Christopher Lee

:This article is about the actor. For the historian, see Christopher Lee (historian).

Notes

Lee is a direct lineal descendent of Charlemagne through his mother's side. She was a famous Edwardian beauty, the Contessa Estelle Marie Carandini di Sarzano. She was painted by Sir John Lavery, as well as Oswald Birley, Olive Snell and sculpted by Clare Sheridan, a cousin of Winston Churchill.

Related Topics:
Charlemagne - Edwardian - John Lavery - Oswald Birley - Olive Snell - Clare Sheridan - Winston Churchill

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The Carandini family was given the right to bear the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Cinemareview cites: "Cardinal Consalvi was Papal Secretary of State at the time of Napoleon and is buried at the Pantheon in Rome next to the painter Raphael. His painting, by Lawrence hangs in Windsor Castle."

Related Topics:
Barbarossa - Cardinal Consalvi - Napoleon - Pantheon - Rome - Raphael - Windsor Castle

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Author Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, is Lee's cousin and wanted him to play the first James Bond film villain, Dr. Julius No. Lee would eventually play another Bond villain, Francisco Scaramanga, in The Man with the Golden Gun.

Related Topics:
Ian Fleming - James Bond - Dr. Julius No - Francisco Scaramanga - The Man with the Golden Gun

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Lee appeared on the cover of the Wings album Band on the Run along with other people, including Clement Freud. Also, he narrated the Dark Secret EP by Italian power metal band, Rhapsody.

Related Topics:
Wings - Band on the Run - Clement Freud - Italian - Power metal - Rhapsody

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Lee was a natural choice for the Lord of the Rings movies, where he plays the role of Saruman. Lee had known Tolkien, and makes it a habit of reading the novel at least once a year.

Related Topics:
Lord of the Rings - Saruman - Tolkien

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Lee served in the military during World War II, where he acquired the knowledge of the noise a person makes when stabbed in the back (though the exact circumstances of this knowledge are still covered by the Official Secrets Act). He put this to use when filming The Lord of the Rings, as can be seen on the Extended Edition DVD of The Return of the King.

Related Topics:
World War II - Official Secrets Act

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Lee's great-grandparents formed Australia's first opera company, performing before miners in towns in the outback.

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Lee sings on The Wicker Man soundtrack -- in character as the modern pagan noble in the film -- performing Paul Giovanni's psych folk composition, The Tinker of Rye.

Related Topics:
The Wicker Man soundtrack - Paul Giovanni - Psych folk - The Tinker of Rye

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He is fluent in German and moderately proficient in French.

Related Topics:
German - French

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Lee is married to the Danish model Birgit Kroencke (since 1961). They have a daughter named Christina (born 23 November 1963).

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He is the great uncle of the British actress Harriet Walters.

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