LONDONWorld-renowned British actor Sir Christopher Lee passed away on June 7 at age of 93. The actor was being treated at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London for respiratory problems and heart failure.

Lee appeared in over 250 movies in his lifetime, but is best known for his portrayal of the blood-sucking vampire, Count Dracula, in the Hammer Films horror series.

The prolific actor left his mark on cinema, often playing the villain in blockbuster franchises such as “The Lord of the Rings,” “Star Wars” and “James Bond.”  He possessed a sinister on-screen presence that induced chills in the viewer long after they left the theater.

George Lucas, the director of the “Star Wars” franchise, told Entertainment Weekly that, “Christopher was a great British actor of the old school. A true link to cinema’s past and a real gentleman. We will miss him.”