Terence Stamp

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE · July 28, 2010

Terence Henry Stamp (born 22 July 1939)^[1] is an English actor who has appeared in 63 films. He has had great commercial success in memorable roles such as young Billy Budd in Billy Budd (1962), butterfly collector Freddie Clegg in The Collector (1965), the strange visitor in Theorem (1968), second arch-villain General Zod in Superman (1978) (plus it 1980 sequel), the drag queen Bernadette in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), Wilson in The Limey (1999), the Supreme Chancellor Valorum in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), antagonist ghost Ramsley in The Haunted Mansion (2003), Elektra's master Stick in Elektra (2005), Cross friend Pekwarsky in Wanted (2008), arch-villain Siegfried in Get Smart (2008), the yes program council Terrence Bundley in Yes Man (2008) and the member of Operation Valkyrie General Ludwig Beck in Valkyrie (2008).

Stamp has won two Golden Globes, two BAFTA Awards, a Chlotrudis Award, an Independent Spirit Award, an Australian Film Institute Award, a Seattle International Film Festival Award, a Satellite Award, a Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award and a Cannes Film Festival award.

Early life

Stamp, the eldest of five children, was born in Stepney, London in 1939, the son of Ethel Esther (née Perrott) and Thomas Stamp, who was a tugboat captain.^[1]^[2] His early years were spent in Canal Road, Bow,^[3] in the East End of London,^[4] but later in his childhood the family moved to Plaistow, Essex (now Greater London). His brother, Chris, is a rock 'n roll impresario credited with helping to bring The Who to prominence during the 1960s. As his father was away for long periods with his job in the Merchant Navy, the young Stamp was mostly raised by his mother, grandmother, and aunts. He grew up idolizing the film actor Gary Cooper after his mother had taken him to see Beau Geste at the age of three. He was also inspired by James Dean.

On leaving school Stamp worked in a variety of advertising agencies in London, working his way up to a very respectable wage. Deep down he wanted to be an actor, a realisation that came when Stamp found he no longer had to serve two years National Service after being rejected for once having treatment on his feet.

Career

Stamp in the Cover of The Smiths' single "What Difference Does It Make?".Stamp made his film debut in Peter Ustinov's film adaptation of Herman Melville's Billy Budd (1962). His portrayal of the title character brought him not only an Academy Award nomination, but also international attention. He then appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in Term of Trial (1962).

Stamp collaborated with some of the cinema's most revered filmmakers. He starred in William Wyler's adaptation of John Fowles' The Collector (1965), opposite Samantha Eggar, and in Modesty Blaise (1966), for director Joseph Losey and producer Joe Janni. Stamp reunited with producer Janni for two more projects: John Schlesinger's adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Far From The Madding Crowd (1967) starring Julie Christie, and Ken Loach's first feature film Poor Cow (1967).

Stamp then journeyed to Italy to star in Federico Fellini's Toby Dammit, a 50-minute portion of the Edgar Allan Poe film adaptation Histoires extraordinaires (1968, aka Spirits of the Dead). Stamp lived in Italy for several years, during which time his film work included Pier Paolo Pasolini's Teorema (1968) opposite Silvana Mangano, and Una Stagione all'inferno (1970). Stamp was considered for the title role of Alfie (1966), but turned it down in favour of Scraps the Rabbit (1966).

His subsequent film credits included Alan Cooke's The Mind of Mr. Soames (1970), Peter Brook's Meetings with Remarkable Men (1979), Stephen Frears' The Hit (1984). Also in 1984, he had the opportunity to play the Devil in a cameo in The Company of Wolves. He also starred in Richard Franklin's Link (1986), Ivan Reitman's Legal Eagles (1986), Michael Cimino's The Sicilian (1987), and Oliver Stone's Wall Street (1987). The film Beltenebros (1992, aka Prince of Shadows), in which Stamp starred for director Pilar Miro, was awarded the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Stamp began his fourth decade as an actor wearing some of the choicest of Lizzy Gardiner's Academy Award-winning costumes for the comedy The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) for director Stefan Elliot and starring with Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving.

In 1999, Stamp played a lead role in Steven Soderbergh's The Limey, to widespread critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. For his performance, Stamp received nominations for Best Male Lead at the 2000 Independent Spirit Awards, and for Best British Actor at the London Film Critic Circle (ALFS) Awards. Stamp can also be seen in George Lucas' global blockbuster Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) as Chancellor Finis Valorum; Frank Oz's Bowfinger (1999) with Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy; and Red Planet (2000) with Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore.

In recent years, Stamp has completed the features Ma femme est une actrice (2001, aka My Wife Is An Actress) for Timothy Burrill Productions; My Boss's Daughter (2003) with Ashton Kutcher; Disney's The Haunted Mansion (2003), opposite Eddie Murphy, and Elektra (2005), with Jennifer Garner. He also starred in the recent Get Smart movie adaptation and with Tom Cruise in Valkyrie.

Superman roles

Stamp portrayed Kryptonian supervillain General Zod in Richard Donner's Superman (1978). Stamp went on to reprise his role as General Zod in the sequel, Superman II (1980), directed by Richard Lester. In 2003, Stamp returned to the Superman mythos in a new role, by portraying the voice of Clark Kent's biological father Jor-El in the WB/CW television series Smallville. He also provided the scream of Zod (being exorcised from the body of Lex Luthor) in the sixth season premiere episode "Zod". In 2006, he appeared as Zod once again in Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (a re-tooled version of the film which predominantly features footage shot by Donner, the original director).

Other

Stamp in the presentIn addition to his acting career, Stamp is an accomplished writer and author. He has published three volumes of his memoirs, including Stamp Album (written in tribute to his late mother), a novel entitled The Night, and a cookbook co-written with Elizabeth Buxton to provide alternative recipes for those who are wheat and dairy-intolerant.

Stamp's recent projects include the video game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, in which he lends his voice to the villainous cult leader Mankar Camoran; and the films Zombie Island and These Foolish Things. Stamp appeared in the music video for "At the Bottom of Everything" by Bright Eyes. Stamp has recently voiced the Prophet of Truth in Halo 3, replacing Michael Wincott. He next appeared as the villain in the film adaptation of Get Smart starring Steve Carell.

On 7 July 2007, Stamp gave a speech on Climate Change at the UK leg of Live Earth in Wembley Stadium, before introducing Madonna.

Personal life

Stamp in January 2009In the 1960s, Stamp shared a flat with Michael Caine before and during their rise to fame.^[5] In his autobiography, What's it All About, Caine states that he "still wakes up sweating in the night as he sees Terence agreeing to accept my advice to take the role in Alfie".

Stamp received extensive media coverage of his romances in the 1960s with film stars Julie Christie, Brigitte Bardot, and supermodel Jean Shrimpton. His and Julie Christie's romance, and their high profiles during London's 'swinging 60s', was at one point thought to be referenced in The Kinks' 1967 song, "Waterloo Sunset", with the lines about "Terry and Julie". He and Jean Shrimpton were one of the most photographed couples of Mod London. It was after Shrimpton ended her relationship with Stamp that he moved to India, spending time in Pune at the ashram, meditating and studying the teachings of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, dropping out from society for several years.^[6]^[7]^[8]

On New Year's Eve 2002, at the age of 63, Stamp married for the first time. His 29-year-old bride was Elizabeth O'Rourke, whom Stamp first met during the mid-1990s at a pharmacy in Bondi, New South Wales. A Eurasian of Australian and Singapore Chinese parentage, Elizabeth was raised in Singapore before moving to Australia in her early 20s to study pharmacology. The couple divorced on the grounds of his unreasonable behaviour in April 2008.^[9]

Filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes1962Billy BuddBilly Budd - Merchant seamanGolden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor

Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor

Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer Term of TrialMitchell1965The CollectorFreddie CleggBest Actor Award (Cannes Film Festival)1966Modesty Blaise Willie Garvin1967Poor CowDave FullerFar from the Madding CrowdSgt. Francis 'Frank' Troy1968Histoires extraordinaires Toby Dammitsegment "Toby Dammit"TheoremThe Visitor BlueBlue1970Una stagione all'infernoArthur Rimbaud The Mind of Mr. SoamesJohn Soames1975Hu-Man Terence The Divine NymphDany di Bagnasco1976Striptease Alain1977Black Out Edgar Poe1978The Thief of BaghdadWazir JaudurTVSuperman General Zod1979Meetings with Remarkable MenPrince Lubovedsky1980Superman II General Zod1981Jules Verne's Mystery on Monster IslandTaskinar/Skinner1982Morte in VaticanoPadre Andreani, poi Papa Giovanni Clemente I1984The Hit Willie Parker The Company of WolvesThe Devil(uncredited)1986The Cold War KillersDavid AudleyTVLegal EaglesVictor TaftLinkDr. Steven PhillipHud Edward1987The SicilianPrince BorsaWall StreetSir Larry Wildman1988Young Guns John Tunstall Alien NationWilliam Harcourt1990Genuine RiskPaul Hellwart1991BeltenebrosDarman1993The Real McCoyJack Schmidt1994The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Bernadette Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actor