A host of Hollywood luminaries took to social media to pay tribute to British acting icon Terence Stamp, who died Sunday at 87.
Stamp was an enduring cultural icon of the Swinging ’60s who first made his name with films like Billy Budd, Far From the Madding Crowd, Poor Cow and Teorema before finding later mainstream success with roles in Superman II, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Big Eyes and Last Night in Soho.
Filmmaker Edgar Wright, who worked with Stamp on his 2021 feature Last Night in Soho, wrote on X, “Terence was kind, funny, and endlessly fascinating. I loved discussing music with him (his brother managed The Who, and he’s name-checked in The Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset) or reminiscing about his films, going back to his debut in Billy Budd. He spoke of his last shot in that film, describing a transcendental moment with the camera — a sense of becoming one with the lens. Decades later, while directing him, I witnessed something similar. The closer the camera moved, the more hypnotic his presence became. In close-up, his unblinking gaze locked in so powerfully that the effect was extraordinary. Terence was a true movie star: the camera loved him, and he loved it right back.”
Legendary Hollywood producer Gale Anne Hurd, who worked with Stamp on 1988’s Alien Nation, tweeted, “Terence Stamp was a brilliant actor. I think he and Peter O’Toole not only had the most mesmerizing eyes…but delivered equally indelible performances.”
Actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who starred with Stamp in Young Guns, wrote on X, “Terribly saddened to hear this. We were all incredibly privileged to have worked with him on Young Guns. He grounded all of us and truly elevated the filming experience. Such class and artistry. What a kind, beautiful, generous man. RIP”
On X, Stamp’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert co-star Guy Pearce wrote, “Fairwell dear Tel. You were a true inspiration, both in & out of heels. We’ll always have Kings Canyon, Kings road & F’ing ABBA. Wishing you well on your way ‘Ralph’! xxxx💕”
Speaking to the Guardian, Priscilla writer-director Stephen Elliott said, “We talked long and hard about why he’d initially said no [to the role]. It was fear. And fair enough — you have got to remember we were coming out of the HIV/Aids mess. It was a taboo subject. I looked at the work that he’d done all the way through, like the Italian years when he worked with Fellini and Pasolini, and thought: this was a man who took chances. And I think he was at absolutely the right moment in his life where he was ready for another chance. Terence admitted he was absolutely terrified to play Bernadette — he was being voted one of the best-looking men on earth and suddenly in Priscilla he was, and this is a direct quote, ‘dressed up as an old dog.’ But he put the pain of what he was going through into the performance, and that’s what made the film.”
Elliott added, “Terence kept to himself. He was an enigma. And then he’d show up, use the eyes and turn everybody to jelly.”
Below is some of the reaction to Stamp’s death and notable entertainment industry people who have shared their thoughts and memories of the actor.
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Terence Stamp, a British actor who was truly iconic. An East Ender that rose to such fame in Swinging Sixties London, he could rightly be called its epicentre. Terence’s career spanned seven decades and never stopped surprising. I was… pic.twitter.com/sE6aqDSLAb
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) August 17, 2025
Fairwell dear Tel. You were a true inspiration, both in & out of heels. We’ll always have Kings Canyon, Kings road & F’ing ABBA. Wishing you well on your way ‘Ralph’! xxxx💕
— Guy Pearce (@TheGuyPearce) August 17, 2025
Terence Stamp was a brilliant actor. I think he and Peter O’Toole not onlv had the most mesmerizing eyes…but delivered equally indelible performances. https://t.co/qfHLIzZq9B
— Gale Anne Hurd (@GunnerGale) August 17, 2025
We’re saddened to hear of the passing of Terence Stamp, aged 87. Well known for playing General Zod in the Superman films, Stamp was nominated for two BAFTAs in 1963 and 1995 for his work in Billy Budd and The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert. pic.twitter.com/ALZaFfF4Ua
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) August 17, 2025
RIP Terence Stamp. I could post a General Zod clip, but I prefer this one from Wall Street, where even in a small role, he stole the scene. What a legend. pic.twitter.com/5EHKpLSOKp
— David Sirota (@davidsirota) August 17, 2025
R.I.P. Terence Stamp, one of the last living links to that brief but glorious postwar era when the British class system briefly opened up enough for a tugboat stoker’s handsome and talented son to become a superstar. pic.twitter.com/3BMi2LBSIS
— Zack Stentz (@MuseZack) August 17, 2025
RIP handsome & intense actor Terence Stamp, dead at 87. His raw performances in Pasolini’s “Teorema” & Fellini’s “Toby Dammit” in 1968 established him as an international superstar, although he’d already received a supporting Oscar nomination for Ustinov’s “Billy Budd” (1962) pic.twitter.com/KfWShCmUK5
— Bruce LaBruce (@BruceLaBruce) August 17, 2025
Farewell to the wonderful Terence Stamp. One of the most stylish, versatile and magnetic of British leading men. Genuinely varied and outright barmy backcatlogue of work, even by the standards of stars from his era. Also, no one looked better in a Douglas Hayward suit. pic.twitter.com/EvjrSbJp6E
— Adam Scovell (@AdamScovell) August 17, 2025
Oh no. Terence Stamp has died. This is really sad news. Was terrified of him as a kid in Superman 2 then adored him as Bernadette in Priscilla. Absolutely gutted for his friends and colleagues for what would have been the sequel to Priscilla which sounded absolutely fantastic.… pic.twitter.com/yIhYyJvyjX
— Matthew Todd 🌏🔥 (@MrMatthewTodd) August 17, 2025
R.I.P. to the great Terence Stamp – one of my favorite actors – we had the honor of him being in our film “Big Eyes” where he played both the good and bad guy – the art critic for the NYT who finally calls Walter Keane out on his bullshit! pic.twitter.com/zfCXeWb2r4
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) August 17, 2025
“There’s one thing I don’t understand. The thing I don’t understand is every motherfucking word you’re saying.”
RIP Terence Stamp. pic.twitter.com/o5F7CwI5E0
— Will 🦥 Menaker (@willmenaker) August 17, 2025
who cares about Zod when he was so absolutely perfect as Sergeant Troy in FFTMC ? – and then there was The Limey and Priscilla! Hope there’s a reunion with Olly Reed and Hemmings https://t.co/wdpk6uE3lv
— Simon Schama (@simon_schama) August 17, 2025
His portrayal of General Zod is unmatched. Just a brilliant actor. As a kid, he had me walking around telling people, “THE SON OF JOR-EL WILL BE MY SLAVE .. FOREVER” https://t.co/pJBtGivWJo
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) August 17, 2025
❤️ Rest in peace Terence Stamp (1938-2025), the silver screen’s Bernadette Bassenger (THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT), General Zod (SUPERMAN and SUPERMAN II), Billy Budd (BILLY BUDD), Wilson (THE LIMEY), Finis Valorum (STAR WARS: EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE),… pic.twitter.com/x7i1NIL7ci
— Film at Lincoln Center (@FilmLinc) August 17, 2025
https://t.co/1K3ZJdYhmm Absolutely gutted to hear this!! one of the only real movie stars to ever come out the East End of London. He was The Limey 👊👊👊💥🎥❤️RIP Terence.🙏
— Craig Fairbrass (@craigfairbrass) August 17, 2025
We bid a very sad farewell to legendary English actor Terence Stamp who has sadly passed away🕊️
Pictured alongside Julie Christie in Far From the Madding Crowd (1967) pic.twitter.com/i1ZskIEDWD
— StudiocanalUK (@StudiocanalUK) August 17, 2025
Terence Stamp was Angel and Devil on screen. Interviewing him was a wicked pleasure. But seeing him around town, on the bus with his Eric Morecambe flat cap, sitting at the old heel bar at Piccadilly, was best of all. https://t.co/N6JBgHE9HF
— Matthew Sweet (@DrMatthewSweet) August 17, 2025