Sir Christopher Lee known for roles in The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and The Wicker Man, just to name a few, died in a London hospital after being treated for heart failure and respiratory problems, he was 93.


Aside from his lengthy movie career, Sir Lee also served in the Royal Air Force and intelligence services during WWII. He is credited for assisting in the tracking down of Nazi war criminals.

According to The Guardian, the decision to release the news days after was based on his wife’s desire to inform family members first. The couple had been married for over 50 years.

As well as his career in film, Lee also released a series of heavy metal albums, including Charlemagne: The Omens of Death. He was knighted in 2009 for services to drama and charity and was awarded the Bafta fellowship in 2011.