Oscar-Nominated ‘Superman’ Actor Passes Away At 87

Terence Stamp, who is most widely known for his roles in the Christopher Reeves “Superman” films,  has passed away at the age of 87.

The highly-decorated actor’s family announced the news in a statement to Reuters. “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,” Stamp’s family said. “We ask for privacy at this sad time.”

Stamp reflects on his career in a 2013 interview with George Stroumboulopoulos

Born in London, England in 1938, Stamp made his silver screen debut in the 1962 film “Billy Budd,” a role that garnered him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe for Most Promising Male Newcomer.

He latter starred in 1966’s “Modesty Blaise” and 1967’s “Far from the Madding Crowd,” the latter of which included his then-girlfriend, Julie Christie. Stamp’s career fell on hard times by the end of the decade, the actor explained in a 2015 interview with The Guardian. “It’s a mystery to me,” he said. “I was in my prime. When the 1960s ended, I just ended with it.”

“I remember my agent telling me: ‘They are all looking for a young Terence Stamp.’ And I thought: ‘I am young.’ I was 31, 32. I couldn’t believe it,” the Oscar nominee added.

Stamp ultimately returned to film in a big way, when he starred as General Sod opposite Christopher Reeves in the critically acclaimed 1978 version of “Superman.” He would later reprise the role in the box office hit’s 1980 sequel.

“During that time away from the screen, I had transmuted myself,” Stamp told The Guardian. “I no longer saw myself as a leading man.”

“What had happened inside of me enabled me to take the role and not feel embarrassed or depressed about playing the villain,” Stamp added regarding the iconic “Superman” role. “I just decided I was a character actor now and I can do anything.”

In 1994, Stamp received critical acclaim for his role in “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” in which he once again played a villain. The role, which saw Stamp play a transgender-identifying individual who travels on a road trip with drag queens, earned him a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Additional acting credits include “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” (1999), “Elektra” (2005), “The Adjustment Bureau” (2011) and “Murder Mystery” (2019).