There would be other minor roles in the next decade. But it wasn't until 1957, when he starred as the Monster in The Curse of Frankenstein for Hammer Films, that he found his true calling. And so began one of the most prolific careers in the genre and a partnership with Hammer that would last nearly two decades.

In quick succession, Lee would put his indelible stamp on the Count in Horror of Dracula the following year (thus becaming the actor most closely associated with the role) and The Mummy in 1959.

Among his best works, are The Skull, Rasputin the Mad Monk, The Devil Rides Out, Theatre of Death, The Hound of the Baskervilles and Horror Express, an outlandish horror/sci-fi flick filmed in Spain and released in 1972.

Lee would play Dracula a number of times, most notably in Dracula, Prince of Darkness and Dracula Has Risen From the Grave. The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) would be his last turn in the part.

That same year, he made The Wicker Man, arguably one of his finest films in the genre. The strange story, about the mysterious disappearance of a little girl and the search for her by an officer on an island ruled by pagan worship, has only grown in stature over the years. It is not to be missed.

Lee's command of the screen and the breadth of experience he brings to his roles continues to be in demand to this day.

NOTABLE LEE FILMS	YEAR
Castle of the Living Dead	1964
The Curse of Frankenstein	1957
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave	1968
Dracula Prince of Darkness	1966
Horror Express	1972
Horror Hotel	1960
Horror of Dracula	1958
The Mummy	1959
The Satanic Rites of Dracula	1973
Taste the Blood of Dracula	1970
Theatre of Death	1967
The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism	1967
To the Devil...a Daughter	1976
The Virgin of Nuremberg	1963
Whip & the Body	1963
The Wicker Man	1973