Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

Actor Christopher Lee has died at the age of 93

The legendary actor was best known for his roles in Count Dracula, Hammer horror films, and Lord of the Rings.

CHRISTOPHER LEE, THE legendary actor who appeared in films spanning from Dracula to James Bond, has died at the age of 93.

He had been hospitalised recently for respiratory problems and heart problems.

The actor was best known for his dark roles in films such as The Wicker Man, Dracula, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as well as the Hammer horror films in which he first found fame.

However he was loathe to  be pigeonholed as ‘just’ a horror actor, in a career which spanned genres.

He was one of the most memorable James Bond villains, playing Scaramanga in the 1974 films The Man With the Golden Gun.

He was introduced to a new generation in his roles over the past two decades, including as Saruman in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and Count Dooku in the Star Wars films.

He also appeared in Tim Burton films Alice in Wonderland and Sleepy Hollow.

Lee was knighted in 2009. He married his wife Birgit in 1961 and the couple had one daughter.

He died on Sunday morning in a London hospital, but his death was only confirmed this afternoon.

First published 12.30pm

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
81 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seth Cheffetz
    Favourite Seth Cheffetz
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 7:51 AM

    Or maybe parents get excited to make their kids so happy and share something special with them…

    181
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carina Clarke
    Favourite Carina Clarke
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 9:02 AM

    I’m doomed so. I wonder which is causing more damage. The Santa myth, or the ‘we have no internet because the router is broke myth’. At the minute my 11year old is saying “he can’t live like this” and I’m saying neither can I “tidy your room up”.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy Larkin
    Favourite Billy Larkin
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 2:54 PM

    Unashamedly so.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam Bartell
    Favourite Sam Bartell
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 8:03 AM

    Feck sake, what a load of tripe! Parents home with kids, prezzies, family, bit of craic and its analysised to death. Did Scrooge fund that research?

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute A H
    Favourite A H
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 8:39 AM

    It’s funny you mention Scrooge, as Dickens has a whole novel written about not letting children play or use their imagination, “Hard Times”. Did it at school and it depressed me. “NEVER Wonder” is what the father used to tell his kids. I guess those researchers are fans of his.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute A H
    Favourite A H
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 8:03 AM

    Jesus H. This is depressing. We were all told lies to make our childhood more magical and fun. We have years ahead of mundane responsibility and the drudgery of everyday normal experience. I am not a serial killer because me ma told me there was a santy and I don’t have major trust issues because I was “lied” to. I would worry about the children of these psychologists and feel sorry for them. Anyone who has half a braun knows that without imagination and play, your children can become damaged.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute A H
    Favourite A H
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 8:04 AM

    *brain

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lily
    Favourite Lily
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 8:49 AM

    I couldn’t sleep with excitement on Xmas eve. I love to see the kids all happy and crazy with excitement. Once they questioned if Santa was real or not I told them the truth.

    I never believed in Santa as a kid. So I never experienced the magic. I gave that magic to my kids for 7 years before each got wise and questioned Santas existence.

    I did get to relive a bit of my childhood, I played barbies with my daughter (I never owned a barbie as a kid). I got to play cars, darts and shoot nurf guns with my boys. Much fun is had on Xmas day getting down on the floor and playing with my kids. It’s what parenthood is about, sharing the fun with your children. It’s the best feeling ever. Christmas is just an excuse to go crazy all at once.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jesper
    Favourite Jesper
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 7:59 AM

    Yes it would be far more beneficial to this corporate world if we eradicate all imagination and sense of wonder from as early an age as possible. People need to wake up and live.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute molly coddled
    Favourite molly coddled
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 11:09 AM

    Christmas growing up was a magical time for us, my dad used to make it a wonderful time. We would go to bed on Christmas Eve with no tree or decorations only to wake up Christmas morning and the sitting room would be like a winter wonderland, tree, decorations and sooty footprints. But it wasn’t just for us kids it was more for my mum who never had an enjoyable Christmas growing up, he loved her deeply and would go all out just to make it memorable for her. I miss them both deeply.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
    Favourite Kieran OKeeffe
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 12:46 PM

    @molly coddled:
    Lovely memories Molly..thanks for sharing..anyone else miss the time when Christmas started in December?..before the proliferation of discount shops..and endless ads..

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maurice Bourke
    Favourite Maurice Bourke
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 8:39 AM

    People wanting to ‘ignore the harshness of real life’ is nothing new. It’s the reason the lottery exists and thrives but I think people put Christmas on for kids rather than this.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Bloggs
    Favourite Joe Bloggs
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 11:19 AM

    The moral of the story is: life is shit, so you may as well depress your kids now as it will save time later.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barbara Atkinson
    Favourite Barbara Atkinson
    Report
    Dec 23rd 2016, 12:45 PM

    ‘May’ ‘may’ ‘may’ . be weird if parents did not get excited!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cian Foley
    Favourite Cian Foley
    Report
    Dec 24th 2016, 1:56 AM

    i wrote a song for us parents about how having kids brings the magic back… check out the vid here if you have a spare couple of mins… https://youtu.be/t-r9u1esunQ

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds