Terence Stamp | |
|---|---|
 Stamp in 1973 | |
| Born | Terence Henry Stamp (1938-07-22)22 July 1938 Stepney, London, England |
| Died | 17 August 2025(2025-08-17) (aged 87) |
| Alma mater | Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–2025 |
| Works | List of performances |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Chris Stamp (brother) |
Terence Henry Stamp (22 July 1938 – 17 August 2025) was an English actor. His filmography included a mix of cult and mainstream performances, particularly sophisticated villain roles. He received various accolades including aGolden Globe Award,[1] aCannes Film Festival Award as well as nominations for anAcademy Award and twoBAFTA Awards. He was named byEmpire as one of the 100 Sexiest Film Stars of All Time in 1995.[2]
Stamp trained at theWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, before acting in theWolf Mankowitz production ofThis Year Next Year (1960) at theWest End'sVaudeville Theatre. He made his American film debut[3] playing the title role in the filmBilly Budd (1962), which earned him aGolden Globe Award as well as nominations for anAcademy Award and aBAFTA Award. He starred in the psychological horror filmThe Collector (1965) for which he won theCannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. He went on to appear in films such asModesty Blaise (1966),Far from the Madding Crowd (1967),Poor Cow (1967),Teorema (1968),Spirits of the Dead (1968), andThe Mind of Mr. Soames (1969).
Stamp gained wider fame for his role as archvillainGeneral Zod in thesuperhero filmsSuperman (1978) andSuperman II (1980). For his leading role in the Australian road comedyThe Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) he earnedBAFTA Award andGolden Globe Award nominations. He then starred inThe Limey (1999), earning anIndependent Spirit Award nomination. He also acted in films such asWall Street (1987),Young Guns (1988),Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999),The Haunted Mansion (2003),Elektra (2005),Wanted (2008),Get Smart (2008),Yes Man (2008),Valkyrie (2008),Song for Marion (2012), andBig Eyes (2014). His final performance will be in the upcoming sequel,Priscilla Queen of the Desert 2.
Terence Henry Stamp, the eldest of five children, was born on 22 July 1938 inStepney, London, England, the son of Ethel Esther (née Perrott; 1914–1985) and Thomas Stamp (1913–1982), who was atugboat stoker.[4][3] His early years were spent in Canal Road,Bow, in theEast End,[5] but later in his childhood the family moved to 124 Chadwin Road,Plaistow,West Ham, Essex (now inGreater London), where he attendedPlaistow County Grammar School.[6] His father was away for long periods with theMerchant Navy and the young Stamp was mostly raised by his mother, grandmother, and aunts. He grew up idolising actorGary Cooper after his mother took him to seeBeau Geste (1939) when he was three years old.[7] He was also inspired by the 1950smethod-trained actorJames Dean.[8]
Growing up in London duringWorld War II, Stamp enduredthe Blitz as a child. He later aidedValkyrie directorBryan Singer in staging a scene where thevon Stauffenbergs hide from the Allied bombings.[9] After leaving school Stamp worked in a variety ofadvertising agencies in London, working his way up to earning a reasonable salary. In the mid‑1950s he also worked as an assistant to professional golfer Reg Knight atWanstead Golf Club ineast London. He described this period of his life positively in hisautobiographyStamp Album.[10]
Stamp won a scholarship to train at theWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, then performed in various provincialrepertory theatres,[11] most notably in a national tour ofWillis Hall's playThe Long the Short and the Tall alongside another young cockney actor,Michael Caine.[12] Caine moved in with Stamp, and they began spending time withPeter O'Toole in the London party scene.[13] In 1962, Stamp made his British film debut oppositeLaurence Olivier inTerm of Trial, but he is better remembered for his next role inPeter Ustinov's film adaptation ofHerman Melville'sBilly Budd (1962), which opened in America beforeTrial[7][3] His portrayal of the title character inBudd brought him not only anAcademy Award nomination but also international attention. Stamp was called the "master of the brooding silence" byThe Guardian.[14]
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In the mid-'60s, Stamp collaborated with some of the era's most revered filmmakers. He starred inThe Collector (1965),[7]William Wyler's adaptation ofJohn Fowles'snovel of the same name, oppositeSamantha Eggar, and inModesty Blaise (1966), for directorJoseph Losey and producer Joe Janni. Stamp was considered for the title role ofAlfie (1966) but turned it down in favour ofModesty Blaise.[7] Stamp reunited with producer Janni for two more projects:John Schlesinger's adaptation ofThomas Hardy'sFar from the Madding Crowd (1967) co-starringJulie Christie andAlan Bates, andKen Loach's first feature filmPoor Cow (1967).[7]
Stamp was approached to play the role ofJames Bond whenSean Connery retired from the role[15] but did not receive a second call from producerHarry Saltzman because, in Stamp's opinion, "my ideas about [how the role should be portrayed] put the frighteners on Harry. I didn't get a second call from him."[16]
Stamp then travelled to Italy to star inFederico Fellini'sToby Dammit, a 50-minute portion of theEdgar Allan Poe film adaptationHistoires extraordinaires (1968, akaSpirits of the Dead).[7] Stamp lived in Italy for several years,[17] during which time his film work includedPier Paolo Pasolini'sTeorema (1968) oppositeSilvana Mangano, andA Season in Hell (1971).
Stamp's additional film credits included starring roles in the American Western filmBlue (1968) withJoanna Pettet andKarl Malden, the British-American science fiction filmThe Mind of Mr. Soames (1970),[18] in which he played an infantile patient, the French science fiction filmHu-Man (1975) withJeanne Moreau,[19] and the Italian dramaThe Divine Nymph (1975, released in the US in 1979).[20][21]
It was Stamp who transformed Superman's arch nemesis into a sadistic supervillain. The terrifying demand: 'Kneel before Zod!' is remembered as one of the most iconic moments in comic book film history.
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Stamp portrayed theKryptonian supervillainGeneral Zod inRichard Donner'sSuperman (1978), appearing in a scene withMarlon Brando.[22] The film and its first sequel were originally conceived as one film, with Zod and his evil conspirators returning later in the film to challenge Superman, but the screenplay was so long that the producers elected to split it into two parts. Both parts began shooting simultaneously, but production on the sequel was halted partway through due to budget and time constraints. Stamp reappeared as General Zod inSuperman II (1980), as the film's primary villain.[7] Donner was replaced as director on the sequel withRichard Lester, who completed the film using portions of Donner's original footage combined with newly filmed scenes.Total Film magazine ranked Stamp's portrayal of General ZodNo. 32 on their "Top 50 Greatest Villains of All Time" list in 2007.[23] On the occasion of Superman's 50th anniversary in 1988, Stamp introduced theBBC Radio specialSuperman On Trial, which was produced byDirk Maggs and starredStuart Milligan as Superman. In 2003, Stamp returned to theSuperman franchise in a new role, by portraying the voice ofClark Kent's biological fatherJor-El in theWB/CW television seriesSmallville. He also provided the scream of Zod (being exorcised from the body ofLex Luthor) in the sixth-season premiere episode "Zod". In 2006, he appeared as Zod once again inSuperman II: The Richard Donner Cut (a retooled version of the 1980 film, which features footage shot by Donner, the film's original director).[24]
He also acted inMeetings with Remarkable Men (1979) andThe Hit (1984), which won a Mystfest Award for Best Actor, shared withJohn Hurt andTim Roth. Also in 1984, he had the opportunity to playthe Devil in acameo inThe Company of Wolves. He also appeared inLink (1986),Legal Eagles (1986),The Sicilian (1987) and a cameo as Sir Larry Wildman inWall Street (1987). He played the ranch owner, John Tunstall, inYoung Guns (1988). His filmBeltenebros (1992) (akaPrince of Shadows) was premiered at the42nd Berlin International Film Festival.[25] Stamp began his fourth decade as an actor wearing some of the choicest of Tim Chappel's Academy Award-winning costumes for the comedyThe Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994),[26] which costarredGuy Pearce andHugo Weaving.[27]
In 1999, Stamp played a lead role inThe Limey to widespread critical acclaim at theCannes Film Festival.[28] For his performance Stamp received nominations for Best Male Lead at the 2000Independent Spirit Awards and for Best British Actor at theLondon Film Critics' Circle (ALFS) Awards.[29] Also in 1999 Stamp appeared in the blockbusterStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace asChancellor Finis Valorum (an experience he later described as 'boring'),[30] followed byBowfinger (1999) andRed Planet (2000). He also appeared inDamian Pettigrew's award-winning documentary,Fellini: I'm a Born Liar (2002),[31] offering ideas into the mind and working methods of Italian directorFederico Fellini, with whom Stamp had worked in the 1960s.[32]
In later years Stamp appeared in the filmsMa femme est une actrice (My Wife Is An Actress, 2001),My Boss's Daughter (2003), Disney'sThe Haunted Mansion (2003) and the superhero fantasyElektra (2005). He filmed a cameo appearance forMr & Mrs Smith, but his performance was cut from the movie.[33] Stamp read the bookPerfect Brilliant Stillness by David Carse for SilkSoundBooks.[34] In his introductory reading, Stamp described his love for this book by saying, "Greater love hath no man". Stamp appeared in the music video for "At the Bottom of Everything" byBright Eyes. Stamp appeared as the featured 'castaway' onBBC Radio's long-runningDesert Island Discs in June 1987, and made a second appearance in March 2006 with a different selection of music.[35] In 2002 Stamp provided the narration forHistory of Football:The Beautiful Game, a series on all aspects of the world's most popular sport.[36] Stamp attended everyEngland game (including thefinal) at the1966 FIFA World Cup, and in July 2016 he narrated1966 – A Nation Remembers shown onITV, marking the 50th anniversary of England's World Cup victory.[37] On 7 July 2007, Stamp gave a speech onclimate change at theBritish leg ofLive Earth inWembley Stadium before introducingMadonna.[38][39] His memoir,The Ocean Fell into the Drop, was published byRepeater Books in 2017. Stamp also narrated theBBC'sThe Story ofOnly Fools and Horses in 2017.[40]
In 2008 he appeared in the film remake of the spy comedyGet Smart; another comedy about the man who says yes to everything,Yes Man, oppositeJim Carrey; withAngelina Jolie,James McAvoy andMorgan Freeman inWanted; and withTom Cruise inValkyrie, based on the true story of ColonelClaus von Stauffenberg's failed attempt to assassinateAdolf Hitler. In the 2010s Stamp appeared inThe Adjustment Bureau (2011), an American romantic science-fiction thriller film loosely based on thePhilip K. Dick short story "Adjustment Team" oppositeMatt Damon. In 2012 Stamp appeared in thePeter Serafinowicz-directed music video for theHot Chip song "Night & Day",[41] portrayed a grumpy husband called Arthur inPaul Andrew Williams'Song for Marion (2012),[42][43] oppositeGemma Arterton and a heist comedyThe Art of the Steal (2013), withKurt Russell,Matt Dillon andJay Baruchel.[44]
In 2014 Stamp appeared inTim Burton's dramatic filmBig Eyes, withAmy Adams andChristoph Waltz.[45][46][47][48] In 2016, Stamp appeared in another Tim Burton film,Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, where he played Abe, the grandfather of the film's protagonist Jake.[49]
Stamp's voice acting credits included the video gameThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, where he voiced the villainous cult leader Mankar Camoran; and the filmsZombie Island andThese Foolish Things. Stamp voiced the Prophet of Truth inHalo 3, replacingMichael Wincott. In 2005, Stamp also narrated theBBC Four documentaryJazz Britannia, which chronicles the evolution ofBritish jazz music.[50][51][52]
Stamp's next project wasCrooked House (2017), directed byGilles Paquet-Brenner and starringChristina Hendricks,Gillian Anderson andGlenn Close.[53] He also appears inGeorge Mendeluk'sBitter Harvest, oppositeMax Irons,Samantha Barks,Barry Pepper, andAneurin Barnard.[54]
In addition to his acting career, Stamp was an accomplished writer and author. He published three volumes of his memoirs, includingStamp Album (written in tribute to his late mother), a novel entitledThe Night, and acookbook co-written with Elizabeth Buxton to provide alternative recipes for those who arewheat- andlactose-intolerant.[55]
In September 2025, directorStephan Elliott revealed Stamp pre-filmed all of his scenes forPriscilla Queen of the Desert 2 before his death, thus making the upcoming sequel his final performance.[56]
In the 1960s, Stamp shared a house with actorMichael Caine inWimpole Street, London,[57] before and during their rise to fame.[58] In his autobiography,What's It All About (1992), Caine stated "I still wake up sweating in the night as I see Terence agreeing to accept my advice to take the role inAlfie."[citation needed]
Associated with theSwinging London scene of the 1960s – during which time he was in high-profile relationships with actressJulie Christie and supermodelJean Shrimpton – Stamp was among the subjects photographed byDavid Bailey for a set titledBox of Pin-Ups.[59] He and Shrimpton were one of the most-photographed couples of Mod London. After Shrimpton ended her relationship with Stamp, he moved to India and spent time at theashram ofKrishnamurti.[60][61][62]
On New Year's Eve 2002, Stamp married for the first and only time at the age of 64. His 29-year-old bride was Elizabeth O'Rourke, whom Stamp first met in the mid-1990s at achemist's shop inBondi,New South Wales. Of Irish-Australian and Indian-Singaporean parentage, O'Rourke was raised inSingapore before moving to Australia in her early twenties to studypharmacology. The couple divorced on the grounds of his "unreasonable behaviour" in April 2008.[63]
Stamp's brotherChris became arock music record producer and manager credited with helping to bringthe Who to prominence during the 1960s, launching the career ofJimi Hendrix and co-foundingTrack Records.[64] In 1984, the bandthe Smiths released their third single, "What Difference Does It Make?" The single cover was a photograph taken on the set of the filmThe Collector (but not depicted in the film). Originally, Stamp refused permission for the still to be used, and some pressings featured lead singerMorrissey in a re-enacted scene. In the re-enactment Morrissey is holding a glass of milk, as opposed to thechloroform pad of the original. Eventually, Stamp changed his mind, and the original cover was reinstated.[65]
Stamp died on 17 August 2025, at the age of 87.[66] FilmmakerEdgar Wright, who directed him inLast Night in Soho (2021), wrote in part, "Terence was kind, funny, and endlessly fascinating. I loved ... reminiscing about his films, going back to his debut inBilly Budd. Terence was a true movie star: the camera loved him, and he loved it right back". Others who paid tribute includedGuy Pearce,Gale Anne Hurd,Lou Diamond Phillips,Michael McKean,Billy Idol, andStephan Elliott.[67][68]
After their shoot, Stamp lived in Italy for several years.
