Legendary British actor Christopher Lee dies at 93

christopher lee
(Image credit: Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images)

Dracula. James Bond. The Lord of the Rings. Star Wars. Has any actor played pivotal roles in more iconic franchises than Christopher Lee, who died on Sunday at 93?

Lee's professional acting career began in 1948, shortly after he returned from World War II as a volunteer. Though he had small roles in a wide range of movies, he was repeatedly told that he was "too tall," at 6'5", to be a professional actor. In the end, it was his imposing height that landed Lee his big break: The Creature in Hammer Productions' 1957 horror flick The Curse of Frankenstein.

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