The Far, Bright Center

~

"To be a legend, you've either got to be dead or excessively old."

-- Sir Christopher Lee ~

When saw the news this morning, I experienced a sudden tumult of emotions. Strange, perhaps, to feel sorrow over the loss of someone so 'old' who had let such a rich and full life--- surely, one might say, it was his 'time'. But while his death certainly comes as no surprise due to his advanced age, it's nonethless a bit of a shock. Perhaps we had all just started to believe that the man was, in fact, immortal. And perhaps he is -- there have been many long-lived and long-working actors of great quality, but few who have approached such near-mythic status.

His roles have been many, and others may remember him for things like Dracula, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the Star Wars prequels---all of which I likewise admire him for as well---but above all, I will always cherish two of his roles in particular.