Hello Enthusiacs and welcome to a very somber edition of the attic. Christoper Lee, world renowned acting legend, passed away on June 7th 2015. To say the world lost an amazing talent would be the mother of all understatements.

Christopher Lee was a remarkable man by almost any standard going all the way back to world war 2. He served from 1939-1946 when he retired at the rank of flight lieutenant. He was also part of the secretive Secret Air Service. No one truly knows what he did during his time with them as he would only ever say.

“I was attached to the SAS from time to time but we are forbidden – former, present, or future – to discuss any specific operations. Let’s just say I was in Special Forces and leave it at that. People can read in to that what they like.”

This began his acting career and arguable his most famous role. In 1959 he played Vlad Dracula. However you might be surprised to learn that he wasn’t a huge fan of his Dracula. In his own words the sequels came to be because.

“The process went like this: The telephone would ring and my agent would say, “Jimmy Carreras has been on the phone, they’ve got another Dracula for you.” And I would say, “Forget it! I don’t want to do another one.” I’d get a call from Jimmy Carreras, in a state of hysteria. “What’s all this about?!” “Jim, I don’t want to do it, and I don’t have to do it.” “No, you have to do it!” And I said, “Why?” He replied, “Because I’ve already sold it to the American distributor with you playing the part. Think of all the people you know so well, that you will put out of work!” Emotional blackmail. That’s the only reason I did them.”

He would continue playing the master vampire until 1976, however in 1974 one of his dreams came true. He played the villain Scaramanga in “The man with the Golden Gun.”

“In Fleming’s novel he’s just a West Indian thug, but in the film he’s charming, elegant, amusing, lethal… I played him like the dark side of Bond”

He was then offered the role of Samuel Loomis in the film Halloween, however a scheduling conflict preventing him from being involved.

In 1977 Lee left England for fear of being typecast as his friends Peter Cushing and Vincent Price had been. This lead to his involvement in both Airport 77, and Captain America 2: Death too soon. His first team up with action star Reb Brown.

In 1980 he was offered the role of Dr. Barry Rumack in the film Airplane which he turned down. (the role would be played by Leslie Nelson) He considered that a big mistake.

In his own worlds his career stalled with roles being taken simple to pay the bills. It wasn’t until 1999 that he found a role he really wanted. The Role of Magneto in the film X-men. Now as history tell us he lost that role to Sir Ian Mckellan.

His next attempt at a role didn’t go much better that being the role of Gandalf the Grey in the Lord of the Rings, a role he also lost to Ian Mckellan. He did get the role of Saruman the White. Many of his fans under the age of 30 know him more for this role than any other and in fact many people simply refer to him as Saruman.

This lead to as he put it a career revival. It lead to him playing the villainous Sith Lord Count Dooku in the Star Wars Prequels. As well as his team ups with Tim Burton in Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka, Dark Shadows.

In 2009 he was knighted by Prince Charles for his part in expanding the art of film. Lee has said he found the Prince very easy to talk to and believe Charles was even more nervous to meet him, which he found deeply flattering.

In 2010 he released a metal album having worked in the past with bands of Rhapsody of Fire and Manowar. He was presented with the Metal Hammer at the 2010 Golden Gods award by Metal Legends Black Sabbath.

In 2011 he announced to his fans he would be returning to the role of Saruman in the Hobbit Trilogy. However sadly he would never return to New Zealand. His failing health prevented him from making the trip and his role was recorded in London.

All in all Christopher Lee had a full life that will live forever in all of our hearts.

Let us all lift a glass and give a toast. Here’s to you good sir.