Versatile Actor Julian Sands of ‘The Killing Fields’, ‘Warlock’ and More Dies At the Age of 65
Sands, who disappeared after a hike on California’s Mount Baldy, also appeared in movies such as ‘A Room With a View’ and ‘Leaving Las Vegas’.
Julian Sands in 1989's 'Warlock.'
Julian Sands, a versatile actor adept at bringing both romantic heroes and terrifying villains to life, has died. He was 65.
An outdoor sports enthusiast, Sands had been hiking in the Mount Baldy region of California was he was reported missing in mid-January. A search had to be abandoned due to freezing weather conditions, but hikers found human remains earlier this week, and the San Bernadino County Sheriff’s office confirmed that they were Sands.
Early life and career
Julian Sands as Jon Swain in 1984's 'The Killing Fields.'
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Born on January 4th, 1958, in West Yorkshire, England, Sands began his film career in 1984, appearing in ‘Oxford Blues’ and ‘The Killing Fields’, which went on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Yet his big breakthrough was being cast as the romantic lead in 1985’s ‘A Room with a View’, playing the charming George Sands alongside Helena Bonham Carter. The performance launched him on a career trajectory that headed straight for Hollywood.
Proving he could handle a variety of roles, Sands took on movies that required him to be both good and bad. He was the terrifying main character in 1989’s ‘Warlock’ and its 1993 sequel, ‘Warlock: The Armageddon’
Other films included ‘Impromptu’, ‘Naked Lunch’, ‘Arachnophobia’, ‘Boxing Helena’, and ‘Leaving Las Vegas.’ And if anyone doubted his skills, he took the lead in 1998 horror version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, then starred opposite Jackie Chan in the 2003 action-comedy ‘The Medallion’.
TV work
His connection to Jackie Chan remained on the small screen, as one of his bigger TV roles was voicing Valmont in the ‘Jackie Chan Adventures’ animated series in its first two seasons. He also played Doci of the Ori in two episodes of ‘Stargate SG-1’ — (and reprised the role in the 2008 film ‘Stargate: The Ark of Truth’), was terrorist Vladimir Metternich in ‘24’ and Jor-El in ‘Smallville’.
Paying tribute
Actor Alessandro Nivola, who appeared with Sands in ‘Timecode’, paid tribute via Twitter:
Filmmaker Erlingur Thoroddsen, who directed Sands recently in ‘The Piper’, said this:
“I had the great honor of working with Julian Sands a little while ago and the even greater honor of knowing him as a friend off set and after the shoot, having wonderful conversations over dinner and drinks. He told me stories about working with Argento and Fincher and Cronenberg.”
Sands’ family issued the following statement about his passing:
“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.”
He’s survived by his wife, journalist Evgenia Citkowitz, whom he married in 1990; their daughters Imogen Morley Sands and Natalya Morley Sands; and a son, Henry Sands, with his ex-wife journalist Sarah Sands.
Julian Sands in 1990's 'Arachnophobia' directed by Frank Marshall.
Julian Sands Movies:
- 'The Killing Fields' (1984)
- ‘A Room with a View' (1986)
- 'Gothic' (1987)
- 'Vibes' (1988)
- ‘Warlock' (1989)
- 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1999)
- 'Tennessee Nights' (1989)
- 'Arachnophobia' (1990)
- 'Naked Lunch' (1991)
- ‘Warlock: The Armageddon' (1993)
- 'Boxing Helena' (1993)
- 'Leaving Las Vegas' (1995)
- 'One Night Stand' (1997)
- 'Timecode' (2000)
- 'The Medallion' (2003)
- 'Ocean's Thirteen' (2007)
- 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' (2011)
- 'Cesar Chavez' (2014)
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