Actor Julian Sands death ruled as 'undetermined’ after he died at the age of 65

Julian Sands’ cause of death has been ruled as ‘undetermined’ after he died aged 65.

The beloved British actor was reported missing in January after failing to return home after hiking in California’s San Gabriel Mountains.

The immediate search and rescue mission for the A Room with a View star proved difficult due to ‘trail conditions and the risk of avalanche,’ a police spokesperson said at the time.

Sands' family released a statement in June to thank those who have been involved in the search.

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"We are deeply grateful to the search teams and coordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian," they 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."

Almost six months after the actor went missing, human remains were discovered by hikers near Mount Baldy in Southern California on Saturday, 24 June, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

Shortly after the human remains found, amid the search for Sands, they were confirmed to be his.

The confirmation announced at the time: “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.

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“The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results.”

Four weeks after his body was found and following the tests, an update has been shared by a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Speaking to People, the statement confirmed the cause of death on the actor’s death certificate.

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The cause of death has been ruled ‘undetermined due to the condition of the body’. The police department said that ‘this is common when dealing with cases of this type’.

Sands had previously spoken about his passion for mountain climbing, telling the Yorkshire Post: "And, you know what? Mountain climbing and film making are very connected.

"There’s always another mountain. And ultimately the point of climbing a mountain is that the mountain is within. And I think that’s true, too, of the acting experience."

He'd previously told The Guardian that he wanted to be remembered as ‘an interesting, amusing father by my children.’

Sands is known for his roles in 1989 film Warlock, Naked Lunch (1991) and Ocean's 13 (2007).