Much-loved actor Sir Christopher Lee has died aged 93.
The screen legend, who was born in Belgravia, Westminster, in 1922, died at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital at 8.30am on Sunday (June 7).
It is believed Lady Lee opted to delay news of his death until family members had been told.
Stars of stage and screen, as well as politicians and other big names, paid tribute to the actor when news of his death broke on Thursday (June 11), including London Mayor and Uxbridge & South Ruislip MP Boris Johnson.
Producer, writer and director Robert Chandler said: "Masterful and commanding, elegant, beautiful. Christopher Lee. You defined Dracula. Always You. #RIPLee"
Much-loved presenter and film buff Jonathan Ross tweeted: "So sad to hear that Christopher Lee has died. A great actor, a great star, a surprisingly good singer and a lovely lovely man."
Actor Elijah Wood, who starred as Frodo alongside Lee in the Lord of the Rings films, said: "An extraordinary man and life lead, Sir Christopher Lee. You were an icon, and a towering human being with stories for days. We'll miss you."
Friend and fellow actor Sir Roger Moore said: "It's terrible when you lose an old friend, and Christopher Lee was one of my oldest. We first met in 1948."
And Prime Minister David Cameron even tweeted a tribute to the "treasured"star.
As a youngster, Lee lived in Fulham before serving in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, where he trained at RAF Uxbridge.
It was only after the war that his career in acting begun.
He won critical acclaim for many of his roles - listed on IMDB as more than 280 appearances in film and TV - including Count Dracula in a string of popular Hammer Horror films; Scaramanga in the 1974 James Bond Man with the Golden Gun; Count Dooku/Dath Tyranus in Star Wars Episodes II and II; and Saruman in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies.
