British film star Christopher Lee dies at 93

Actor Christopher Lee poses on the red carpet during the Rome film festival in this October 15, 2009 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

LONDON - Well-known English-born actor Christopher Lee, who performed in more than 250 movies, died on Sunday, local media reported Thursday.

The 93-year-old man was famous for his excellent performance of portraying villains in hundreds of classic movies all round the world.

He played Dracula in a sequence of Hammer Horror films, and Scaramanga in James Bond and evil wizard Saruman in The Lord of the Rings, and also appeared in the The Wicker Man and Star Wars.

He was reported to have died on Sunday at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London, after being hospitalized for respiratory problems and heart failure, according to reports.

"We can confirm that the Register Office issued a death certificate for Mr Christopher Lee on Monday 8 June, Mr Lee died on Sunday 7 June," said a Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council spokesman.

People from all walks of life were saddened by his death, paying tributes on the Internet.

"Saddened to hear of Sir Christopher Lee's death, a titan of Golden Age of Cinema & distinguished WW2 veteran who'll be greatly missed," British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his sadness through Twitter.

The actor was born in 1922 and served in Britain's Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He was knighted in 2009 for services to drama and charity, and was awarded the Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) fellowship in 2011.