Christopher Lee's 10 Most Memorable Sci-Fi And Fantasy Roles
9. An Alien In Space: 1999
Christopher Lee had many parts in sci-fi shows, including the Gerry Anderson live-action spectacular that was Space: 1999. In the 1975 episode Earthbound, Lee played the alien Captain Zandor with something approaching dignity.
The degree of integrity he achieved in the part is remarkable considering what he was asked to wear. Somehow, he managed to rock the long white wig and silvery make-up above his eyebrows, bringing a sense of believability to a part that could quickly have degenerated into farce. It's not surprising that Lee's turn is one of the most memorable parts of the entire run of Space: 1999, a show that is still fondly remembered by many fans even now.
What is surprising is that Lee didn't appear in more sci-fi programmes. Having "done" Space: 1999, he could easily have gone on to roles in Doctor Who or Star Trek.
Actually, his non-appearance in Doctor Who is easy to explain: Big Finish did approach Lee's agent, hoping to cast him as the founder of Time Lord society, Rassilon; however, his agent wouldn't even let them talk to Lee, stating that the actor didn't have any interest in taking part. Apparently, he'd teased his old pal, Peter Cushing, for playing the Doctor in the film adaptations of the 1960s and hadn't changed his view of the programme since then.