LONDON (AP) 鈥 Terence Stamp, the British actor who often played the role of a complex villain, including that of General Zod in the early Superman films, has died. He was 87.
His death on Sunday was disclosed in a death notice published online.
The London-born Stamp started his film career with 1962乌鸦传媒 seafaring 鈥淏illy Budd,鈥 for which he earned an Oscar nomination.
Stamp乌鸦传媒 six decades in the business were peppered with highlights, including his touching portrayal of the transsexual Bernadette in 1994's 鈥淭he Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." Stamp also was widely praised for his lead in director Steven Soderbergh乌鸦传媒 1999 crime drama 鈥淭he Limey.鈥
But it will be his portrayal of the bearded Zod in 1978's 鈥淪uperman鈥 and its sequel 鈥淪uperman II鈥 two years later that most people associate with Stamp. As the Kryptonian arch enemy to Christopher Reeve's Man of Steel, Stamp introduced a darker and charming 鈥 more human 鈥 element to the franchise, one that's been replicated in countless superhero movies ever since.
Stamp started his acting career on stage in the late 1950s, where he acted in repertory theatre and met Michael Caine, who was five years older than himself. The pair lived together in a flat in central London while looking for their big break.
He got his break with 鈥淏illy Budd鈥 and Stamp embarked on a career that would see him in the early 1960s be part of the 鈥渁ngry young men鈥 movement that was introducing an element of social realism into British moviemaking.
That was perhaps most notable in the 1965 adaptation of John Fowles鈥 creepy debut novel 鈥淭he Collector,鈥 where he played the awkward and lonely Freddie Clegg, who kidnapped Samantha Eggar乌鸦传媒 Miranda Grey in a warped attempt to win her love. It was a performance that would earn the young Stamp, fresh off his Oscar nomination, the best actor award at 1965乌鸦传媒 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.
鈥淚 worked with Olivier briefly on my second movie (1962乌鸦传媒 鈥淭erm of Trial),鈥 Stamp recalled in an . 鈥淎nd he said to me, 鈥榊ou should always study your voice.鈥欌 Stamp then segued into a spot-on Olivier impersonation, continuing, 鈥溾楤ecause, as you get older, your looks go, but your voice will become empowered.鈥欌
His career took a bit of a hiatus from the late 1960s after he missed out on the role of James Bond to replace Sean Connery. His comeback took the best part of a decade, and it was the unexpected role of General Zod that brought him back to the limelight. His career, which also saw him play the role of Finis Valoru, the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, in 1999's first Star Wars prequel 鈥淭he Phantom Menace,鈥 ended with the 2021 psychological thriller "Last Night In Soho."
Born in London乌鸦传媒 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鈥橰ourke 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.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 do crappy movies, unless I haven鈥檛 got the rent,鈥 he said.