Missing British Actor Julian Sands, 65, Confirmed Dead

British actor Julian Sands, who was reported missing on January 13th while hiking California's Mount Baldy, has finally been confirmed dead after human remains found in the area have been identified as his.

On Tuesday, the San Fernando Sheriff's Department confirmed that the remains found by hikers in the area of Mount Baldy over the weekend were those of Sands.

The official 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."

The statement also continued to say, "We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to try to locate Mr. Sands."

No further details about the cause of the death were released as they are still under investigation.

Sands was first reported missing in the Baldy Bowl area in California, on Jan. 13, Friday, by his wife, Evgenia Citkowitz. The avid adventurist had been hiking in the area when his family lost contact with him before they approached for help. At the time, rescue operations continued over the weekend with the authorities using all the tech they had on hand, including helicopters, drones, and infrared devices, but the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department later said that all had been in vain.

In a 2020 interview with “The Guardian”, Sands revealed he was an avid hiker and that a “remote peak in the high Himalayas, such as Makalu” was on his bucket list. He also recalled the time he’d ever come close to death, during a ’90s excursion in the Andes Mountains as he said that he and three others were “caught in an atrocious storm above 20,000 feet. We were all in a very bad way. Some guys close to us perished; we were lucky.” Sands also said that the most important life lesson he learned was “to be nice, and grab [life] with both hands, we know it is short.”

He also said that he would like to be remembered: “As an interesting, amusing father by my children.” Sands was previously married to journalist Sarah Sands, with whom he shared a son Henry. Later, he married author Evgenia Citkowitz in 1990, and they had daughters Natalya and Imogen.

He went missing on January 13th, just a week after his 65th birthday, and his three children joined in the search in a bid to locate their father, especially since his eldest, Henry, is an experienced hiker. With severe weather and avalanches impeding all efforts of search and rescue, the worsening weather finally forced the efforts to be called off. Efforts finally resumed earlier this June although the remains were discovered by amateur hikers.

The San Bernadino Sheriff's Department released a statement at the time: "At about 10:00 a.m., civilian hikers contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Station after they discovered human remains in the Mt. Baldy wilderness. Fontana Station deputies, along with the Sheriff’s Department’s Emergency Operations Division, responded to the scene."

On June 21st, before the human remains were even discovered, Sands' family seemingly had peace with his passing as they released a statement that read, 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."

The British actor is best known for his breakthrough role in the 1985 movie, "A Room with a View" as well as the '90s horror flick, "Arachnophobia." Fans remembered him as well, as they left condolences on Twitter:

"I have been following this page & the news since Julian Sands went missing. Now the news is confirmed my thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP a great British actor."

"Glad the family can have some closure but very sad."

"Praying for his family and loved ones as they now walk forward without their loved one."

RIP Julian Sands.