June 27, 2023
Julian Sands, the handsome star of such films as A Room with a View and Gothic, has been declared dead following the discovery of human remains over the weekend. He was 65.
Sands, an avid hiker, vanished in California's Mount Baldy wilderness area in January, leading to an extensive and ultimately fruitless search.
On Saturday, June 24, hikers randomly discovered human remains near where Sands had gone missing. On Tuesday, a positive identification had been made.
Via ExtraTV:
"The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department said via statement Tuesday, 'The identification process for the body located on Mt. Baldy on June 24, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood.'
"While a cause of death is 'still under investigation, pending further test results,' the news will allow Sands' loved ones to know his fate.
"'We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to locate Mr. Sands,' the statement went on."
He is survived by his wife of 30-plus years, their two daughters, and his son by his first marriage.
Sands was born January 4, 1958, in Otley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.
He made his UK TV debut in 1982, and his film debut in the farce Privates on Parade 1983).
His US film debut arrived with a bit part in Oxford Blues (1984). After that, he worked steadily, tirelessly even, for the rest of his life. Early on, after appearing in The Killing Fields (1984), the TV miniseries of The Sun Also Rises (1984) and After Darkness (1985), he experienced a breakthrough role in the international hit A Room with a View (1985).
Other films — he was prolific — included Gothic (1986), Siesta (1987), Vibes (1988), Warlock (1989), Arachnophobia (1990), Impromptu (1991), Naked Lunch (1991), Boxing Helena (1993), Warlock: The Armageddon (1993), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), One Night Stand (1997), The Phantom of the Opera (1998), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2014) and what appears to be his final film, 2023's The Piper.
Among his many TV projects, he was Vladimir Bierko on 24 (2006) and Jor-El on Smallville (2009-2010). He also did extensive voice-acting, including for video games.
