The actor, best known for his iconic roles in Dracula and The Man With the Golden Gun – among many, many others – passed away at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, at 8.30am on Sunday morning. He was 93 years old.
According to reports this afternoon, the star had been treated for heart failure and respiratory problems in hospital over the past three weeks.
The news was first broken by a source close to the family today, with reports claiming that Lee’s wife, Birgit Kroencke, wanted to inform all family members before releasing the news to the media.
Lee gained widespread acclaim for his roles in a series of iconic movies, from The Wicker Man to The Lord of the Rings, and he was honoured with numerous titles throughout his career. As well as being knighted by Prince Charles in recent years, he was also awarded the BAFTA Academy Fellowship by Tim Burton in 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Birgit, and their daughter, Christina.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very sad time.
