Stamp’s family announced that he passed away on 17/8. "He leaves behind an extensive body of work in the arts that will continue to inspire future generations," a family representative said.
Born in 1938 in the East End of London, England, to a tugboat stoker, Stamp’s childhood was marked by the air raids of World War II. After leaving school early to work in advertising, he earned a scholarship to drama school.
In 1962, Stamp made his film debut in "Billy Budd", directed by Peter Ustinov and adapted from Herman Melville's novel. The lead role earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and brought him international recognition. He then starred alongside Laurence Olivier in "Term of Trial" (1962). In 1965, he won the Best Actor award at Cannes for his role in "The Collector".
According to Variety, Stamp was known for his blue eyes and intense acting style. Throughout his career spanning over half a century, he portrayed a diverse range of characters.
In 1978, he played General Zod, appearing with Marlon Brando in a short scene in "Superman". Due to the film's length, it was split into two parts. Two years later, Stamp reprised his role as the villain in "Superman II". In 2007, Total Film magazine ranked the character among the "50 Greatest Villains of All Time". From 2003 to 2011, Stamp voiced Jor-El, Superman's father, in the television series "Smallville".
Beyond "Superman", he received acclaim for his role as a father seeking justice for his daughter's death in Steven Soderbergh's "The Limey" (1999). That same year, he appeared in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" as Chancellor Valorum, and in Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy's "Bowfinger".
In 1994, he portrayed a transgender woman in "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". Critic Roger Ebert remarked, "At first, the audience is surprised to see Terence Stamp in feminine attire, but he then convinces them with his portrayal of the character's psychological depth".
In the 2000s, Stamp appeared in "Wanted" with Angelina Jolie, "Valkyrie" with Tom Cruise, "The Adjustment Bureau", and "Get Smart". His final roles were in Edgar Wright's "Last Night in Soho" (2021) and the series "His Dark Materials" (2019-2022).
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Terence Stamp as General Zod. Photo: Warner Bros. |
Director Edgar Wright described Stamp as kind and humorous, according to AP. "The closer the camera got, the more mesmerizing his presence became. In close-ups, his unwavering gaze created an effect. Terence was a true movie star," Wright said.
Over his 60-year acting career, Stamp maintained high professional standards. "I won't take on bad films unless I can no longer afford the rent," he once said.
In addition to acting, Stamp published the memoir "Stamp Album" (written in memory of his late mother), the novel "The Night", and a cookbook co-written with Elizabeth Buxton. He also provided voice work for the game "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion", the film "Halo 3", and the BBC Four documentary "Jazz Britannia".
He had relationships with several famous women, including supermodel Jean Shrimpton and actress Julie Christie. He was married to Elizabeth O'Rourke from 2002 to 2008.
Que Chi (according to Variety, AP)
