Rosario Monachino
The cause of death for the British actor who went missing in January has been determined.
Julian Sands, 65, was best recognised for his villainous portrayal of Vladimir Bierko in the action drama series 24.
He also played Superman’s father in the TV series Smallville, as well as appearing in the American adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Sands was reported missing in January 2023 while hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains – east of Los Angeles – and on June 24, human remains were found that were confirmed to belong to the actor three days later.
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An officer with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has now stated that Sands’ cause of death has officially been ruled ‘undetermined’.
Mara Rodriguez, a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Coroner Department, tells CNN: “The cause is ‘Undetermined’ due to the condition of the body and because no other factors were discovered during the coroner’s investigation, this is common when dealing with cases of this type.
“This is the final determination.”
The A Room with a View star was known to be a very keen hiker – with longtime friend John Malkovich claiming he ‘was always tramping off to Kilimanjaro, or Antarctica, or the Andes, or the Alps’.
Sands was first reported missing on January 13 after climbing the peak that rises more than 10,000ft (3,000 metres).
During that winter the area was subject to harsh storms that even turned snow into ice.
It had been claimed that two other hikers fell and died of their injuries between Christmas and late January.
During the early searches, Sands’ car – which was covered in snow – was found near the area.
However, the search was called off in March due to the severe weather conditions.
His brother, Nick Sands, had revealed that Mount Baldy was the Dexter actor’s favourite spot in LA.
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Unfortunately, he admitted during the interview that he believed this his sibling would never be found.
Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus (via LBC), Nick said: “He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone.
“However, sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong.
“On Monday, he had planned to join his brothers for our Monday Club for a beer in Skipton; he will be missed, and I guess we will raise a glass to him.”
Sands is survived by his wife, writer Evgenia Citkowitz, and their two sons, as well as another son, Henry, whom he shares with his first wife, journalist and editor Sarah Harvey.
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