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Julian Sands — In January, actor Julian Sands, 65, went on a hike in Southern California’s Mount Baldy. He was initially reported missing on January 13 by his wife following his journey into the San Bernardino County-area mountain.

Searches for his whereabouts carried on for more than five months after he went missing. Each attempt was thwarted by inclement weather across the region during that period.

Julian Sands’ disappearance later gained international attention. His family and friends spoke about their relationship with the actor. It wasn’t until five months later that hikers found human remains that were later confirmed to be Sands’.

Initial reports

On January 13, the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department Corporal Nathan Campos confirmed that Julian Sands was reported missing by Eugenia Citkowitz, the actors’ wife.

One day into their operation, search crews had to be pulled out of the area around Mount Baldy due to the bleak weather. The problematic weather would persist in the search months later.

Days after Sands’ disappearance, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department released a post on Facebook, warning people that the mountain weather was extremely dangerous with high winds and severe storms occurring across the state, leading to multiple injuries of other hikers on the mountain.

Eleven days into Julian Sands’ disappearance, the department released a statement on Twitter, writing:

“As we enter day 11 of the search for Julian Sands on Mt. Baldy, we are reminded of the sheer determination & selflessness of all of the people who have aided in this search. We will continue to utilize the resources available to us.”

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Gratefulness and reflection from the family

Julian Sands’ family extended their gratitude to the teams who helped search for the missing actor, releasing a statement with the department.

“We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support,” it reads. “Our heartfelt thanks to the compassionate members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department who are coordinating the search for our beloved Julian.”

Nick Sands, Julian’s brother, said he believed his brother was gone.

“He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone,” he told UK’s Craven Herald & Pioneer. “However sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong.”

During the interview, Nick Sands noted that the area around Mt. Baldy was Julian’s favorite place whenever he visited Los Angeles. Julian Sands was an active hiker before disappearing, according to Nick.

Actor John Malkovich, a close friend of Julian, brought more attention to his disappearance on February 20. During the Berlin Film Festival, he spoke about Julian Sands ahead of their film’s premiere.

“I’m a godfather to his first son from his first marriage to Sarah, who I know very well,” Malkovich said, sharing about their relationship. “I introduced him to his second wife, and we have been close since we met in 1993 on the set of The Killing Fields.”

“It’s a very sad event,” Malkovich added.

Confirmation of death

Late last month, human remains were found by civilians hiking Mt. Baldy. The San Fernando Sheriff’s Department later confirmed that the remains belonged to Julian Sands.

“The identification process for the body located on Mt. Baldy on Jun 24, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood,” the statement said. “The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results.”

“We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to try to locate Mr. Sands.”

Life and Career

Julian Sands was born in Otley, Yorkshire, and studied at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire. He started his acting career in films like The Killing Fields, which brought him to the attention of director James Ivory. He would eventually join the 1985 film adaptation of EM Forster’s A Room with a View.

The film centered around Helena Bonham Carter as Lucy Honeychurch and her growing fondness for Sands’ George Emerson.

The film boasted a strong cast of Dame Maggie Smith, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Dame Judi Dench, which eventually became a box office hit. It also won several awards, including an Oscar, Bafta, and Golden Globe.

Sands would play English Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in Gothic before making the jump to Hollywood. Therehe starred in the 1989 horror film Warlock and its sequel. He also starred in 2003’s The Medallion, opposite Jackie Chan.

On the smaller screen, Julian Sands played a Russian terrorist in the TV drama 24 in 2006. He later joined Smallville in 2009, playing Jor-El for two episodes.