"I didn't have dreams of being a romantic leading man," Christopher Lee told The Associated Press in 2002. "But I dreamed of being a character actor, which I am." (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, 2010)
The Associated Press
Christopher Lee, an actor who brought dramatic gravitas and aristocratic bearing to screen villains from Dracula to the wicked wizard Saruman in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has died at age 93. Lee appeared in more than 250 movies, taking on memorable roles such as the James Bond enemy Scaramanga and the evil Count Dooku in two "Star Wars" prequels.
But for many, he will forever be known as the vampire Count Dracula in a slew of gory, gothic British "Hammer Horror" thrillers churned out in the 1950s and 1960s that became hugely popular around the world. He railed against the typecasting, however, and ultimately the sheer number and range of his roles — including Sherlock Holmes and the founder of Pakistan — secured his place in film history.
'The Man with the Golden Gun'
Lee played the bad guy in the 1974 James Bond film.
'Jinnah'
"Jinnah," 1998, is a biography of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
'The Hound of the Baskervilles'
Lee played Sir Henry Baskerville in the 1959 movie. Peter Cushing plays Sherlock Holmes.
'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'
Lee played the evil Saruman.
'The Last Unicorn'
Lee's voice stars as the bad-guy King Haggard in this 1982 animated tale that also stars Mia Farrow as a unicorn.
'House of the Long Shadows'
Lee stars in this 1983 horror-comedy story with Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and John Carradine.
'The Three Musketeers'
Lee plays the villain Roquefort in this 1973 version starring Richard Chamberlain, Oliver Reed and Frank Finlay as the Musketeers.
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride from Malcolm Hadley on Vimeo.
'Corpse Bride'
The 2005 Tim Burton stop-motion animation film includes Lee voicing a priest.
'Star Wars'
Lee played the evil Count Dooku in the 'Star Wars' prequels.
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