Terence Stamp, the British actor whose striking looks and commanding presence made him one of the most memorable screen figures of his generation, died Sunday morning at the age of 87, his family said in a statement. The cause of death was not immediately known.
“He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come,” the statement added.
Born in London’s East End in 1938, the son of a tugboat coal stoker, Stamp endured wartime bombings and postwar poverty before winning a scholarship to drama school.
He shared a flat with fellow actor Michael Caine and launched his career with the lead role in Peter Ustinov’s 1962 film “Billy Budd,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination. His success and matinee-idol looks led to high-profile roles and romances, including with actress Julie Christie and model Jean Shrimpton, whom he called the love of his life.
Stamp’s career faltered in the late 1960s after he failed to secure the role of James Bond, but his time in Italy, working with directors such as Federico Fellini and Pier Paolo Pasolini, reshaped his life. In Rome he also encountered Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, who introduced him to meditation.
Stamp spent long stretches in India during the 1970s, immersing himself in yoga and spiritual study, and once said he was on the verge of becoming a tantric sex teacher before being called back to Hollywood.
His comeback came with the role of General Zod in 1978’s “Superman” and its 1980 sequel, which cemented his place in pop culture.
Later roles included “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (1994), “Valkyrie” (2008), and “The Adjustment Bureau” (2011), along with collaborations with director Tim Burton. Known for his elegance off-screen as well, Stamp counted Princess Diana among his friends and married for the first time at 64, though the union ended in divorce. Reflecting late in life, he said his longevity as an actor came down to one thing: “I believed in myself.”