The late Julian Sands was a prolific actor who appeared in notable and unique movies throughout his nearly three-decade career in Hollywood, and he left a lasting memory through his varied and complex performances. Sands was born in Yorkshire, England on January 4, 1958, and began his professional acting career with a one-episode role on the British anthology series, Play for Today. Soon after that unnamed part, he earned his first leading role in the Swiss horror film After Darkness as Laurence Hunningford.
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So began a long career for Julian Sands, appearing in leading roles, supporting parts, and even tiny performances in everything from schlocky horror movies to charming, romantic comedies. He could play characters who were sweet and kind, and those who seemed like there was nothing behind their eyes. In 2023, at age 65, Sands went out hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains and never returned (via BBC). His remains were discovered months later (via People). A sad end to the story, Sands still left an incredible legacy for his family and fans with his movies.
10 The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Young Henrik Vanger
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7/10 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011) RThrillerDramaCrimeMystery
Based on the award-winning novel by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he searches for a woman who has been missing for 40 years. Along the way, he makes an unexpected ally in Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a computer hacker and survivor of a traumatic childhood. The film is directed by David Fincher and won an Oscar in 2012 for Best Achievement in Film Editing.
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*Availability in US Director David Fincher Release Date December 21, 2011 Cast Christopher Plummer , Robin Wright , Stellan Skarsgård , Rooney Mara , Steven Berkoff , Daniel Craig Runtime 158 minutes Budget $90 million
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David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the second adaptation of Steig Larsson’s bestselling novel after the Swedish version from 2009. In the film, Christopher Plummer co-stars as Henrik Vanger, the wealthy patriarch who hires Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) to investigate the disappearance of his granddaughter. Affable, kind, and naive to the evil in his family, Henrik is a fascinating character in the Millennium series.
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In flashback sequences, a younger Henrik is shown, played by Julian Sands. Not only does Sands easily pass for a younger Plummer, but his mannerisms, speech patterns, and facial movements immediately call to mind the older version of the character. Sands makes the mimicry look easy and helps pull even more humanity out of character, whom audiences may not be completely sure of at that point in the film.
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9 Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)
Greco Montgomery
Ocean’s Thirteen PG-13CrimeThriller
Ocean’s Thirteen is the third installment in the Ocean’s series, directed by Steven Soderbergh. The film features the return of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon as Danny Ocean and his team. After one of their own is double-crossed by casino mogul Willy Bank, portrayed by Al Pacino, the team reunites to topple his empire on the eve of its grand opening in Las Vegas.
Director Steven Soderbergh Release Date June 8, 2007 Cast George Clooney , Brad Pitt , Matt Damon , Michael Mantell , Elliott Gould , Ray Xifo , Al Pacino , Adam Lazarre-White , Eddie Jemison , Don Cheadle , Shaobo Qin , Casey Affleck , Scott Caan , Bernie Mac , Carl Reiner , Eddie Izzard , Maggie Rowe , Ellen Barkin , Kris Kane , Soledad St. Hilaire , Olga Sosnovska , Jerry Weintraub Runtime 122 Minutes Expand
Ocean’s Thirteen, the third film in the Steven Soderbergh Ocean’s franchise, follows the same crew from the previous film. After Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould) is hoodwinked by his business partner Willy Bank (Al Pacino), Danny and the gang set out to ruin him as punishment for disrespecting another thief. Julian Sands plays Greco Montgomery, the creator of an advanced artificial intelligence system that the thirteen need to circumvent to steal from Bank.
Sands mostly just stands in a glass-enclosed room shouting orders and discussing the technology, “The Greco”, but the crispness with which he speaks, and his presence make the scenes far more interesting than they should be. He spends his scenes mostly one-on-one with Pacino, and it always feels like he belongs alongside the award-winning actor.
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8 Boxing Helena (1993)
Nick Cavanaugh
Boxing Helena RDramaMysteryRomance
Boxing Helena is a psychological thriller directed by Jennifer Lynch. The film centers on a surgeon, Dr. Nick Cavanaugh, who becomes obsessively infatuated with Helena, a woman he once briefly dated. After an accident, he takes extreme measures to keep her in his life, leading to disturbing consequences. The film stars Julian Sands and Sherilyn Fenn, delving into themes of obsession and control.
Director Jennifer Lynch Release Date September 3, 1993 Cast Julian Sands , Sherilyn Fenn , Bill Paxton , Kurtwood Smith , Art Garfunkel , Betsy Clark , Nicolette Scorsese , Meg Register Runtime 107 Minutes
Boxing Helena is an avant-garde thriller that follows Nick Cavanaugh (Julina Sands), a surgeon, who abducts a woman he is infatuated with, the titular Helena (Sherilyn Fenn). Obsessed with her obedience, he places her in a box and begins performing horrific surgeries on Helena, hoping that she will come to love him as much as he does her. The film was negatively received upon release with only a 17% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it has been somewhat reclaimed as a cult classic.
Sands is by far the best part of the movie and his intensity is unnerving.
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Sands is by far the best part of the movie and his intensity is unnerving. It always feels believable that he would continue to descend to the depths Nick does because of his careful and precise acting that is also holding something monstrous back. It’s a brave role to take, and it’s emblematic of Sands’ fearlessness.
7 Naked Lunch (1991)
Yves Cloquet
Naked Lunch RDramaMystery
Naked Lunch, directed by David Cronenberg, follows bug exterminator Bill Lee as he navigates a surreal and hallucinatory journey after accidentally killing his wife. Influenced by a drug made from centipedes, he encounters bizarre characters and experiences in a constantly shifting Mediterranean city while confronting his altered perception of reality.
Director David Cronenberg Release Date December 27, 1991 Cast Peter Weller , Judy Davis , Ian Holm , Julian Sands , Roy Scheider , Monique Mercure , Nicholas Campbell , Michael Zelniker Runtime 115 Minutes
In Naked Lunch, a movie by David Cronenberg, an exterminator named William Lee (Peter Weller) discovers that his wife Joan (Judy Davis) has exposed him to one of his insecticides, causing him to have increasingly bizarre and frightening visions. There is much, much more to Naked Lunch, and in true Cronenberg fashion, much of the psychologically horrifying story is incomprehensible upon first viewing.
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Julian Sands appears as Yves Cloquet, a young, gay, Swiss man, who eventually reveals to William that he’s actually a giant centipede in disguise. It’s an absurdly funny performance from Sands, but he also manages to make what could be a ridiculous character menacing and unnerving. Naked Lunch is an abstract and difficult film that rewards multiple viewings. It takes a certain type of person to succeed in these movies and Sands has the look and personality to fit in with Cronenberg’s tone.
6 Impromptu (1991)
Franz Liszt
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Julian Sands co-stars as Franz Liszt in Impromptu, a period drama about real-life creative types during the 19th century. The film stars Judy Davis as “George Sand”, the pen name for Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin, a French novelist who adopted a masculine name, dressed in a masculine way, and was a fierce proponent of women’s liberty and free expression. Franz Liszt was another historical figure; a Hungarian composer and musician.
It’s a smart and modern movie about gender expression in a time when most people disregarded the idea. Funny, charming, and deeper than it appears at first, the same can be said for Sands’ performance, where he manages to both be a blowhard and also someone who may have a point. Sands makes Fritz into a gray character who may occasionally be pompous but is still easy to root for.
5 Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Yuri Butsov
Leaving Las Vegas R
Leaving Las Vegas is a drama directed by Mike Figgis, featuring Nicolas Cage as Ben Sanderson, an alcoholic screenwriter who decides to drink himself to death in Las Vegas. Elisabeth Shue stars as Sera, a prostitute who forms a complex relationship with Ben. The film explores themes of addiction, despair, and human connection.
Director Mike Figgis Release Date February 9, 1996 Cast Nicolas Cage , Elisabeth Shue , Julian Sands , Richard Lewis
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The Coen brothers’ Leaving Las Vegas earned four Academy Award nominations, with Nicolas Cage winning in the Best Actor category. While Julian Sands did not garner any accolades for his performance as Yuri Butsov, his role is a fantastic and memorable part of the film. As a Latvian pimp, Yuri is Sera’s (Elisabeth Shue) boss and occasional abuser. When Polish mobsters come after him, however, he cuts ties with Sera, worried she may get hurt.
Sands is violent and frightening in the role as Yuri, and it’s immediately obvious why Sera fears him. However, Sands manages to imbue the character with just enough humanity that when he releases Sera for her safety, there is the slightest sense that maybe there is the seed of a decent person somewhere in him and that there is more to their history than the audience is shown.
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4 Warlock And Warlock: The Armageddon (1989, 1993)
Warlock
Warlock: The Armageddon RFantasyHorrorScience FictionAction
Warlock: The Armageddon follows an order of Druids battling a malevolent Warlock intent on releasing an ancient evil. Every six hundred years, five mystical stones hold the key to banishing or freeing this dark force, setting the stage for a supernatural conflict with the fate of the world hanging in balance.
Director Anthony Hickox Release Date May 1, 1993 Cast Chris Young , Julian Sands , Paula Marshall , Joanna Pacula , Steve Kahan , R.G. Armstrong , Charles Hallahan , Bruce Glover , Craig Hurley , Davis Gaines , Rebecca Street , Dawn Ann Billings , Zach Galligan , Wren T. Brown , Gary Carlos Cervantes , Bryan Smith , Mihaly ‘Michu’ Meszaros , Richard Zobel , Michelle Moffett , Jeanne Mori , Lawrence Mortorff , Ferdy Mayne , Anthony Hickox , Shannon Kies , Brent Bolthouse Runtime 98 minutes Expand
The Warlock franchise is a supernatural horror trilogy starring Julian Sands as the titular Warlock, at least for the first two films, Warlock and Warlock: The Armageddon. The Warlock is the son of Satan who travels from the past to the modern era to destroy the world. He’s pursued by a witch-hunter, Giles Redferne (Richard Grant), and a woman from the modern era, Kassandra (Lori Singer).
Bruce Payne replaces Julian Sands in
Warlock III: The End of Innocence
.
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Low-budget looking, campy, and plenty ridiculous at times, Warlock and its equally silly sequel are on the higher end of forgotten-about horror franchises. Sands is at his most arch in the role, chewing the scenery as he plays the malevolent character. It’s an impressively bold performance that alone keeps the movies from floundering into obscurity. His long blonde hair, sneering smile, and complete dedication to the ridiculousness of the role make for an enduring character.
3 Arachnophobia (1990)
Dr. James Atherton
Arachnophobia PG-13ComedyHorrorSci-FiThriller
Arachnophobia (1990) is a horror-comedy directed by Frank Marshall. The film follows a small-town doctor, played by Jeff Daniels, who discovers a deadly new species of spider that unleashes terror on the community. John Goodman co-stars as an eccentric exterminator brought in to combat the arachnid menace. The film combines elements of suspense and humor to depict the struggle against an unexpected and lethal infestation.
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*Availability in US Director Frank Marshall Release Date July 20, 1990 Cast Jeff Daniels , Harley Jane Kozak , John Goodman , Julian Sands , Stuart Pankin , Brian McNamara Runtime 109 minutes Budget $22 million
A throwback to classic Hollywood creature features, Arachnophobia follows a small California town that becomes invaded by a new, and deadly, species of spider. Julian Sands plays Dr. James Atherton, a British entomologist who inadvertently sends a new, highly aggressive species of spider to a lab in Canaima, California, where it breeds with local spiders to create a super strain that threatens the town. Atherton has to team up with the locals to destroy the hive he created.
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It’s a goofy, fun, and often scary film, particularly for viewers who are already afraid of the movie’s central villain. Sands is perfectly at home in the role, and just as the movie is a throwback to classic animal horror movies, Sands is doing a bit of a throwback to the early horror roles he did at the beginning of his career.
2 Gothic (1986)
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Gothic RHorrorDramaFantasy
Gothic is a British horror film directed by Ken Russell. Set in 1816, the film explores the infamous night when Mary Shelley conceived the idea for Frankenstein during a gathering with Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Polidori. The story delves into their disturbing fantasies and the psychological terrors they unleash. Gabriel Byrne, Julian Sands, and Natasha Richardson spearhead the cast in this atmospheric period piece.
Director Ken Russell Release Date April 10, 1987 Cast Gabriel Byrne , Julian Sands , natasha richardson , Myriam Cyr , Timothy Spall , Alec Mango , Andreas Wisniewski , Dexter Fletcher , Pascal King , Tom Hickey Runtime 87 Minutes
Gothic is a unique psychological horror movie that’s a fictionalized retelling of Mary Shelley (Natasha Richardson) and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s (Julian Sands) trip to Lord Byron’s (Gabriel Byrne) home near Lake Geneva. It was during that trip that Mary was challenged to write a horror story, which she later turned into Frankenstein. It’s a strange, phantasmagoric movie that can appear over-stylized and over-dramatic but is so unique, it’s hard not to appreciate it.
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His stiffness and confidence at the start of the movie give way to fear in a realistic and unsettling way, and Sands can play both sides of the character and make both feel true to Percy.
Sands is excellent as Percy, who becomes increasingly overwhelmed by the events unfolding in the house. His stiffness and confidence at the start of the movie give way to fear in a realistic and unsettling way, and Sands can play both sides of the character and make both feel true to Percy. It’s a hauntingly memorable movie and Percy is a key part of making sure the audience understands the events unfolding are not normal.
1 A Room With A View (1985)
George Emerson
A Room with a View Not RatedDramaRomance
In A Room with a View, young Lucy Honeychurch, played by Helena Bonham Carter, is on a trip to Italy where she meets the free-spirited George Emerson. Returning to England, Lucy becomes engaged to the repressed Cecil Vyse. As she grapples with societal expectations and her true desires, Lucy must decide between passion and propriety.
Director James Ivory Release Date December 13, 1985 Cast Maggie Smith , Denholm Elliott , judi dench , Simon Callow , Helena Bonham Carter , Julian Sands , Daniel Day-Lewis , Fabia Drake , Patrick Godfrey , Rupert Graves , Joan Henley , Rosemary Leach Runtime 117 Minutes Budget $3 Million
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Julian Sands’ first major starring role, A Room with a View, is a British romance film from James Ivory that follows a young woman, Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter), emerging from the restrictive culture of Edwardian England as she falls in love with the free-spirited George Emerson (Julian Sands). The movie earned eight Academy Award nominations and won in three categories. It also stars an incredible ensemble including Maggie Smith, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denholm Elliott, and Judi Dench.
Sands still stands out among an elite cast as the carefree, romantic, and charming George. It’s a true leading man performance, and he captures the joy and hopefulness of youth incredibly well. It’s a very smart film as well, that tries to get the audience to consider what emotions exactly are. With an actor like Julian Sands, the story can be told in a deeper and more complex style without feeling pretentious or unwieldy.
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