The death of renowned British actor Terence Stamp at the age of 87 has prompted fans to reminisce about his remarkable career as well as his enigmatic personal life. Known for his charismatic roles in films such as Superman and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Stamp’s off-screen life was equally captivating.

Although he did not have children, his romantic life, including a marriage with a significant age gap, intrigued many. Below, we delve into the aspects of his family life, featuring quotes from those closest to him.

Terence Stamp’s Marriage to Elizabeth O’Rourke

Stamp experienced matrimony only once, marrying Australian pharmacist Elizabeth O’Rourke on New Year’s Eve in 2002. At that point, he was 64 years old, whereas she was only 29, leading to a 35-year age difference that captured public interest.

The pair first crossed paths in the mid-1990s when Stamp visited a pharmacy in Bondi where O’Rourke worked. Although their relationship defied convention, the actor later described their time together as a source of “incredible fun.”

Nevertheless, the union ended in 2008, with O’Rourke attributing the split to Stamp’s “unreasonable behaviour.” During a 2013 interview with The Times, Stamp jokingly alluded to their conflicts, especially regarding alternative medicine:

“When I was married, my wife was very dismissive of it. As a pharmacist, she considered it rubbish. But when we both caught a cold, mine cleared up in a day while hers lingered for weeks. That really annoyed her.”

Despite the split, Stamp remained private about the details, emphasizing that stability and traditional family life were never his priorities.

Did Terence Stamp Have Children?

Stamp never fathered biological children, a choice he attributed to his nomadic lifestyle. In his own words:

“A house and stability have never been for me. I haven’t had a permanent home for 15 years. I flit from friends’ houses to hotels. I don’t work for money, so I learn to live only with what I need.” 

Though he had no kids of his own, he shared a close bond with his nieces’ children, often describing the experience as akin to being a grandfather. One report noted:

“He had spent some amazing time with his niece’s children, and that experience seemed to be as similar as that of a grandfather to the actor.”

Stamp’s High-Profile Relationships Before Marriage

Before O’Rourke, Stamp was romantically linked to some of the most glamorous women of the 1960s, including supermodel Jean Shrimpton and actress Julie Christie. His relationship with Shrimpton, in particular, left a lasting mark. Reflecting on their breakup, he once said:

“When I lost her, then that also coincided with my career taking a dip.”

His brief fling with Christie even inspired The Kinks’ classic Waterloo Sunset, with the lyrics referencing “Terry and Julie” crossing the Thames.