Actor Sir Christopher Lee Receives Trinity’s Philosophical Society’s Gold Medal

Nov 23, 2011

Renowned actor, Christopher Lee, became an Honorary Patron of the University Philosophical Society recently when he was awarded the Bram Stoker Gold Medal of Honorary Patronage.  The medal, named after Bram Stoker who was a former president of the Phil, was a fitting tribute to the actor who became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films.

Head of the School of English Dr Darryl Jones said: “It was a great honour for the School of English and the Philosophical Society to be able to collaborate in bringing Sir Christopher Lee to Trinity.  Sir Christopher is a legendary film actor - the greatest of all screen Draculas, and an iconic presence in both the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings film series.  The School of English has a distinguished record of research in horror fiction and film, and so it is particularly appropriate that the College should choose to honour Sir Christopher Lee, especially given his own close connections with both Bram Stoker and M R James.”

Dr Darryl Jones presented Sir Christopher Lee with a copy of The Collected Ghost Stories of M R James, edited with an introduction and notes by Dr Darryl Jones (Oxford University Press). 

The event included a presentation of a book, The Collected Ghost Stories of M R James, by Dr Darryl Jones to Lee.  The book was particularly significant as Sir Christopher Lee was taught by M R James himself at Eton in 1936 and he also played James in the four-part TV series Ghost Stories for Christmas in 2000.

Best known for his roles in The Wicker Man, The Man With the Golden Gun and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sir Christopher Lee was knighted in 2009 in recognition of his lifetime contribution to the film and television industries, and received a BAFTA Fellowship in 2011.  Since his career began in 1947, he has performed roles in over 275 films.  Other Honorary Patrons of the College’s Philosophical Society include Senator John McCain, Al Pacino, Dame Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry and Sir Michael Gambon.