CHRISTOPHER LEE
THE DEVIL RIDES OUT
UK; 1968; digital; 96 min; Terence Fisher
RASPUTIN: THE MAD MONK
UK; 1966; digital; 91 min; Don Sharp
HORROR EXPRESS
UK/Spain; 90 min; 1972; digital; Eugenio Martín
Sir Christopher Lee is one of the most remarkable and versatile actors in the history of cinema. In his rich and diverse career, he has earned the title of an actor with most screen credits. He has worked with the greatest directors in the world and has appeared in films of all genres and productions ranging from small independent films to Hollywood blockbusters. To the fans of the fantastic cinema he is most known as Saruman from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Count Dooku from Star Wars Episode 2, Dracula from Hammer films and Lord Summerisle from the cult British pagan horror The Wicker Man. At this year's Grossmann, we will honour him with our Lifetime Achievement Award, while using this solemn opportunity to wish him many more brilliant and exciting roles.
Christopher Lee was born in London in 1922. During five years of World War II he served in the Royal Air Force and Special Forces. He was decorated for distinguished service and held the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He entered the film industry in 1947.
He has worked with many directors including John Huston, Raoul Walsh, Joseph Losey, George Marshall, Orson Welles, Nicholas Ray, Mario Bava, Michael Powell, Edward Molinaro, Jerome Savary, Billy Wilder, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, Peter Jackson, Tim Burton, John Landis, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Andrei Konchalovsky. He has filmed in Russian, French, Italian, German and Spanish languages and has worked in numerous countries all over the world.
He has appeared in more than 250 film and television productions, amongst which the best known are A Tale of Two Cities, Dracula, The Mummy, The Wicker Man, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, The Three Musketeers, The Man with The Golden Gun (of which the author was his cousin Ian Fleming), 1941, Airport '77 and Gremlins 2.
He is the only actor who has portrayed Sherlock Holmes and his brother Mycroft. He executed King Charles the First of England and King Louis the Sixteenth of France. He also holds the World record for more sword fights in front of the camera than any other actor. He also did all of his stunts and is an honorary member of three Stuntmen's Unions.
He speaks French, Italian, Spanish and German and can "get along" in Swedish, Russian and Greek.
He has received awards for his contribution to the cinema from the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Great Britain. In 2009 he was knighted by Prince Charles and became Sir Christopher Lee.
In his musical career, he collaborated with the world famous metal band Rhapsody (on two albums) and US heavy metal band Manowar. In 2010 he was awarded a Metal Hammer Golden God Award.
He has just recently celebrated his 89 birthday and is still extremely active. His upcoming films include Peter Jackson's Hobbit and Martin Scorsese's Hugo.
