Julian Sands, a British actor best known for his leading role in the 1985 film A Room with a View, has been pronounced dead after his remains were positively identified among those discovered in the wilds of California.
The 65-year-old actor went climbing by himself on Mount Baldy in California on January 12 and was reported missing on January 13.
Rescue personnel searched for Sands but were unsuccessful; according to the Washington Post, they had to halt their search due to dangerous weather but kept using helicopters and drones to seek for him.
On June 24, hikers discovered human remains in the area where Sands had gone missing, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed today that they had been identified as Sands’ remains.
“The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement, per BBC. “We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to try to locate Mr Sands.”
Sands, a prolific British actor, was best known for his breakout role in the 1985 E.M. Forster adaptation A Room With a View, directed by James Ivory and starring Helena Bonham Carter.
The film won three Academy Awards and was listed as one of the British Film Institute’s 100 best British films of all time.
Early in his career he also appeared in the Oscar-winning The Killing Fields. He had more than 150 film and TV credits over his 40 year career, appearing in a wide variety of roles and projects.
His films include Arachnophobia, Naked Lunch, Warlock, Ocean’s 13, Warlock, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Leaving Las Vegas. On TV, he had recurring roles on 24 and Smallville.
“I didn’t want to be a Hollywood actor,” he mentioned in 2018, saying he wanted to challenge himself as an actor. “I was looking for something exotic, things that took me out of myself… I think I found myself a little boring.”
While Sands wasn’t an A-list star, his range and unpredictability earned him respect from fans and critics. “He was always good, always gallant and dignified,” said former New York Times film critic Janet Maslin. “I don’t remember a false move from him.”
In addition to being an actor, Sands was also an avid hiker and outdoorsman — which tragically led to his passing.
According to the BBC, the actor’s family had already accepted that Sands was deceased, though this news will no doubt give them closure.
“We continue to hold Julian 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,” the family said in a statement.
“I have come to terms with the fact he’s gone and for me that’s how I’ve dealt with it,” his brother Nick Sands said, saying he had already said his “goodbyes.”
A tragic end for a great actor — rest in peace, Julian Sands 💔❤️
Please share this news in his memory.
