It would appear I’m always the one who draws the short straw here at LR when it comes to sharing very sad news. I reported on Paul Walker’s death within hours of his tragic accident. I broke the news to the world of the passing of my late aunt Elizabeth Peña. I was tasked with sharing with you the death of Leonard Nimoy. And now it’s time to say goodbye to another beloved performer.

This morning, news broke that Sir Christopher Lee has left us at the age of 93. He had been hospitalized three weeks ago with respiratory issues, and he was pronounced dead on Sunday morning at 8:30AM. 

He was many things to many people. Depending on which generation of film fan you are, he could either be Dracula, Scaramanga (aka. “The Man With The Golden Gun”), Count Dooku, Saruman, or even Sherlock Holmes. With such iconic roles, in treasured series such as Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, and the James Bond franchise on his resumé, he was the rare actor that had the opportunity to share his work with the entire world in a way that was truly globe-spanning and multi-generational.

What made Lee’s legendary career all the more fascinating is how much more he did beyond acting. From being a member of the Royal Air Force in 1940 and then joining the Special Forces to help hunt down Nazis, to recording heavy metal albums, appearing on stage, and writing books, Lee truly made the most of his 93 years on this earth. 

And the man never stopped. Just last winter you could’ve seen him at your local theater, reprising Saruman in The Hobbit: Battle of The Five Armies. Recently, while discussing an upcoming project, the actor said, “I hate being idle. As dear Boris [Karloff] used to say, when I die I want to die with my boots on.“

Thank you, Mr. Lee, for all that you gave us. You enriched the world with your gifts, you inspired us with your tireless work ethic, and you embodied the spirit of living life to its fullest so that even in death you live on through your indelible legacy.