Buzz
While many today recognize Christopher Lee for his unforgettable portrayals of Saruman or Count Dooku, his illustrious career spans much further back. Long before he became a household name, he carved out an unforgettable version of Dracula and took on numerous roles, securing his place as one of the most talented figures in the entertainment industry. The man behind these iconic characters remains even more intriguing and mysterious than the characters he portrays.
10. Special Air Service
In the early days of World War II, Christopher Lee was just beginning his journey into adulthood. Like many young men of his time, he enlisted to serve in the war. However, his personal experiences during this period were far from ordinary and remain shrouded in an air of mystery.
At the onset of the war, Lee was residing in Finland and offered his help in the conflict, though he was assigned to less perilous tasks. Upon returning to England, he enlisted officially and soon found himself involved in the type of missions that inspired the famous phrase, 'I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.'
He spent some time with the SAS, one of the pioneering elite special forces in modern combat. While it's captivating to imagine what he may have been involved in, none of his actions have been declassified, and he remains tight-lipped on the subject. It is known, however, that he experienced far more than most people can fathom, encountering numerous horrors during the war.
The 'real horror and blood' he witnessed left him largely unaffected by depictions of violence in films. However, he points out that most soldiers who have endured the brutalities of war seldom shed tears—except when bidding farewell to the comrades they fought alongside.
9. He Crossed Paths with J.R.R. Tolkien
Lee is widely known for portraying Saruman the wizard in The Lord of the Rings, though few are aware of how perfectly suited he was for the role. Christopher Lee is the only member of the Lord of the Rings cast who had the rare opportunity to meet Tolkien in person, and likely the last person in show business today to have encountered the author at the height of his career. As a young man, Lee and a group of others had the chance to meet the great author at a pub, and in the presence of his idol, Lee could only manage a humble 'How do you do?'
Lee’s devotion to Tolkien’s work was so deep that he sent Peter Jackson a photo of himself dressed as a wizard during the casting process. Though partly humorous, it reflected Lee’s long-held dream of playing Gandalf in a film adaptation. When Lee read for the part, he did so as Gandalf. However, Peter Jackson had already planned for him to portray Saruman. Lee believed the casting decision was influenced by his age, as Gandalf's role required many physically taxing scenes, some of which involved horseback riding.
Though Lee accepted the casting decision, he was disheartened when his scenes for Return of the King were cut from the final theatrical release. His disappointment went beyond pride—it was rooted in the fact that these cuts removed a critical piece of the story.
8. Heavy Metal Albums
Christopher Lee released numerous heavy metal albums, continually challenging himself with each new project. While many actors have dabbled in music with varying results, Lee’s musical endeavors were far from mere vanity projects. His albums are high-quality recordings that resonate with true metal enthusiasts.
In 2014, he unveiled a heavy metal rendition of Frank Sinatra’s 'My Way,' which he claims to sing 'more operatically' than Sinatra himself. His musical journey began in 2010 with the release of his debut album, Charlemagne: By The Sword And The Cross, which centered on the life of Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. A few years later, he released a follow-up album, Charlemagne: Omens Of Death, collaborating with Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner. This second album earned him the prestigious Spirit of Metal award.
He also contributed his voice to the album Heavy Metal Christmas. Despite his advancing years, he continues to show no signs of slowing down. His third Christmas album, 'Darkest Carols, Faithful Sing,' was released recently and can be previewed above.
7. The Tallest And Most Prolific Leading Actor
Lee stands tall at 196 centimeters (6’5″). While there are a few actors taller than him—James Cromwell at 200 centimeters (6’7″) and Shaquille O’Neill with numerous screen credits—Guinness recognizes him as the tallest leading actor in history. Unlike most actors, who are no taller than the average person, directors typically adjust shots to make them appear taller. With Lee, however, directors must do the opposite.
What stands out even more is Lee’s incredible achievement as the most prolific actor, with IMDB listing him for more than 250 roles, while other sources claim the number exceeds 350.
6. He Was Reluctant to Continue Playing Dracula
When Christopher Lee was just starting his acting career, he portrayed the iconic character of Dracula in a series of films produced by Hammer Film Productions in the UK. As the series progressed, the quality of the films declined, which led many to question why such a talented actor kept returning to these poorly executed productions time and time again.
He wasn’t fond of the later scripts at all. He had no intention of continuing with the films and made this clear to the producers. However, in what Lee described as 'emotional blackmail,' the executives convinced him by stating they had already 'sold it to the Americans with him in it.' When he remained hesitant, they highlighted the many people who would lose work if he refused. Although he resented being manipulated, he ultimately agreed to remain in the role.
5. Opera
The Lee family had opera running through its veins for generations. Christopher’s grandparents founded the first opera company in Australia. From a young age, Lee displayed a natural musical talent and performed in public. Renowned tenor Jussi Bjorling—one of the world’s greatest opera singers—recognized his potential and invited him to join the opera house permanently.
Though opera had a bright future for him, Christopher Lee chose to pursue acting instead, much to the benefit of cinema. However, his passion for singing remained clear in his later musical projects, proving that his love for the art never waned. Bjorling, no doubt, would have been proud.
4. He Met Rasputin’s Killers
The legends surrounding Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin claim he was subjected to being shot, poisoned, stabbed, beaten, and even drowned, only to survive it all. While these stories are highly exaggerated, there is some truth behind them. Evidence suggests British spies played a role in Rasputin’s demise due to the immense influence he had over the Tsar’s court. Some believe that one of the main conspirators, Prince Yusopov, fabricated these tales to paint Rasputin as an evil sorcerer, thus justifying his betrayal.
Christopher Lee’s mother once woke him in the dead of night to introduce him to some rather peculiar visitors—Prince Yusopov and another conspirator, Dmitri Pavlovich. Although Lee doesn’t recall the details of that encounter clearly, the experience left a lasting impression and may have influenced his portrayal of Rasputin many years later on screen.
Although Lee never saw Yusopov in person again, his life was still impacted by the man who played a role in Rasputin’s death. According to Lee, the film about Rasputin struggled to tell the story accurately because Yusopov (and later his estate) would often file lawsuits whenever the media portrayed him in an unfavorable light.
3. Royal Lineage
Christopher Lee’s extensive career in Hollywood made him well-connected, and his family had notable social ties as well. He hails from the same Lee family that eventually emigrated to the United States, making him a relative of American Civil War general Robert E. Lee.
Christopher Lee was also a cousin to Ian Fleming, a man whose name is forever linked to espionage and cloak-and-dagger adventures from the World War II era. It’s possible that some of Fleming’s literary works were inspired by Christopher Lee’s own experiences in the SAS, as well as Fleming’s. In fact, Fleming had wanted Christopher Lee to play James Bond, believing his acting talent and background as an SAS agent would be the perfect fit. However, the producers rejected Fleming’s choice, fearing nepotism. Nonetheless, Lee went on to portray one of the most memorable Bond villains in The Man With the Golden Gun.
While these intriguing family connections are impressive, they are overshadowed by an even more remarkable one. Christopher Lee’s albums about Charlemagne were inspired by a direct family link—he is actually a descendant of Charlemagne himself. His family proudly carries the coat of arms as proof of this lineage. Though living up to such a powerful ancestor might seem daunting, it’s safe to say Christopher Lee is doing Charlemagne proud.
2. He Knows The Sound Of A Backstab
While we can only speculate about the covert operations Christopher Lee may have been involved in during his time with the SAS, one incident on the set of Lord of the Rings provides a glimpse into the kind of action he might have witnessed. In a scene for the extended version of Return of the King, Grima Wormtongue stabs Saruman in the back. While coaching the actors on how to approach the scene, director Peter Jackson was taken aback when Christopher Lee asked him if he knew what it sounded like when someone was stabbed in the back. He followed up with, 'Because I do.'
Peter Jackson recalls that Christopher Lee then began to speak about 'some clandestine part of World War II,' though, as usual, he kept the details to himself. Jackson had originally asked Lee to shout in pain when he was stabbed, but Lee explained that being stabbed causes 'the breath to be driven out of your lungs.' He then demonstrated the sound of it, which was less a scream and more akin to a strangled gasp.
1. His Alleged Occult Library
Given his history of portraying villains like Dracula, Scaramanga, Count Dooku, and Saruman, as well as his affinity for heavy metal music, many people believe Christopher Lee has a deep interest in the occult. Rumors have circulated that he possesses the largest occult library in the world, with anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 occult books. When asked about this in an interview, Lee firmly denied the claims. He joked that to house that many books, he would have to 'live in the bath,' but then spoke seriously, dismissing the stories altogether.
Although Christopher Lee has a mild interest in the occult—he admitted to owning around five occult books—this doesn’t mean he participates in any occult practices or believes in them. During a Q&A, he shared that while he has met Satanists, he strongly warned the audience against getting involved in such matters, stating that doing so would result in losing not just your sanity, but your soul as well. He then jokingly pointed out that the media simply fabricates these stories because they have nothing better to report.
