LONDON, UK—Terence Stamp, the acclaimed English actor known for playing General Zod in the Superman films, died Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 87, his family told Reuters. The Terence-Stamp-General-Zod legacy spans a remarkable career.
Stamp’s family praised his “extraordinary body of work” as an actor and writer. He debuted on London’s West End in 1960, earning global fame with his Oscar-nominated role in 1962’s Billy Budd. His heartfelt portrayal of a tragic sailor won a Golden Globe for Best Newcomer. For more on his career, visit Variety.
In 1978, Stamp chilled audiences as General Zod in Superman, reprising the role in 1982’s Superman II. Fearing typecasting, he pivoted in 1994 to play transgender Bernadette in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, a Cannes hit. “I was terrified, but a friend warned I’d be stuck as villains,” Stamp told The Times.
In 1999, he starred as a vengeful ex-con in The Limey and Chancellor Valorum in Star Wars: Episode I. Born in 1938 London, Stamp, raised by his mother and aunts, adored Gary Cooper. He trained at Webber Douglas Academy, befriending Michael Caine and Julie Christie, with whom he starred in 1967’s Poor Cow.
His intense craft shone in films like The Collector (1965) and Far from the Madding Crowd (1967). Reflecting on The Limey, Stamp said, “From Billy Budd to this, no actor could ask for more.” Learn about his legacy at The Hollywood Reporter.