-in-peace-sir-christopher-lee/
Pingback: Rest In Peace, Sir Christopher Lee
He will be missed! But, he keeps getting killed off and keeps coming back—I’m holding out! :-]
With cinema, no one really dies, even if their physical being does. :)
Ha! Me too, Frank. Me too. :)