Terence Stamp, The ‘Superman’ Star Passes Away At 87

After a career spanning more than 60 years, British actor Terence Stamp, best known for his iconic portrayal as General Zod in ‘Superman’ and his Oscar-nominated ‘Billy Budd’ debut, has passed at the age of 87.

His family confirmed his passing on Sunday, August 17.

Over the course of his more than 60-year career, Stamp played roles in everything from Hollywood blockbusters to British classics. For his first performance in Peter Ustinov’s Billy Budd, he received his first and only Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor in 1962.

Stamp was born on July 22, 1938, in the East End of London. His parents were Thomas, a merchant seaman, and Ethel. He was raised far away from Hollywood’s glitz. Stamp recounted his father’s reservations about pursuing a profession in acting in a 2013 interview with the British Film Institute.

According to Stamp,

“He genuinely believed that people like us didn’t do things like that,” Stamp said. His mother, however, “loved every second of it.”

However, Stamp made a name for himself in British filmmaking in the 1960s. He starred in Ken Loach’s debut feature film, Poor Cow, and John Schlesinger’s “Far From the Madding Crowd.”

As a member of Swinging London, Stamp frequently made headlines for his high-profile relationships with Brigitte Bardot, Julie Christie, and model Jean Shrimpton. During their early careers, he also lived in the same apartment as fellow actor Michael Caine.

Stamp returned to acting in 1978 after a hiatus, playing the pivotal role of General Zod in Superman— a part he reprised in the 1980 sequel. More than 20 years later, he lent his voice as Jor-El, Superman’s father, in the TV series Smallville.

Prioritise Your Personal Growth Over Sex”- Actor To Men

Stamp also played Bernadette, a drag queen, in the 1994 comedy ‘The Adventures of Priscilla’, ‘Queen of the Desert’, and later appeared in ‘Wall Street’ and ‘The Adjustment Bureau’.

He married once, in 2002, to an Australian pharmacist 35 years younger, though the marriage ended in 2008.

Terence Stamp left behind a legacy that defined both British cinema of the 1960s and Hollywood blockbusters that followed.