Actor Julian Sands has been declared dead after authorities confirmed that the remains found by hikers over the weekend in southern California were in fact those of the British star.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s office issued a press release on Tuesday stating that “the identification process for the body located on Mt. Baldy on June 24, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood.”
“The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results,” the press release added.
“We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to locate Mr. Sands.”
UPDATE: Coroner Identifies Remains Located in the Mt. Baldy Wilderness Area on June 24, 2023 https://t.co/myABkKS1vN
— San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) June 27, 2023
News of the star’s death comes after hikers found human remains on Saturday in the area where Sands went missing in January.
The sheriff’s office report on June 24 said that hikers “contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Station after they discovered human remains in the Mt. Baldy wilderness. The decedent was transported to the Coroner’s Office, pending positive identification.”
The news comes after Sands’ family released a statement on Friday thanking the sheriff’s office for resuming the search after “extreme alpine conditions” had hampered efforts over the last few months.
“We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer,” the statement from his family read.
Last week, the sheriff’s department said it “continued ongoing search efforts in the Mount Baldy wilderness” for the missing star.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Sands was not located,” it added. “Saturday’s search included over 80 Search and Rescue volunteers, deputies, and staff. Their efforts were supported by two helicopters and drone crews. Aviation resources inserted search teams into remote areas across Mount Baldy and conducted aerial search and assessments efforts. Additionally, drone crews searched areas inaccessible to ground crews.”
“Despite the recent warmer weather, portions of the mountain remain inaccessible due to extreme alpine conditions,” the release added. “Multiple areas include steep terrain and ravines, which still have 10 plus feet of ice and snow.”
The release concluded that since January, when the star went missing after going for a hike, the agency had conducted eight ground and air searches for Sands, and efforts have included more than 500 volunteer searcher hours.
Born in Yorkshire, England, Sands’ career took off in the 1980s, and since that time he’d appeared on the big and small screen in numerous well-known films and TV shows like “A Room With a View,” “The Killing Fields,” as well as “24” and “Smallville,” just to name a few.
He leaves behind a wife and three children.
Nope, never heard of him.
Decent actor – Did a nice job in “A Room with a View.” Strange death.