Read Peter Jackson's Touching Tribute To The Late Christopher Lee

In case you haven't heard, yesterday we lost big screen legend Sir Christopher Lee. The man who brought such gravitas to his iconic turns as Dracula and Frankenstein in decades past became a very familiar face to a much younger generation as a villain in both the Star Wars prequels and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His passing at 93 years old is truly a loss.

And to pay further tribute to the icon, director Peter Jackson took to Facebook for a touching tribute that just might bring a tear to your eye. Read the Peter Jackson Christopher Lee tribute after the jump.

Here's what Peter Jackson posted to Facebook yesterday afternoon:

It is with tremendous sadness that I learnt of the passing of Sir Christopher Lee. He was 93 years old, had not been in his usual good health for some time, but his spirit remained, as always, indomitable.

Christopher spoke seven languages; he was in every sense, a man of the world; well versed in art, politics, literature, history and science. He was scholar, a singer, an extraordinary raconteur and of course, a marvelous actor. One of my favourite things to do whenever I came to London would be to visit with Christopher and Gitte where he would regale me for hours with stories about his extraordinary life. I loved to listen to them and he loved to tell them – they were made all the more compelling because they were true – stories from his time with the SAS, through the Second World War, to the Hammer Horror years and later, his work with Tim Burton – of which he was enormously proud.

I was lucky enough to work with Chris on five films all told and it never ceased to be a thrill to see him on set. I remember him saying on my 40th Birthday (he was 80 at the time), "You're half the man I am".  Being half the man Christopher Lee is, is more than I could ever hope for. He was a true gentleman, in an era that no longer values gentleman.

I grew up loving Christopher Lee movies. For most of my life I was enthralled by the great iconic roles he not only created – but continued to own decades later. But somewhere along the way Christopher Lee suddenly, and magically, dissolved away and he became my friend, Chris.  And I loved Chris even more.

There will never be another Christopher Lee. He has a unique place in the history of cinema and in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

The world will be a lesser place without him in it.

My deepest sympathies to Gitte and to his family and friends.

Rest in peace, Chris.

An icon of cinema has passed into legend.

After 93 years in the industry, Christopher Lee's worked has spanned generations. There are few actors whose life spanned from the early days of cinema and lasted through today. His career is the kind that actors dream of attaining, especially in his portrayal of characters who have and will go on to become classic. Rest in peace, Sir Christopher Lee.