Julian Sands was confirmed dead by police on Tuesday after a five-month search for the actor, who went missing on a hike in California in January.
The 65-year-old film star had been on a hike in the San Gabriel Mountains in January when he failed to return home, which prompted a search that lasted five months.
After finding human remains in the Mount Baldy area, the Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Sands’ death in a statement.
It said: ‘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.’
Sands was best known for his role in A Room With A View and the family released a statement earlier this week, which said they continued to hold him ‘in our hearts’.
Over a 40-year television and film career, Sands was credited with over 140 projects, including Ocean’s Thirteen, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Smallville.
Friday, January 13
Sands was reported missing and the operation to find him started. This is also when the last ping is detected from his phone.
A statement is released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department that someone has gone missing in the Baldy area of the mountains but Sands’ name is not given.
Saturday, January 14
Poor weather and a risk of avalanches forced police to halt the search on the ground and remove crew from the area.
Sunday, January 15
The search continued in the air with drones and helicopters used to try and detect Sands but no sighting is reported.
Wednesday, January 18
A car was found which was believed to be the missing actor’s and was towed by his family.
Thursday, January 19
Once again the ground search was threatened by avalanche risks and when questioned, the Sheriff’s department was unable to give a timescale for the searches.
Friday, January 20
The ground search was stopped again by avalanche risks and the police confirmed there was no set time for how long the search for Sands would continue.
Mobile forensic experts were brought in by federal and state authorities to try and locate the star by his phone.
Monday, January 23
Sands’ family released a statement on the 10th day since the star went missing, thanking the police for their ‘heroic’ efforts.
They added they were ‘deeply touched’ by all the support they had received in the days since he disappeared.
A second hiker was also confirmed missing, leading to ‘secondary’ searches of the area but neither Sands nor the other hiker were found.
Tuesday, January 24
The second hiker was found alive but still no signs of the Smallville actor.
Wednesday, January 25
The search for Sands continued in an air-only operation that used technology to try to detect any electronic devices or credit cards.
This was in an effort to more accurately pinpoint where Sands could be, in order to focus sweeps.
Saturday, January 28
Sands’ close friend and hiking partner, Kevin Ryan, said he was ‘remaining hopeful’ for his friend’s safe return.
Friday, February 3
The search for the actor hit three weeks and authorities confirmed that the turbulent weather was still causing issues for ground sweeps.
Friday, February 10
Authorities admitted the worst outcome could be possible as the search reached the one-month mark but said they were still ‘hopeful’.
Conditions continued to be treacherous and hindered the ability of volunteers and police to search the area on foot.
Friday, March 3
The sheriff’s department was unable to provide any updates on Sands’ condition or whereabouts.
Tourist resorts in the Mount Baldy area closed temporarily as avalanche concerns continued.
Monday, June 19
After a month of avalanche risks and difficult conditions had impeded searches, a further ground search was conducted and the authorities reported there was still no sign of Sands.
Wednesday, June 21
Sands’ family released a statement saying they were keeping the actor, who had been missing for five months, ‘in our hearts with bright memories.’
His loved ones said: ‘We are deeply grateful to the search teams and coordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian.
‘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.’
Saturday, June 24
Human remains were found in the Mount Baldy area by civilian hikers that morning, who reported their discovery to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The remains were removed and sent to the Coroner’s Office to be identified.
Tuesday, June 27
The Sheriff’s Department confirmed the tragic news that the remains were those of Sands.
The cause of death has not yet been determined.
He is survived by his second wife, writer Evgenia Citkowitz, who he married in 1990 and his three children: Henry, Natalya and Imogen.
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