LONDON — Terence Stamp, the British actor renowned for portraying complex antagonists, such as General Zod in the early Superman films, has passed away at 87.
His death on Sunday was disclosed in a death notice published online.
The London-born Stamp started his film career with 1962’s seafaring “Billy Budd,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination.
In his six-decade career, Stamp delivered notable performances, including his heartfelt role as the transsexual Bernadette in 1994’s “The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” He also received acclaim for his leading role in director Steven Soderbergh’s 1999 crime drama “The Limey.”
However, Stamp is best remembered as the bearded Zod in 1978’s “Superman” and its sequel “Superman II” two years later. As the Kryptonian arch-nemesis to Christopher Reeve’s Man of Steel, Stamp brought a darker and more charming – more human – dimension to the franchise, influencing countless superhero movies since.
Stamp began his film career in the early 1960s during the “angry young men” movement, which introduced social realism into British cinema.
This was particularly evident in the 1965 adaptation of John Fowles’ unsettling debut novel “The Collector,” where he played Freddie Clegg, an awkward and lonely character who kidnapped Samantha Eggar’s Miranda Grey in a twisted attempt at love. This performance earned Stamp, fresh off an Oscar nomination, the best actor award at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival.
While part of that 1960s British movement, Stamp learned from some of the most seasoned actors from the classical era, including Laurence Olivier.
“I worked with Olivier briefly on my second movie (1962’s “Term of Trial”),” Stamp recounted in a 2013 AP interview. “And he told me, ‘You should always study your voice.'” Stamp then transitioned into a spot-on impersonation of Olivier, adding, “‘Because, as you age, your looks fade, but your voice will gain strength.'”
Born in London’s East End on July 22, 1938, Stamp lived a colorful life, particularly during the 1960s when he had a string of romances, including with actress Julie Christie and model Jean Shrimpton. He married 29-year-old Elizabeth O’Rourke in 2002 at the age of 64 but the couple divorced six years later. Stamp did not have any children.
Stamp retained his looks as the years ticked by, his natural handsomeness hardened by a more grizzled look.
He generally sought to keep his standards high, but up to a point.
“I don’t do crappy movies, unless I haven’t got the rent,” he said.
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