Friday 12 June 2015

RIP Sir Christopher Lee CBE, CStJ (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015)

Do not underestimate me, boy 
Look closer and you'll find 
That if you peel back the polite 
There might be something fierce inside
The quote is actually from an unrelated song by a friend of mine, Marian Call, but it seems somehow appropriate.

Sir Christopher Lee.

Sarauman, if you're my son's age.
Scaramanga, if you're mine,
Dracula, if you're older.

Actor, fencer, stuntman. Lead vocalist on a heavy metal album at the age most people (except Lemmy and Keith Richards) would be contentedly dozing off by the fire.

Special forces soldier during WW2.

Which latter is why he rates a respectful note of his passing on this blog. Two of my favourite quotes...

The first from a scene when Peter Jackson was directing Lee in the scene where Wormtongue stabs Saruman. And Lee stopped him:
‘Peter, have you ever heard the sound a man makes when he’s stabbed in the back?’ 
'Um, no.’
'Well, I have, and I know what to do.’ 
The second, from when over-pushed by an interviewer on his wartime career: he leant forward in his chair and asked, conspiratorially:
"Can you keep a secret?"
 Cue enthusiastic and breathless agreement from interviewer. A smile from Lee.
"So can I."

If I make it to 90, I'll settle for having lived a tenth of the life he did.

6 comments:

  1. Great post Mike. I enjoyed watching his film performances over the years.
    Furthermore it's great see you posted a photo of him as he was known in many of his films. Many media services seem to take a macabre pleasure in showing the deceased at their worst, usually close to the time of their passing.

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  2. Great post for a great man!

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  3. One of the greats. I read his autobiography "Tall, Dark & Gruesome" a few years ago. A terrific read.

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  4. Excellent post! RIP Sir Christopher.

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  5. Another sad loss...and you should add Alice Cooper to your list of "still active"...!

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