NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Christopher Lee, known for portraying villains, dies at 93

LONDON

Christopher Lee, an actor who brought dramatic gravitas and aristocratic bearing to screen villains from Dracula to the wicked wizard Saruman in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, has died at age 93.

Lee appeared in more than 250 movies, taking on memorable roles such as the James Bond enemy Scaramanga and the evil Count Dooku in two “Star Wars” prequels.

But for many, he forever will be known as the vampire Count Dracula in a slew of gory, gothic British “Hammer Horror” thrillers churned out in the 1950s and 1960s that became hugely popular around the world.

He railed against the typecasting, however, and ultimately, the sheer number and range of his roles – including Sherlock Holmes and the founder of Pakistan – secured his place in film history.

“I didn’t have dreams of being a romantic leading man,” Lee told The Associated Press in 2002. “But I dreamed of being a character actor, which I am.”

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London on Thursday issued a statement confirming that Lee died Sunday.

Lee’s agent said his family declined to comment or provide more details.

Former pro wrestler Dusty Rhodes dies at 69

WWE says Virgil Runnels, a former professional wrestler known by his fans as Dusty Rhodes, has died. He was 69.

The company said Runnels died Thursday, but a spokesman declined to say where or how he died, saying the family had not authorized the release of that information.

Runnels, who also went by the nickname “The American Dream,” was a member of the WWE Hall of Fame, and held the NWA championship three times. He became famous during the height of wrestling’s popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in signature yellow polka-dot tights with his sidekick “valet” Sapphire.

In a statement, WWE offered condolences to Runnels family, calling him “a caring husband and a creative visionary who helped shape the landscape of WWE long after his in-ring career had ended.”

Runnels remained a fixture with WWE after retiring from the ring and was working at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Fla.

Associated Press