Julian Sands’ death confirmed by coroner, remains found on Mount Baldy 5 months after disappearance

A coroner on Tuesday positively identified remains found on California’s Mount Baldy as those of actor Julian Sands, who disappeared in the area five months ago.

The remains had been found by civilian hikers three days prior near where Sands was last seen in January.

“The identification process for the body located on Mount Baldy on June 24, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department said in a statement Tuesday. “The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results.”

The statement further expressed “gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to locate Mr. Sands.”

Sands went missing on Jan. 13 while hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains, about 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The avid, experienced hiker — who told The Guardian in 2020 he was happiest “close to a mountain summit on a glorious cold morning” — set out in snowy conditions on the 10,000-foot-tall peak.

Sands was reported as a missing hiker on Jan. 13 and identified as the acclaimed actor the following Wednesday. His car was found a few days later. However, search efforts were hampered by dangerous weather conditions as California was battered by storms last winter. Conditions were snowy and icy, prompting warnings of severe trail conditions.

In the four weeks leading up to Sands’ disappearance, 14 rescue missions had been conducted on Mount Baldy. Two people had died, and at least two went missing.

Earlier this month, more than 80 volunteers, deputies and staff renewed the search for Sands in remote areas across Mount Baldy, assisted by two helicopters and drones, officials said.

Sands was born in Yorkshire, England, and went on to be featured in more than 150 film and television projects. His early roles in Oscar-winning films “The Killing Fields” (1984) and “A Room With a View” (1985) put him on the world map. Later in his career, he became known for television turns in series including “24″ and “Smallville.”

His final completed project prior to his disappearance was the John Malkovich-led “Seneca: On the Creation of Earthquakes,” released in March.

The actor lived in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles with his wife, journalist Evgenia Citkowitz, with whom he shared two children, Imogen Morley Sands and Natalya Morley Sands. He also had a son, Henry Sands, with first wife Sarah Harvey, also a journalist.

Sands’ family released a statement a few days before he was found, appearing to come to terms with an anticipated sad outcome.

“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,” they said.

With News Wire Services