Terence Stamp, Superman Actor, Dead at 87

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Hollywood is mourning the loss of a beloved actor.

The renowned actor Terence Stamp, most recognized for his performances in the 1978 film “Superman” and its sequel “Superman II,” passed away on August 17, according to Reuters, at the age of 87.

In a statement shared with the media, his family expressed that he left an exceptional collection of work, not only as an actor but also as a writer. This remarkable body of work will continue to move and motivate people for many years ahead. During this difficult period, they kindly request privacy.

As a humble Londoner hailing from the East End, with a seafaring father laboring on tugboats, I, much like the ships he manned, embarked on a life uncharted and filled with unexpected passions. It wasn’t until my teenage journey that the captivating world of acting emerged as my beacon, guiding me towards an extraordinary voyage beyond the gritty streets of my upbringing.

It wasn’t until we acquired our first television (around the time I was seventeen, while I was already working), that I began expressing thoughts like, ‘I could handle that,'” he shared with BFI in 2013. “My father discouraged me from it. He likely wanted to protect me from potential troubles. He genuinely felt that people like us weren’t capable of such things.

Following his success in securing a scholarship to the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, it didn’t take him long before he made his film debut in 1962’s Billy Bud. He later earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe for Most Promising Male Newcomer.

And luckily, he had friends like Michael Caine and Peter O’Toole to help show him the ropes.

In an interview with NPR in 2021, the actor described a fascinating occurrence when he first watched the movie: “It seemed like I’d known it all along.” Essentially, everything novel that I encountered during the film immediately felt familiar to me.

In his film career, Stamp initially gained notoriety as a movie villain in productions like “The Collector” (1965) and “Far From the Madding Crowd” (1967), sharing the screen with Julie Christie. However, he defied expectations in 1994 by receiving Best Actor nominations at both the Golden Globes and BAFTAs for his powerful portrayal of a transgender woman in “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.

In my perspective, as a passionate advocate, I shared with People magazine that cross-dressing has been a part of our society for at least as long as Shakespeare was writing his plays. I expressed a hope that the embracing of androgyny could be the next significant social advancement. Such a shift, I believed, would bring ease to relationships.

He joked that Hollywood might comment, ‘We always knew he was an excellent villain,’ but now they know he has impressive legs as well.

More recently, Stamp has taken on roles in films like “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” from 1991, the 2008 comedy “Get Smart”, the 2019 movie “Murder Mystery” starring Adam Sandler, and the 2021 film “Last Night in Soho”.

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2025-08-17 19:47