Iconic Screen Legend Terence Stamp Passes Away at 87

Oscar-nominated British actor Terence Stamp, best known globally as the formidable villain General Zod in the Superman franchise and for his acclaimed performance in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, died on Sunday morning. He was 87.

In a statement, his family confirmed his passing and celebrated his legacy: "He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come."

Born in London's East End on July 22, 1938, Stamp experienced the Blitz during his wartime childhood. The son of a tugboat engineer, he left school early for advertising work before a scholarship launched his acting career at drama school.

Stamp achieved early acclaim, winning a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for 1962's Billy Budd (which also earned him Oscar and BAFTA nominations) and the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award for 1965's The Collector. He later received another BAFTA nomination for 1994's cultural phenomenon The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

His career-defining role arrived in 1978 as the ruthless General Zod in Richard Donner's Superman, reprising the part in the 1980 sequel. This iconic villain performance returned him to the Hollywood spotlight after a period away from major films. Stamp humorously recounted how he was preparing to teach tantric sex in India when a telegram summoned him to audition for Zod. Landing the role led to the memorable experience of gleefully commanding strangers, "Kneel before Zod, you b***ards!" on London streets.

Stamp's extensive filmography includes notable works like Theorem, Far From the Madding Crowd (where he co-starred with partner Julie Christie), Young Guns, The Limey, Valkyrie, and Edgar Wright's recent psychological horror film Last Night in Soho (2021). His versatile career also encompassed television, stage performances, and voice acting in video games such as Halo 3 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.