Julian Sands: Who is the Hollywood British actor missing in California?
Missing actor Julian Sands is “always prepared” and knows the mountain where he was last traced “backwards”, a fellow actor has said.
Irish star Kevin Ryan described Sands, who is missing in a mountainous area in southern California, as a “powerful hiker”, adding: “If anyone can get through this, he can.”
Sands, 65, was reported missing one week ago. He was thought to have been somewhere on the popular Baldy Bowl Trail, which climbs 3,900 feet over 4.5 miles to the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Police revealed on Friday that Sands, best known for films such as A Room With a View and Arachnophobia, appeared to be on the move two days later.
Data from his mobile phone showed Sands was “heading to the Mount Baldy area”. Pings attempted since then have failed, police said, likely due to the actor’s phone running out of battery.
It comes after The Independent revealed images sent from Sands to his grandson Billy in September, which show the father-of-three mountaineering.
Search and rescue crews looking for Sands were initially forced to suspend the search over the weekend because of an avalanche threat. Snow and fog has continued to hinder the search in the days since.
The Independent understands that Sands’ son Henry joined the search, retracing the route his father took, with the assistance of an experienced climber.
Police searching for another missing hiker in San Gabriel mountains
Missing hiker Robert Gregory
(Hawthorne Police Department)
Hiker Robert Gregory, 61, of Hawthorne, California, is also missing in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Gregory was reported missing last Friday by his wife after he did not return that day.
Urging people to stay away, sheriffs in San Bernardino warned that the area is “extremely dangerous even for the skilled hiker”.
“Current weather conditions and low cloud coverage makes it very difficult to deploy resources to that area when a hiker goes missing,” they added. “When we do deploy resources, the weather plays a huge factor on what resources we can use.”
Tom Murray20 January 2023 20:14
Video: Who is Julian Sands?
Julian Sands: Who is the Hollywood British actor missing in California?
Tom Murray20 January 2023 18:32
Stranger Things star prays for Sands’ safe return
Among the many celebrities sharing wishes for Sands’ safety is Stranger Things star Matthew Modine.
The Dr Brenner actor tweeted: “#JulianSands is a wonderful man, husband, father, and friend to so so many. A gentle, kind soul. Keep candles burning for his safe return from the mountain he loves.”
Tom Murray20 January 2023 17:55
Why have so many hikers recently gone missing on the California mountains?
Julian Sands went missing last week, beginning the 14th rescue mission to be carried out on Mount Baldy in January alone.
Increasingly cold temperatures and a series of super-storms, with conditions including wind-blown sheets of thick ice, avalanche risk and heavy snow, have meant that police are often unable to carry out rescue efforts on the ground.
The Independent’s Josh Marcus reports…
Isobel Lewis20 January 2023 16:30
Actor who hiked Mount Baldy with Sands says Arachnophobia star knows mountain ‘backwards’
Irish actor Kevin Ryan has tweeted his own message of hope for Sands’ safe recovery, explaining that he frequently hikes with the actor in Los Angeles.
“Julian, please be ok!” Ryan wrote. “I hike with Julian in Los Angeles and he introduced me to #mtbaldy He is a powerful hiker & always prepared. If anyone can get through this he can. I know he knows that mountain backwards.”
Isobel Lewis20 January 2023 15:10
We have put together a timeline of Julian Sands’ disappearance, compliling all the updates so far from the past week.
Jacob Stolworthy20 January 2023 14:02
olice have revealed that two hikers have died within the last four weeks attempting to climb the trail on Mount Baldy and the surrounding area.
“The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is asking everyone to follow these simple tips to keep yourself and others safe,” they wrote.
• Heed all posted warning signs
• Look at weather conditions (both current and forecasted) for the area
• Make sure you have the proper gear, training and are properly prepared for alpine conditions (Crampons, ice axe, proper clothing)
• Bring a tracking or GPS device such as a SPOT Device or INREACH Device
• Make sure your cell phone has a full charge and bring a charged extra power pack for it
• Let someone know where and when you are going, and what time you will be back
• Most importantly- If you don’t know, please don’t go!
Read the full Facebook post here.
Jacob Stolworthy20 January 2023 13:30
Fellow actors and friends of Julian Sands – including Rufus Sewell (The Man in the High Castle), Barbara Crampton (From Beyond), Frances Fisher (Titanic) and Elizabeth Perkins (About Last Night)have shared messages of concern for the actor on social media.
Jacob Stolworthy20 January 2023 12:50
Picture exclusive: Last known images of Sands mountaineering shared with The Independent
Sands’s family has shared the last known images of him mountaineering exclusively with The Independent.
A family member told The Independent: “This is how he would love to be seen, doing what he loved best – a heroic mountaineer, and thrilled to send a picture of him looking so happy to share with his beloved grandson, Billy.”
And a friend described him as “a Byronesque romantic and an adventurer who is drawn to the extremes of nature, relishing the freedom of mountains”.
Sands was scaling a section of the 14,783ft Weisshorn when the colourful pictures were taken.
Jacob Stolworthy20 January 2023 12:30
Produer Frank Marshall
British film producer Cassian Elwes shared his well wishes for Julian Sands.
He wrote: “I’ve known since last Friday that my friend Julian Sands has been missing on mt baldy. I’m devastated. A very close family friend who was an adventurer in everything he did. I’ve said many prayers.”
Meanwhile, producer Frank Marshall has said his “thoughts” are “going out to the family of” Sands, whom he called a “dear friend and wonderful actor”.
Jacob Stolworthy20 January 2023 12:10
