Christopher Lee was “hynoptic”, “commanding”, “noble”, “gallant” and “wise”, according to his former co-star Johnny Depp.
The actor, who died at the age of 93 last week, was given a heartfelt tribute by Depp, who starred with him in five of director Tim Burton’s films.
“Sir Christopher Lee. A wonderful man,” wrote Depp in a statement. “A profoundly kind, generous, warm and fascinating man. The consummate gentleman. He was an inspiration in both life and art. In the time we spent together, I had the honor and good fortune of being welcomed into his illustrious proximity. His friendship is one that I will always hold close and dear to my heart.”
Lee and Depp became friends after working together on Burton’s film Sleepy Hollow. Depp played Ichabod Crane, a cowardly policeman investigating a spate of beheadings, while Lee was the Burgomaster of the besieged town. They went on to appear in four further Burton films: Corpse Bride, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Dark Shadows.
Depp presented Lee with his BFI fellowship award in 2013, while on hearing Depp was thinking of retiring the “insane” film business, Lee said it would be a “major loss” to the industry.
“Johnny is a star – and that’s not a term I ever use lightly,” he said in 2013. “There are not a lot of them around today. It makes me sad that such a genuinely talented person is considering giving it all up.”
Depp joins the roll call of stars paying tribute to the British actor known for reinventing Dracula and plaguing Middle-earth as the dark wizard Saruman in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
He was “a towering human being with stories for days”, according to Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in Jackson’s films, while director Martin Scorsese – who directed Lee in Hugo – called him “a great actor and a wonderful friend”.
“I think of him every day, and I always will,” Scorsese said in a statement. “We both wished that we’d been able to work together more.”
