Julian Sands confirmed dead at 65 after remains found in mountains identified

It has now been confirmed that Hollywood actor Julian Sands has died aged 65 after human remains in California mountains were identified as his.

The British star had disappeared over five months ago on January 13 whilst hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains in California, US.

The A Room with a View actor’s disappearance coincided with challenging conditions in the area where he was hiking, not long after his 65th birthday.

In the months after Julian was reported missing, air and ground searches took place.

A body was found over the weekend, but identification wasn’t confirmed at the time.

The Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the tragic update on Julian in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement read: “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.

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

He was reported missing just days after marking his birthday this year.

Julian is survived by his wife Evgenia Citkowitz – whom the actor married in 1990 – and their two children, Natalya and Imogen, alongside his son Henry from a previous marriage.

Julian was born in the UK, but went on to move to the US with his family in 2020, according to reports.

The actor had been living in Los Angeles after making the move across the pond.

It was reported that Julian’s car was found less than a week after his disappearance in January.

Tough conditions in the mountains, including the risk of avalanches, halted some efforts to search for Julian in previous months.

His three children reportedly went searching for the actor, who was said to be an experienced mountaineer, after he was reported missing in California.

Julian’s family thanked the search teams for their efforts in finding him earlier this month, prior to the remains being identified as his.

In a statement issued through law enforcement, the family said: “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.”