Christopher Lee filmography explained

The following is the filmography of English actor Sir Christopher Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015).

With a career spanning nearly seven decades, Lee was well known for portraying Count Dracula in a sequence of Hammer Horror films, beginning with Dracula (1958). His other film roles include Francisco Scaramanga in the James Bond action film The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), Count Dooku in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (2002–2005), and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003) and The Hobbit film trilogy (2012–2014).

Lee was knighted for services to drama and charity in 2009. He received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2011 and the BFI Fellowship in 2013.[1] He considered his best performance to be that of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the biopic Jinnah (1998), and his best film to be the British cult film The Wicker Man (1973).[2] He frequently appeared opposite his friend Peter Cushing in numerous horror films, and late in his career had roles in five Tim Burton films.[3]

Film

No. Year Title Role Notes
1 1948 Corridor of Mirrors Charles
2 One Night with You Pirelli's Assistant
3 Hamlet Spear Carrier Uncredited
4 A Song for Tomorrow Auguste
5 Penny and the Pownall Case Jonathan Blair
6 My Brother's Keeper Second Constable Scenes deleted
7 Saraband for Dead Lovers Bit Part Uncredited
8 Scott of the Antarctic Bernard Day
9 1949 Trottie True Hon. Bongo Icklesham
10 1950 They Were Not Divided Chris Lewis
11 Prelude to Fame Newsman
12 1951 Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. Spanish Captain
13 Valley of Eagles Det. Holt
14 Quo Vadis Chariot Driver Uncredited
15 1952 The Crimson Pirate Joseph Uncredited
16 Top Secret Russian Agent Uncredited
17 Paul Temple Returns Sir Felix Raybourne
18 Babes in Bagdad Slave Dealer
19 Moulin Rouge Uncredited
20 1953 Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot Unknown (voice) Uncredited
21 Innocents in Paris Lieutenant Whitlock Uncredited
22 1954 Destination Milan Svenson
23 1955 Cross-Roads Harry Cooper Short film
24 That Lady Captain
25 Final Column Larry Spence Archive footage
26 Man in Demand Martell Archive footage
27 Contraband Spain Narrator Uncredited
28 The Dark Avenger French Patrol Captain at Tavern Uncredited
29 The Cockleshell Heroes Lt. Cdr. Dick Raikes, RN
30 Alias John Preston John Preston
31 Police Dog Police Constable Johnny
32 Storm Over the Nile Karaga Pasha
33 1956 Private's Progress Major Schultz Uncredited
34 Alexander the Great Nectenabus (voice) Uncredited
35 Port Afrique Franz Vermes
36 Beyond Mombasa Gil Rossi
37 The Battle of the River Plate Manolo
38 1957 Ill Met by Moonlight German Officer at Dentist's
39 Fortune Is a Woman Charles Highbury
40 The Traitor Dr. Neumann
41 The Curse of Frankenstein
42 Manuela Unknown (voice) Uncredited
43 Bitter Victory Sgt. Barney
44 The Truth About Women Francois Thiers
45 1958 A Tale of Two Cities Marquis St. Evremonde
46 Dracula Alternative title: Horror of Dracula
47 Battle of the V-1 Brunner
48 Corridors of Blood Resurrection Joe
49 1959 The Hound of the Baskervilles Sir Henry Baskerville
50 The Man Who Could Cheat Death Pierre Gerard
51 The Treasure of San Teresa Jaeger
52 The Mummy Kharis / The Mummy
53 Uncle Was a Vampire Baron Roderico da Frankurten
54 1960 Too Hot to Handle Novak
55 The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll Paul Allen Alternative titles: House of Fright and Jekyll's Inferno
56 Beat Girl Kenny King Alternative title: Wild for Kicks
57 The City of the Dead Prof. Alan Driscoll Alternative title: Horror Hotel
58 The Hands of Orlac Nero the magician
59 1961 The Terror of the Tongs Chung King
60 Taste of Fear Doctor Pierre Gerrard
61 The Devil's Daffodil Ling Chu
62 Hercules in the Haunted World King Lico (Licos) Alternative title: Ercole al centro della terra
63 1962 The Puzzle of the Red Orchid Captain Allerman Alternative title: The Secret of the Red Orchid
64 The Pirates of Blood River Captain LaRoche
65 The Devil's Agent Baron von Staub
66 Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace
67 1963 Stranglehold
68 Katarsis MephistolesAlternative title: Challenge the Devil
69 The Virgin of Nuremberg Erich Alternative titles: Castle of Terror and La vergine di Norimberga
70 La frusta e il corpo Kurt Menliff Alternative titles: The Whip and the Body and Night Is the Phantom
71 1964 Terror in the Crypt Count Ludwig Karnstein Alternative titles: Crypt of the Vampire and Crypt of Horror
72 The Devil-Ship Pirates Captain Robeles
73 Il castello dei morti vivi Count Drago Alternative title: Castle of the Living Dead
74 The Gorgon Prof. Karl Meister
75 1965 Dr Terror's House of Horrors Franklyn Marsh Segment: "Disembodied Hand"
76 She Billali
77 The Face of Fu Manchu
78 The Skull Sir Matthew Phillips
79 Ten Little Indians Mr. U.N. Owen (voice) Uncredited
80 1966
81 Rasputin, the Mad Monk
82 Circus of Fear Gregor Alternative title: Psycho Circus
83 The Brides of Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu
84 1967 Five Golden Dragons Dragon No. 4
85 The Vengeance of Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu
86 Night of the Big Heat Godfrey Hanson
87 Theatre of Death Philippe Darvas
88 The Blood Demon Count Frederic Regula / Graf von Andomai Alternative titles: Die Schlangengrube Und Das Pendel and The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism
89 1968 Eve Colonel Stuart Alternative title: The Face of Eve
90 The Devil Rides Out Duc de Richleau Alternative title: The Devil's Bride
91 The Blood of Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu
92 Dracula Has Risen from the Grave Count Dracula
93 Curse of the Crimson Altar Morley Alternative title: The Crimson Cult
94 1969 The Castle of Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu
95 The Oblong Box Dr J. Neuhart
96 The Magic Christian Ship's Vampire
97 1970 Scream and Scream Again Fremont
98 Eugenie… The Story of Her Journey into Perversion Dolmance
99 The Bloody Judge Lord George Jeffreys Alternative title: Night of the Blood Monster
100 Count Dracula Count Dracula
101 Taste the Blood of Dracula Count Dracula
102 Julius Caesar
103 One More Time The Vampire Cameo
104 The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
105 Scars of Dracula Count Dracula
106 1971 The House That Dripped Blood John Reid Segment: "Sweets to the Sweet"
107 Cuadecuc, vampir Count Dracula / Himself
108 I, Monster Dr. Charles Marlowe / Mr. Edward Blake
109 Hannie Caulder Bailey
110 1972 Umbracle The Man
111 Dracula A.D. 1972 Count Dracula
112 Horror Express Sir Alexander Saxton
113 Death Line Stratton-Villiers, MI5 Alternative title: Raw Meat
114 1973 Nothing But the Night Col. Charles Bingham
115 The Creeping Flesh James Hildern
116 The Satanic Rites of Dracula Count Dracula
117 The Wicker Man Lord Summerisle
118 The Three Musketeers
119 1974 Dark Places Dr. Mandeville
120 The Four Musketeers Rochefort
121 The Man with the Golden Gun
122 1975 Le boucher, la star et l'orpheline Van Krig / Himself
In Search of DraculaNarrator
123 Diagnosis Murder Stephen Hayward
124 The Story of Heidi Unknown (voice) English dub
125 1976 Killer Force Major Chilton Alternative title: The Diamond Mercenaries
126 To the Devil, A Daughter Father Michael Rayner
127 Albino Bill Alternative titles: Whispering Death and Death in the Sun
128 Dracula père et fils Alternative title: Dracula and Son
129 The Keeper The Keeper
130 1977 Airport '77 Martin Wallace
131 Meatcleaver Massacre Narrator / Himself Alternative titles: Evil Force and Revenge of the Dead
132 End of the World Father Pergado / Zindar
133 Starship Invasions Captain Rameses
134 1978 Circle of Iron Zetan Alternative title: The Silent Flute
135 Return from Witch Mountain Victor Gannon
136 Caravans Sardar Khan
137 1979 The Passage Gypsy
138 General Miguel
139 Nutcracker Fantasy Various voices
140 Arabian Adventure Alquazar
141 Jaguar Lives! Adam Caine
142 Bear Island Lechinski
143 1941 Capt. Wolfgang von Kleinschmidt
144 1980 Serial Luckman Skull
145 Safari 3000 Count Borgia
146 1981 An Eye for an Eye Morgan Canfield
147 Desperate Moves Carl Boxer
148 The Salamander Prince Baldasar
150 1982 The Last Unicorn King Haggard (voice)
151 1983 House of the Long Shadows Corrigan
152 The Return of Captain Invincible Mr. Midnight
153 New Magic Mr. Kellar Short film
154 1984 The Rosebud Beach Hotel Clifford King
155 The Bengal Lancers! Sir James Hunter Unfinished film
156 1985 Stefan Crosscoe
157 Mask of Murder Chief Supt. Jonathan Rich
158 1986 Jocks President White
159 1987 Mio min Mio Kato
160 The Girl Peter Storm
161 1988 Dark Mission Luis Morel
162 Olympus Force: The Key Filly
163 1989 The Return of the Musketeers Rochefort
164 La Révolution française SansonSegment: "Années Terribles, Les"
165 La chute des aigles Walter Strauss
166 Murder Story Willard Hope
167 Honeymoon Academy Lazos
168 1990 L'avaro Cardinale Spinosi
169 Doctor Catheter
170 The Rainbow Thief Uncle Rudolf
171 1991 Kabuto King Philip
172 Doctor Pearson Alternative title: Panga
173 Jackpot Cedric
174 1994 Funny Man Callum Chance
175 Cmndt. Alexander Nikolaevich Rakov
176 A Feast at Midnight V. E. Longfellow
177 Flesh and Blood Narrator / Himself Documentary film
178 1996 The Stupids Mr. Sender
179 Welcome to the Discworld Death (voice) Short film
180 1998 Tale of the Mummy Sir Richard Turkel
181 Jinnah [4]
182 1999 Sleepy Hollow Burgomaster
183 2001
184 2002
185 Saruman
186 2003 Extended Edition only
187 2004 Heinrich von Garten
188 2005 Count Dooku
189 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Dr. Wilbur Wonka
190 The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby The Lord Provost
191 Corpse Bride Pastor Galswells (voice)
192 2007 The Golden Compass First High Councillor
193 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars Count Dooku (voice)
194 2009 Boogie Woogie Alfred Rhinegold
195 The Heavy Mr. Mason
196 Triage Joaquín Morales
197 Glorious 39 Walter
198 2010 Alice in Wonderland Jabberwock (voice)
199 Burke & Hare Joseph
200 2011 Season of the WitchCardinal d’Ambroise
201 The Resident August
202 The Wicker Tree Old Gentleman
203 Grave Tales Himself Cameo
204 Hugo Monsieur Labisse
205 2012 Dark Shadows Silas Clarney
206 Saruman
207 2013 Night Train to Lisbon Father Bartolomeu
208 Extraordinary Tales Narrator Segment: "The Fall of the House of Usher"
209 The Girl from Nagasaki Old Officer Pinkerton
210 Necessary Evil Narrator Documentary film
211 2014 Saruman Final role in a film released in his lifetime
212 2016 Angels in Notting Hill God / Mr. President (voice) Posthumous release
213 2017 The Hunting of the Snark Narrator Short film
Posthumous release

Television

No.Year Title Role Notes
11953–1956 Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents Various roles 13 episodes
21955 Moby Dick—Rehearsed A Stage Manager / Flask Television film
3The Vise Various roles 3 episodes
4Tales of Hans Anderson Various roles 2 episodes
51956 Chevron of Fallen Stars Governor Episode: "Captain Kidd"
6The Scarlet Pimpernel Louis Uncredited
Episode: "The Elusive Chauvelin"
7Colonel March of Scotland Yard Jean-Pierre Episode: "At Night All Cats Are Grey"
8Sailor of Fortune Various roles 2 episodes
9The Adventures of Aggie Inspector Hollis Episode: "Cut Glass"
101956–1957 Assignment Foreign Legion Various roles 2 episodes
111957 The Errol Flynn Theatre Various roles 4 episodes
12The Gay Cavalier Colonel Jeffries Episode: "The Lady's Dilemma"
131958 OSS Dessinger Episode: "Operation Firefly"
14Ivanhoe Sir Otto Episode: "The German Knight"
15White Hunter Mark Caldwell Episode: "This Hungry Hell"
161959 The Adventures of William Tell Prince Erik Episode: "Manhunt"
171960 Tales of the Vikings Norman Knight Episode: "The Bull"
181961 Wilhelm Reitlinger Episode: "The Sorcerer"
191964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Karl Jorla Episode: "The Sign of Satan"
201967 The Avengers Professor Stone Episode: "Never, Never Say Die"
211969 The Avengers Colonel Mannering Episode: "The Interrogators"
22Light Entertainment Killers Unknown Television film
1971Theatre MacabreSelf — HostSeason 1 of Theatre Macabre premiered on October 1, 1971.
231973 Poor Devil
24Orson Welles Great Mysteries Arnaud Episode: "The Leather Funnel"
251976 Captain Zandor Episode: "Earthbound"
261978 How the West Was Won The Grand Duke 2 episodes
27The Pirate Samir Al Fay Television film
28Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Christopher Lee/Meat Loaf"
291979 General Miguel Television film
301980 Once Upon a Spy Marcus Valorium
31Charlie's Angels Dale Woodman Episode: "Angel in Hiding"
321981 Evil Stalks This House Host Television film
33Goliath Awaits John McKenzie
341982 Massarati and the Brain Victor Leopold
35
361984 The Far Pavilions Kaka-ji Rao 3 episodes
37Faerie Tale Theatre King Vladimir V Episode: "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers"
381986 Un métier du seigneur Fog Television film
39The Disputation King James I of Aragon
40Shaka Zulu 10 episodes
411989 Around the World in 80 Days Stuart 3 episodes
42La Révolution française Sanson Segment: "Les Années Terribles"
431990 The Care of Time Karlis Zander Television film
44Treasure Island Blind Pew
451991 Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady
461992 Incident at Victoria Falls
47Beauty and the Beast Monsieur Renard (voice)
48The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles Count Ottokar Graf Czerin Episode: "Austria, March 1917"
49Double Vision Mr. Bernard Television film
501993 Death Train General Konstantin Benin
511995 The Tomorrow People Rameses 5 episodes
52Moses Television film
53Tales of Mystery and Imagination Himself (host) 2 episodes
541996 Alisea and the Dream Prince Azaret Mini-series
551997 Ivanhoe Lucas de Beaumanoir 4 episodes
56Soul Music Death (voice) 7 episodes
57Wyrd Sisters 6 episodes
58The Odyssey 2 episodes
591997–1998 The New Adventures of Robin Hood Olwyn 6 episodes
602000 Gormenghast 4 episodes
61In the Beginning Television film
62Ghost Stories for Christmas Episode: "The Stalls of Barchester"
632001 Les Redoutables Death Segment: "Confession"
642005 Pope John Paul II 2 episodes
652008 The Colour of Magic Death (voice) 2 episodes
66 2018 The Time War Narrator Posthumous release

Video games

No.Year Title Voice role Notes
11994 Ghosts Dr. Marcus Grimalkin / Himself
21999 The Rocky Interactive Horror Show Narrator
32001 Anvil / Headquarters
42003 Freelancer Narrator
5The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Saruman
62004 EverQuest II Lucan D'Lere
7
82005 Saruman
9 Saruman
102006 Kingdom Hearts II
11 Saruman
122007 Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix DiZ / Ansem the Wise Archive footage
132008 Saruman
142009 Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days DiZ
152014 Lego The Hobbit Saruman / Narrator
16Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix DiZ / Ansem the Wise Archive footage
172015 Deus Ex Machina 2 The Programmer / Narrator
182017 Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix DiZ / Ansem the Wise Archive footage

Audiobooks

Year Title
1994The Exorcist
2007The Children of Húrin
2009Dracula
2009Frankenstein
2009Phantom of the Opera
2010The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
2010Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Awards and nominations

No.YearNominated workAwardResults
11973The Wicker ManSaturn Award for Best Actor
21979Arabian AdventureSaturn Award for Best Actor
32001Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
4MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (shared with Ian McKellen)
5MTV Movie Award for Best Villain
6Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
72002MTV Movie Award for Best Fight
8Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
9Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
10Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
112010Alice in WonderlandTeen Choice Award for Movie – Choice Fight (shared with Mia Wasikowska)
122011HugoWashington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast

Notes and References

  1. News: The Total Film Interview – Christopher Lee . https://web.archive.org/web/20070612192345/http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the_total_film_interview__christopher_lee . 12 June 2007 . Total Film . 1 May 2005 . 25 August 2013.
  2. Web site: Christopher Lee filmography . . . 18 December 2015.
  3. Web site: Christopher Lee on the making of legends & Jinnah . BBC . 11 October 2004 . 5 November 2011 . Lindrea, Victoria.