Hollywood is plunged into grief at the passing of a cherished actor, Terence Stamp, whose iconic portrayals in the 1978 film 'Superman' and its 1980 sequel, 'Superman II', have left an indelible mark. Stamp's family, confirming the news to Reuters, revealed that he passed away on August 17th at the age of 87.
"He has left behind an extraordinary legacy as both an actor and a writer, a body of work that will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come," his family stated, requesting privacy during this heart-wrenching time.
Stamp, born to a tugboat stoker in London's East End, discovered his passion for acting relatively late in his teenage years. "It wasn't until our first TV arrived, when I was around 17 and already working, that I found myself saying, 'Oh, I could do that,'" he recounted to BFI in 2013. "My dad discouraged me, perhaps trying to spare me from hardships. He genuinely believed that people like us didn't pursue such careers."
However, destiny had other plans. After earning a scholarship to study at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, Stamp soon made his cinematic debut in 1962's 'Billy Bud'. This was followed by an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe for Most Promising Male Newcomer. Fortunately, he had mentors like Michael Caine and Peter O'Toole to guide him through the industry.
"When I embarked on my film journey, something extraordinary happened. It felt as if I had known it all along," Stamp explained to NPR in 2021. "It was as natural to me as breathing. Everything new I encountered, I grasped instantaneously."
Though Stamp gained fame as a villain in films such as 1965's 'The Collector' and 1967's 'Far From the Madding Crowd', alongside his then-girlfriend Julie Christie, he shattered expectations in 1994. He received Best Actor nominations at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs for his transformative performance as a trans woman in 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'.
"Cross-dressing has existed since at least Shakespeare's time," he told People at the time. "It would be wonderful if greater androgyny were the next significant social development. It could simplify relationships."
With characteristic humor, he quipped, "Hollywood will surely say, 'We knew he was a great villain.' Now they know he's got great legs too!"
In more recent years, Stamp's versatility shone through in films like 1991's 'Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace', 2008's 'Get Smart', 2019's 'Murder Mystery' alongside Adam Sandler, and 2021's 'Last Night in Soho'.
