Julian Sands has been confirmed dead after human remains were found in mountains in California.
Police said that walkers discovered the remains on Saturday, and they have now been formally identified.
Sands was best known for his work in movies such as Oceanโs Thirteen, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Killing Fields. He first broke out into the industry back in 1985 with his role in the adaptation of E.M. Forsterโs novel A Room With A View.
He also worked in television, with prominent roles in shows such as Smallville and 24.
The sixty-five-year-old first disappeared in January after a bout of bad weather in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel Mountains. Searches for the actor were hindered by the weather, which included icy conditions and an increased risk of avalanches.
The San Bernardino County Sheriffโs Department confirmed that the remains found in the area were positively identified as Sandsโ.
โThe manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results.
โWe would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to try to locate Mr Sands,โ they said in a statement.
The actorโs family released their own statement last week thanking the authorities for their work in searching for him.
โWe are deeply grateful to the search teams and coordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian,โ they said.
โWe 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.โ
People have responded to the news of his passing with heartbreak.
โR.I.P. Julian Sands. He died many months ago, and we knew he was gone, but now there is closure for the people who knew and loved him. For the rest of us, we will always cherish what he brought to screen. Truly one of the greats,โ one person wrote.
Another said: โSad finally to hear about Julian Sands. I was a lowly Clapper-Loader on the film Gothic. He was a great exuberant presence off and on set and has certainly left his mark on the world.โ
