Terence Stamp, one of the most iconic figures in British cinema, has died at the age of 87. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Renowned for his striking looks and remarkable versatility, Stamp left an indelible mark on generations of filmgoers with performances in Billy Budd, Superman, and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994).
He won the Best Actor award at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival for his chilling performance in William Wyler’s The Collector, playing a disturbed man who kidnaps a young woman. He later found renewed fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s as the menacing General Zod in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980).
Throughout his career, Stamp delivered standout performances in films such as Legal Eagles (1986), Wall Street (1987) and Steven Soderbergh’s critically acclaimed The Limey (1999)l. He also secured a place in Star Wars history with his role as Chancellor Valorum in Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).
In the 1960s, Stamp was widely regarded as one of the most handsome men on screen. His striking presence was used to powerful effect by Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini in Theorem (1968), a provocative film in which he plays a mysterious, silent visitor who seduces an entire family. He also starred alongside Julie Christie in Far From the Madding Crowd (1967), both on screen and off, as the two were romantically involved. It has long been speculated that they inspired The Kinks’ 1967 hit “Waterloo Sunset”—though Ray Davies, the band’s frontman, has always denied it.
Stamp made his film debut in 1962 in Billy Budd, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Over the course of more than six decades, he remained a powerful and compelling screen presence, leaving behind a legacy defined by intensity and fearless artistry. On television, he lent his distinctive voice to the character of Jor-El in Smallville (2003–2011).