LONDON -- Sir Christopher Lee, best known for playing Count Dracula, and for his roles as Saruman in the Lord of the Rings franchise and Count Dooku in two Star Wars prequels, has died in London. He was 93.
The actor died on Sunday morning at a central London hospital.
An official for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London confirmed to the Associated Press on Thursday that a death certificate was issued for Lee on June 8. She spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with the policies of the borough.
Such sad news to hear that Sir Christopher Lee has passed away: http://t.co/F5IopHPgsm pic.twitter.com/n0UfIjeZBL— BAFTA (@BAFTA) June 11, 2015
Lee, who played roles as diverse as Dr. Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man and villain Scaramanga in the James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun had a TV and film career that stretched back to the 1940s.
His career on the screen began in 1946 with a role in BBC production Kaleidoscope, before he made his film debut in 1948 in the drama Corridor of Mirrors.
Lee appeared in more than 250 movies, but for many was forever known as the vampire Count Dracula in a slew of Hammer Horror movies — the gory, gothic thrillers churned out by the British studio in the 1950s and 1960s that became hugely popular.
He became Sir Christopher Lee when he was knighted in October 2009, receiving the honour from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
At that time he said: "Although I've played a lot of bad guys, there's more scope than being the man in the white hat."
Lee also appeared in several films by Tim Burton, including Sleepy Hollow, and was proud of his turn as Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in Jinnah.
Lee was born in London on May 27, 1922. His father was a British army officer who had served in the Boer War, his mother was Contessa Estelle Marie Carandini di Sarzano, an Edwardian beauty of Italian descent. His parents separated when he was young, and his mother later remarried Harcourt Rose, the uncle of James Bond creator Ian Fleming.
He attended Wellington College, an elite boarding school, and joined the Royal Air Force during World War II. Poor eyesight prevented him becoming a pilot, and he served as an intelligence officer in North Africa and Italy.
A year ago, Lee, who was also a classically trained singer, announced he was releasing a metal album to commemorate his 92nd birthday. Metal Knight featured a metal version of Frank Sinatra's classic My Way.
Last month it was announced that he was joining the cast of a new Lars Ole Hansen-directed drama, set in Copenhagen, focused on the events before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The film was also slated to star Uma Thurman, Michael Nyqist and Lars Mikkelsen. Shooting was to begin in autumn.
Tributes were paid to the actor on Twitter:
It's terribly when you lose an old friend, and Christopher Lee was one of my oldest. We first met in 1948.— Sir Roger Moore (@sirrogermoore) June 11, 2015
An extraordinary man and life lead, Sir Christopher Lee. You were an icon, and a towering human being with stories for days. We'll miss you.— Elijah Wood (@woodelijah) June 11, 2015
So so sorry to hear that #christopherlee has passed away. He was a fascinating person. Threw a bic pen into a tree in front of me. #legend— Dominic Monaghan (@DomsWildThings) June 11, 2015
Very upset to learn that Sir Christopher Lee has passed away. An amazing gentleman who brought us so many iconic roles. He will be missed.— Reece Shearsmith (@ReeceShearsmith) June 11, 2015
so Saddened to hear the news of the passing Of Sir Christopher Lee. Giant of the screen , true Gentleman in all... http://t.co/abU2p6dxRU— Jed Brophy (@BrophyJed) June 11, 2015
PM: Saddened to hear of Sir Christopher Lee's death, a titan of Golden Age of Cinema & distinguished WW2 veteran who'll be greatly missed— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) June 11, 2015
What a sad day for the world to lose this incredible actor and human being. Christopher Lee, photo by… https://t.co/635BmEshsn— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) June 11, 2015
I wish I'd met Sir Christopher Lee. I was so lucky & proud to have had him play the Earl in @BBCRadio4 Neverwhere. Great actor, great loss.— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) June 11, 2015
I loved watching Christopher Lee so much. Very sad to lose him. RIP— Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) June 11, 2015
-- Rest in peace, it will always be an honor to say I got to know such a beautiful soul, Forever Changed. #SirChristopherLee— Chloë Grace Moretz (@ChloeGMoretz) June 11, 2015
RIP Christopher Lee. The great horror actor who's amazing performance in #LOTR brought Saruman to life with subtlety, power and depth.— Tom Morello (@tmorello) June 11, 2015
Really sad to hear about the death of Christopher Lee, one of the greatest British actors and a master of the macabre pic.twitter.com/q5UUhc7xId— Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) June 11, 2015
A TRUE LEGEND! Christopher Lee #RIP https://t.co/Bagqi8mbae— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) June 11, 2015
Goodbye #ChristopherLee. Thank you for leaving behind a legacy that will be revisited for generations to come. #Saruman #Scaramanga #Mummy— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 11, 2015
@wossy: So sad to hear that Sir Christopher Lee has died. A great actor, a great star, a surprisingly good singer and a lovely lovely man.— Jonathan Ross (@wossy) June 11, 2015
Ah, Christopher Lee gone. A proper legend. Met him in full costume on the Hobbit set, he was extraordinary. And in over 250 films. 250.— Derren Brown (@DerrenBrown) June 11, 2015
Farewell Christopher Lee. King of the spooks! R.I.P— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) June 11, 2015
The great, always criminally underrated Sir Christopher Lee has left us. A Titan of Cinema and a huge part of my youth. Farewell.— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) June 11, 2015
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.