RAF Intelligence, Actor, Singer & Author
Bad-Ass Qualifications
Served in RAF Intelligence & the SAS during WWII.
Fluent in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.
Recognised globally for his portrayal as some of cinema's most iconic villains.
Knighted in 2009 for services to drama and charity.
Released multiple Symphonic Metal albums, himself as lead singer.
“I WAS TOLD I WAS TOO TALL TO BE AN ACTOR. THAT'S LIKE SAYING YOU'RE TOO SHORT TO PLAY THE PIANO. I THOUGHT, “RIGHT, I'LL SHOW YOU...”.
Perhaps known most recently for his performance as Saruman, the white wizard in the Lord of the Rings film series (above), Christopher Frank Carandini Lee was widely regarded as one of the greatest actors in modern day cinema. Having passed away in 2015, Lee lead an extraordinary life, from multiple promotions in the military, to an acting career spanning nearly seven decades, and also an established career in music.
As a young man, Lee volunteered for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. Having been refused pilot status on health grounds, Lee applied to RAF Intelligence. Praising his initiative, his superiors accepted Lee, who soon found himself travelling the world as an intelligence officer. Often posted in Africa, Lee and his fellow officers were expected to “know everything” regarding movement of forces and upcoming targets. Lee did not disappoint, his efforts securing him a promotion to Flying Officer.
Following a secondment to the Army, involved in conflicts in Italy, Lee returned to the RAF, however this would only be brief. Lee soon found himself working within the Central Registry of War Criminals & Security Suspects. Here he was tasked with finding Nazi war criminals and in his own words:
“WE WERE GIVEN DOSSIERS OF WHAT THEY'D DONE AND TOLD TO FIND THEM, INTERROGATE THEM AS MUCH AS WE COULD AND HAND THEM OVER TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY...WE SAW THESE CONCENTRATION CAMPS. SOME HAD BEEN CLEANED UP. SOME HAD NOT”.
Following the war, Lee initially struggled to find work. He managed to find background and support parts in film, however he was rarely given lines or prominent roles, his 6'5 frame seemingly being unattractive to film-makers.
In 1957, Lee secured a role in “The Curse Of Frankenstein”, in which he played Frankenstein's monster. It was this performance that lead Lee to his iconic starring role in 1958's “Dracula”, where he played Count Dracula himself. A role Lee would bring to cinema ten times in all.
Lee went on to play more horror film roles, star in “The Three Musketeer's” trilogy and also in the James Bond film “The Man With Golden Gun”.
Following a steady stream of success in a huge accumulation of films, Lee's career took off yet again in 2001 with the release of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”. This would be a role he would reprise in the two further “Lord of the Rings” films and also the “Hobbit” films, beginning in 2012.
A man with a fascinatingly broad and diverse life story, Lee was knighted in 2009 for services to drama and charity. Upon his death in June 2015, a huge outpouring of tributes from actors, directors and fans across the world payed homage to a man who was undoubtedly a true titan of the golden age of cinema.
“AT THE BEGINNING I DIDN'T KNOWN ANYTHING ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE OF WORKING IN FRONT OF A CAMERA, BUT DURING THOSE FIRST TEN YEARS, I DID THE ONE THING THAT'S SO VITALLY IMPORTANT TODAY – I WATCHED, I LISTENED AND I LEARNED. SO WHEN THE TIME CAME I WAS READY”.
Comments
Post a Comment