When you think of some of the greatest villain portrayals, one name immediately comes to mind. And it is Christopher Lee. Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee had a stunning aura, a tall and commanding presence on screen that naturally suited him to larger-than-life villains. His deep, resonant voice and piercing eyes made the absolute best choice to portray some of cinema’s most forbidding characters. Born in 1922, the actor has brought a unique and alarming sophistication to his numerous villainous roles over six decades in the show business.
Lee began his journey in films with smaller supporting roles in the late 1940s. However, it was over the next few decades, when he dressed up as antagonists, that he delivered performances that truly made him a legend. In role after role, Lee brought a chilling sense of ruthlessness and pure evil to characters who serve as the perfect obstacle to heroes on their little heroic journeys.
Christopher Lee has always been among the more self-aware actors, ones who understand how iconic villains provide a balance between their menacing actions and struggle for basic humanity. And in his own unique way, he elevated that part into an art form and crafted roles that continue to inspire young actors to this day. Lee’s legacy extends far beyond his impressive film roles. From narrating audiobooks to recoding operas, he lived a full, fascinating life right up to his passing in 2015 at the age of 93.
In a career spanning seven decades and over a hundred roles, very few performances match the sheer notoriety of Christopher Lee’s iconic villainous characters. And as you’ll discover in this list, the actor redefined and enhanced the art of cinematic evil.
10 Doctor Catheter in Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Joe Dante returns with another malicious entry to match the horror-comedy standards set by its predecessor. Gremlins 2: The New Batch wreaks even greater havoc as they take control of a high-tech corporate skyscraper and develop new abilities. Christopher Lee took on the comically villainous role of Doctor Catheter, an evil scientist at the Splice O' Life lab who creates a new breed of Gremlins.
In this sequel, Lee brings an exaggerated cackle and over-the-top theatrics to match the movie’s tone. With a “mad scientist” physique and a goatee perfect enough for twirling, Lee’s character, Doctor Catheter, ramps up the cartoonish mayhem by unleashing his genetically enhanced Gremlins upon New York City. As memorable as it was iconic, the role showed the actor’s range and willingness to take things up a notch.
9 Kharis, The Mummy in The Mummy (1959)
Being a horror legend, it is only natural that Christopher Lee has been stunning the audience with his presence since the ‘50s. The Mummy is Universal’s classic horror film that launched the franchise. It follows three archaeologists who discover the 4,000-year-old tomb of Princess Ananka and accidentally awaken the high priest, Kharis, who wants nothing but to destroy. Christopher Lee portrays the vengeful mummy Kharis, fresh out of his ancient tomb.
Beneath layers of bandages and makeup, Lee brings a slow, creepy manner paired with a haunting, hypnotic stare to the cursed Egyptian priest brought back to life. Even without uttering a single word, the actor exudes menace through Kharis’ heavy footsteps, outstretched arms, and deafening groans. The overall story and premise, and effects may now feel dated, but Lee’s performance as the monstrous assassin mummy still freaks out viewers.
8 Mr. Midnight in The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)
Philippe Mora’s musical comedy was as absurd as it was terrifying. The Return of Captain Invincible followed a red-caped Alan Arkin as Captain Invisible, exiled after his legendary act in WWII. But in the present day, he returns from his life as a drunk nobody in Australia when the United States summons him to fight a formidable evil, Mr. Midnight.
While Arkin is facetious with his bulge on full display, Lee takes on the role of the master criminal who specializes in genius, diabolical plans. He clearly relishes throwing himself into the part with gusto and delivers melodramatic monologies with a heavy accent. With dyed hair neatly slicked back and a standard black uniform, Mr. Midnight serves as an over-the-top caricature of Lee’s more grounded villain performances.
7 Francisco Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)
In the fourth and final film in the series directed by Guy Hamilton, Christopher Lee portrayed the deadly assassin Francisco Scaramanga, who is so talented and menacing, he charges seven figures for one job. The Man With The Golden Gun takes Roger Moore’s 007 and puts him on a mission to acquire a stolen invention that could cause damage to the world. But he’s also targeted by Scaramanga, which leads him to team up with Mary Goodnight.
Lee brings a cool yet terrifying quality to the killer-for-hire. He is detached, collected, and confident in his abilities, with cruelty and ruthlessness being a casual second nature. His final showdown with Bond was a deadly maze game, and it revealed Scaramanga as one of the most memorable villains in the series. Despite being one of Lee’s less substantial roles, he infused Scaramanga with a deadly presence that elevated the film.
6 Count Dooku in The Star Wars Franchise (2002 – 2008)
Once a Jedi and trained by Yoda, the Sith Lord Count Dooku was one of the more planned-out and significant villains in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Lee brought a certain level of gravitas and sophistication to the legend who also goes by Darth Tyrannus. Dooku is the epitome of an aristocratic villain – polished, poised, and scary. He first appears as the main villain in Attack of the Clones but truly shines when he faces betrayal in Revenge of the Sith.
Christopher Lee tackles the role with charm, swinging his laser sword and uttering lines in a clipped, sinister tone. His vibe is different than that of other villains, which only makes him more memorable. Though Lee deserved more screen time, his incredible lightsaber fight against Yoda particularly sparkled, showing his strength and intellect against the wise Jedi master. Plus, he returned to voice the part in the animated spinoff film Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
5 Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man (1973)
Directed by Robin Hardy, The Wicker Man is a cult classic in the horror genre. The story follows the very conservative and skeptical Sergeant Neil Howie, who ends up in the small town of Summerisle to investigate the case of a missing little girl who the townsfolk claim didn’t even exist. Particularly thrown back by the rituals they perform, he tries to get to the bottom of this bizarre mystery. Christopher Lee plays the enigmatic Lord Summerisle, the landholder and ruler of the town and perhaps the most unforgettable villain of the 1970s.
Summerisle is not a monster but a strange charmer who exudes a stillness that hits at something dark festering beneath. His performance draws the unwitting policeman into the sinister pagan rituals of the town. Besides, the final, haunting scene between the two characters reveals Summerisle's true, chilling nature as well as Lee’s ability to move from politeness to seethe in an instant. Thanks to Lee's complex, multilayered performance, Lord Summerisle stands as one unnerving villain.
4 Fu Manchu in The Face of Fu Manchu (1965)
The 1960s were a weird time for cinema, and what now seems absolutely ridiculous and cringe was then quite iconic and praiseworthy. Such is the case with the adaptation of Sax Rohmer’s story. The Face of Fu Manchu revolves around the Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard and his apt suspicions about strange strangulations taking place across London. Christopher Lee plays Fu Manchu, the first on-screen portrayal of Rohmer's evil criminal mastermind and grisly killer.
He instills the character with a solemn but threatening presence, his calm demeanor hiding a wicked genius. When Fu Manchu leaves behind clues that all lead to River Thames, the plot thickens, and we finally see his sinister side. Despite some dated aspects of the film, Lee's performance as Fu Manchu remains a compelling example of his gift for portraying fictional villains.
3 The Creature in The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
As the iconic monster in the first of the Hammer Frankenstein films, Lee does justice to Terence Fisher’s brilliant direction by bringing a much-needed sensitivity and depth to a role that is typically played as a mindless brute. Unleashed by Baron Victor Frankenstein after a series of curious discoveries, this monster is but a misunderstood creature, and Lee saturates him with palpable longing, humanity, and even innocence.
Unlike Hammer’s other horror films, The Curse of Frankenstein does not depend on gory visuals and blood-curling scenes to draw out the terror. Instead, he uses subtle rage and violence to show the character’s experience of suffering. From his expressive eyes, hunched posture, and clumsy movements, we get glimpses of how the monster has been disconnected from society. Moreover, Christopher Lee’s moving performance transforms Universal’s version of the monster into a more complex, sympathetic character and helps shape future adaptations of Mary Shelley’s original work.
2 Count Dracula in Dracula (1958)
Universal-International
Terence Fischer collaborates once again with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in this spectacular horror film. In his lead starring role for Hammer Films, Lee portrays Count Dracula with princely grace and predatory menace. The story of Dracula revolves around the vampire preying on Jonathan Harker’s fiancee and her family. But when Dr. Van Helsing discovers the truth about his existence, he decides to end the predator once and for all.
Lee’s vibrant, lively Count Dracula seduces and charms victims before striking, and obviously, the actor is a master of switching from suave to savage in a matter of seconds. His breathtaking portrayal defined the character for a new generation and also set the template for future adaptations that only a few were able to match.
1 Saruman in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was overflowing with remarkable characters, but amidst the crowd was the vengeful, corrupted wizard Saruman the White. Christopher Lee has always been a huge fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, and it is no shocker that the franchise is one of the greatest fantasy epics ever created. As Saruman, Lee displayed both the physical and emotional sincerity that comes with the role. He played him as a proud, fallen character – once noble, now warped by power, evil, and jealousy.
The fact the Saruman stays so calm and rational while unleashing the most terrible forces is praise-worthy. Plus, the villain’s ultimate showdown with Gandalf, where the two wizards' rivalry comes to a head, highlight’s the actor’s skill of conveying Saruman’s delusion of grandeur and concealed humanity. Despite the brevity of the role and the vague ending of his character arc, Saruman remains a memorable villain.
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