Sir Christopher Lee passed away at the age of 93 on Sunday due to heart failure and respiratory problems. The British actor appeared in over 250 films and television productions, including major film franchises such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and James Bond.
With such an impressive body of work, Lee was honored by a multitude of his co-workers and celebrity fans today.
Burton, who worked with Lee on five films, including Sleepy Hollow, Alice in Wonderland, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, released a statement: “Christopher has been an enormous inspiration to me my entire life. I had the honour and pleasure to work with him on five films. He was the last of his kind – a true legend – who I’m fortunate to have called a friend. He will continue to inspire me and I’m sure countless others for generations to come.”
George Lucas spoke to Entertainment Weekly: “Christopher was a great British actor of the old school. A true link to cinema’s past and a real gentleman. We will miss him.”
Director Martin Scorsese said: “Sir Christopher Lee was my friend. I think of him every day, and I always will. We both wished that we’d been able to work together more, but it was a joy to make Hugo together. And to just be with him, just listening to his stories, in that beautiful baritone voice, stories about his time in the war, his time working during the heyday of Hammer, on all those wonderful pictures that are now considered to be classics, on eight decades in movies … At a certain point they realized what a treasure they had, and they made him Sir Christopher. And that’s as it should be. He was a great actor, a wonderful friend, a REAL professional, and I’m really going to miss him.”
Many celebrities also tweeted about the late actor:
It’s terribly when you lose an old friend, and Christopher Lee was one of my oldest. We first met in 1948.
— Sir Roger Moore (@sirrogermoore) June 11, 2015
An extraordinary man and life lead, Sir Christopher Lee. You were an icon, and a towering human being with stories for days. We’ll miss you.
— Elijah Wood (@woodelijah) June 11, 2015
So so sorry to hear that #christopherlee has passed away. He was a fascinating person. Threw a bic pen into a tree in front of me. #legend
— Dominic Monaghan (@DomsWildThings) June 11, 2015
What a sad day for the world to lose this incredible actor and human being. Christopher Lee, photo by… https://t.co/635BmEshsn
— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) June 11, 2015
❤️ to CHRISTOPHER LEE. Saruman the White! Dracula! Great Actor! 93! Will be missed 😥 https://t.co/v3ZIoR61G0
— James Franco (@JamesFrancoTV) June 11, 2015
Goodbye #ChristopherLee. Thank you for leaving behind a legacy that will be revisited for generations to come. #Saruman #Scaramanga #Mummy
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 11, 2015
RIP Christopher Lee. He was the King of the Vampires.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 11, 2015
RIP #christopherlee A sheer joy to work with & off camera too! My condolences to Birgit and the family #PJPII #rome pic.twitter.com/Y6u8KEDK2j
— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) June 11, 2015
The great, always criminally underrated Sir Christopher Lee has left us. A Titan of Cinema and a huge part of my youth. Farewell.
— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) June 11, 2015
Farewell Christopher Lee. King of the spooks! R.I.P
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) June 11, 2015
We cheered when Dracula, Saruman & Dooku lost. But today, we weep for the loss of the man who played them all. Farewell Sir Christopher Lee!
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) June 11, 2015
Christopher Lee, the last of his kind, the last of the greatest era in the movies! Thank you. pic.twitter.com/O4SOYLTCO2
— Tom Savini (@THETomSavini) June 11, 2015
Working with the great Sir Christopher Lee was one of the highlights of my movie life. He was a legend and a gentleman, and he’ll be missed.
— Seth Grahame-Smith (@sethgs) June 11, 2015
— Rest in peace, it will always be an honor to say I got to know such a beautiful soul, Forever Changed. #SirChristopherLee
— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) June 11, 2015
RIP #ChristopherLee THE Count Dracula. Fabulous actor. Not dead, only resting.
— Fred Willard (@Fred_Willard) June 11, 2015
Our way of remembering Christopher Lee. Many thanks to @JScottMcGee for producing such a lovely tribute. https://t.co/InnhMNovTF
— TCM (@tcm) June 11, 2015
