Christopher Lee- Not Just a Bloodsucking Vampire Quiz

Answer: 27th May 1922

Christopher was born on 27th May, 1922, exactly 11 years after the birth of another horror favourite, Vincent Price; whilst Lee's close friend Peter Cushing was born on 26th May 1913. Too much celebrating by the undead in May! Christopher was born Christopher Frank Carandini Lee.

Answer: Paul McCartney and Wings

Christopher Lee appeared on the front of the album 'Band on the Run', released in 1973. The photograph was taken against a garden wall in Osterley Park, Brentford. In addition to the band and Christopher there were five other celebrities on the cover; Michael Parkinson, Kenny Lynch, James Coburn, Clement Freud and John Conteh.

Answer: True

Christopher met Tolkien on one occasion in the 1950s, in a pub in Oxford called The Eagle and Child. He is such a fan of the books that he also makes it a habit to read them at least once a year. He must know his part of Saruman backwards! He also met Ian Flemming, author of the 'James Bond' novels, to whom he is related by marriage.

Answer: CBE

Christopher was 79 years old when he collected his CBE from the Queen, for his contribution to drama. Dudley Moore and Anthony Minghella were two more celebrities from the movie industry who received CBEs in the same birthday honours list. In his acting career Christopher has won 14 awards and had a further 7 nominations, but none of then have been for either an Academy Award or a British BAFA, but at a mere 80 years old there is still time.

Answer: Muhammad Al Jinnah

In 1998 Christopher took on the role of Muhammad Al Jinnah in the film 'Jinnah'. It is the life story of the founder of Pakistan, who died on 11th September 1948 from a combination of TB and lung cancer. The main focus of the film was 1947, when India was about to gain independence from Great Britain and Jinnah proposed a separate nation of Pakistan with Muslims in the majority.

This idea was opposed by the Viceroy of India, Lord Louis Mountbatten, played in the movie by James Fox. 'Jinnah' won the Best Foreign Film Award at the Houston Film Festival in 1999.

Answer: False

Christopher is an accomplished singer and far from tone deaf. His great-grandparents founded Australia's first opera company and the talent has passed down the generations. In the early 1950s Lee was accepted by the Swedish Opera, but he couldn't afford the training.

He has also released an album in the UK, in 2006, entitled 'Christopher Lee: Revelation' and includes 'Toreador March - Heavy Metal Mix'. I have just listened to a small soundbite of that one and it's different! His voice however is strong deep and rich.

Answer: RAF

During WWII Christopher not only worked for the RAF, but he also worked for British Intelligence. He achieved the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was decorated for his distinguished service. After being demobbed in 1946 he decided on an acting career. At 6'5" Christopher is one of the tallest leading actors of all time.

Answer: Tall, Dark and Gruesome

'Lord of Misrule' is also an autobiography of Christopher, which came out in 2003. This dealt with his life and career in later years, whereas 'Tall Dark and Gruesome' covered his upbringing and the start of his life as an actor.

Answer: Prince Philip

This TV movie was released twelve months after the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer and followed their 'fairytale romance' and spectacular wedding at St Paul's Cathedral in 1981. Caroline Bliss and David Robb played the leading couple and Margaret Tyzack played Queen Elizabeth II, opposite Christopher as Prince Philip.

The movie was not well received and came out around the same time as another adaptation, 'The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana' which was a far superior production.

Answer: Danish

Christopher married Danish model Birgit 'Gitte' Kroencke in 1961 and they have one daughter, Christina, born 23rd November 1963. Before her marriage Gitte modelled for Balenciaga, Balmain, Chanel and Christian Dior. During their marriage the Lees have lived in Switzerland, where their daughter was born, California and the UK.