'Dracula' actor dies aged 93 after respiratory problems

British actor Christopher Lee, who devoted his long career to portraying horror film villains and later appeared in the blockbuster “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings” series, has died at the age of 93.

Lee died last Sunday in hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for respiratory problems, British media reports said. Lee’s agent, in an emailed statement, said his family “wishes to make no comment”.

 The London-born actor achieved fame from the late 1950s into the 1970s playing characters such as Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster and the Mummy for Hammer Films. As part of his late-career flourish, he also appeared in Tim Burton’s black comedy “Dark Shadows” (2012) with Johnny Depp.