Terence Stamp, 'Superman' actor, dies at 87 years old

Terence Stamp, who first rose to fame as an actor in 1960s London and later played the arch-nemesis General Zod in the successful Hollywood films "Superman" and "Superman II," passed away this Sunday at the age of 87, according to his family. The Oscar-nominated actor starred in films such as Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Teorema" in 1968, and "A Season in Hell" in 1971, up to "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" in 1994, where he portrayed a transgender woman.

The family said in a statement that Stamp died Sunday morning. "He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and a writer, that will continue to move and inspire people for many years," the family stated. "We ask for privacy during these very sad times."

Born in London's East End in 1938, the son of a tugboat stoker, he endured the city's bombings during World War II before leaving school to initially work in advertising, and eventually won a scholarship to drama school. Famous for his physical attractiveness and impeccable sense of fashion, he formed one of Britain's most glamorous couples with Julie Christie, starring alongside her in "Far from the Madding Crowd" in 1967. He also dated model Jean Shrimpton and was chosen as a muse by photographer David Bailey.

After failing to secure the role of James Bond to succeed Sean Connery, he appeared in Italian films and worked with Federico Fellini in the late 1960s. He left the spotlight and studied yoga in India before landing his most notable role: General Zod, the megalomaniac leader of the Kryptonians, in "Superman" in 1978 and its sequel in 1980. He then appeared in other films, such as "Valkyrie" with Tom Cruise in 2008; "The Adjustment Bureau" with Matt Damon in 2011, and films directed by Tim Burton.

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