Julian Sands Confirmed Dead After Remains Found
Julian Sands, who had been missing for months, is confirmed dead after a discovered body was positively identified as the actor.
The human remains found in a California mountain area have been positively identified as British actor Julian Sands. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news in a statement via Sky News. “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.”
“The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results. We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to try to locate Mr. [Julian] Sands,” the statement continued. The confirmation comes days after the actor’s family publicly expressed their gratitude to the search teams and coordinators who have worked tirelessly to find him.
“We continue to hold Julian [Sands] in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer,” his family said in a statement. The actor’s agent, Sarah Jackson, described him as a great friend who chose interesting projects that mattered to him and was adored by everyone.
Julian Sands was reported missing on January 13 during inclement weather conditions in the Baldy Bowl region of the San Gabriel Mountains. As a result, search efforts, both aerial and ground-based, faced significant obstacles due to the onslaught of severe storms, icy conditions, and the looming risk of avalanches in the California region.
Julian Sands, hailing from Otley, Yorkshire, received his education at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire. He later embarked on an acting career by securing roles in notable films like The Killing Fields, which grabbed the attention of director James Ivory. Sands’ big break came when he was cast as George Emerson in the 1985 film adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel, A Room with a View.
Set in Edwardian-era England and Italy, the film revolves around the blossoming love between Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and the free-spirited George Emerson (Julian Sands). A Room with a View also featured other esteemed actors, including Dame Maggie Smith, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Dame Judi Dench. The film achieved tremendous success at the box office and received several awards.
Julian Sands went on to portray the English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in Ken Russell’s psychological thriller Gothic before venturing into Hollywood, where he gained recognition for his role as the titular character in the 1989 horror film Warlock and its sequel. He also appeared in movies such as Arachnophobia, Boxing Helena, and Leaving Las Vegas.
Julian Sands also made a mark in television, taking on diverse roles, such as a Russian terrorist in the popular television drama 24 alongside Kiefer Sutherland. He also portrayed Jor-El, the biological father of Superman, in the hit CW series Smallville. Recently, the 65-year-old actor starred alongside Peter Capaldi in the drama Benediction.
Interestingly, Julian Sands had always demonstrated a penchant for outdoor pursuits. In 2018, he shared his passion for mountain climbing and emphasized the significance of embracing new adventures as he got older. He also recounted a harrowing incident from the early 1990s during a trip to the Andes, where he and three fellow hikers faced a treacherous storm above an elevation of 20,000 feet.
Julian Sands shared his life with his wife, writer Evgenia Citkowitz, and their two adult daughters. Prior to his current marriage, he was wed to Sarah Sands, the former editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today program, with whom he has a son. The actor will be dearly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and fans around the world.
