Sir Christopher Lee, the man who masterfully portrayed Sith Lord Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku), passed away on Sunday, Jun 7, at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London. The actor had been hospitalized for respiratory problems and died of as a result of those problems and subsequent heart failure. He was 93. He was so much more than just an actor, and was knighted in 2009 for his charitable work.
While Star Wars fans will always remember him as Jedi Master Yoda’s wayward padawan turned Sith Lord Count Dooku in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and a short stint in Revenge of the Sith, Sir Christopher Lee made his indelible and legendary mark upon cinema history with his turn as Dracula in 1958. His role as villain continued with Wicker Man, and the deadly assassin Francisco Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun.
In 2001, in what perhaps was his most notable role, Sir Christopher Lee portrayed the good wizard turned bad, Saruman, in not only the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but he also reprized that role in the resulting The Hobbit trilogy.
In 2002’s Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Sir Christopher Lee endeared himself to Star Wars fans, as the previously mentioned Count Dooku. Lee expertly filled the void left empty by the death of Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. His deep voice and menacing appearance stole the spotlight from his Sith Master, Darth Sidious. In fact, because of Lee’s acting skill alone, had George Lucas written it differently, Count Dooku would have made an excellent Sith Lord throughout the rest of the series.
Sir Christopher Lee was not just an actor. In fact he was…if you will pardon the term, “metal as f@#k.” If you’ve ever had the great pleasure of treating you ears to his Christmas songs, then you will know what I am talking about.
Sir Christopher Lee lived a long and fulfilled life, and made a lasting impression on not only the cinematic world, but everything else he deigned to touch. He may no longer be with us, but perhaps he is now one with the Force, and as long as there are Star Wars films, then he will always be there to guide would-be Sith Lords and the Jedi Knights who are dedicated to bringing them to justice. Rest in Peace Sir Christopher Lee, you will be greatly missed.
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