Veteran British actor Terence Stamp, best known for his commanding roles as complex villains, including General Zod in the early Superman films, has died at the age of 87. He passed away on Sunday, August 17.
News of his death was shared in an online notice, sparking an outpouring of tributes from fans, colleagues, and industry figures, including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Born in London, Stamp launched his career with 1962’s seafaring drama Billy Budd, which earned him both Oscar and BAFTA nominations. Over the course of six decades, he built a remarkable body of work, with standout performances such as his moving portrayal of Bernadette, a trans woman, in 1994’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert a role that brought him his second BAFTA nomination.
While his career spanned a wide range of genres, Stamp remains most iconic for his role as the bearded General Zod in Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980).
Director Edgar Wright, who worked with Stamp on his final feature film, Last Night in Soho (2021), paid tribute on Instagram, remembering him as “kind, funny, and endlessly fascinating.”
