Terence Stamp, a leading light of 1960s British cinema, dies at 87

Terence Stamp, one of the stellar faces of British 1960s cinema, who had a second act towards the end of the 70s as a character actor in films such as Superman: The Movie, and later in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and The Limey, has died aged 87.

- Andrew Pulver

His family said in a statement that he died yesterday morning.

"He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer, that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come," they said. "We ask for privacy at this sad time."

Stephen Frears, who directed Stamp in the 1984 thriller The Hit said: "He was a fine man and a fine actor. It was an honour to have directed him."

He became one of British cinema's glamour figures in its most fashionable decade, scoring early high-profile roles in Billy Budd and The Collector for the directors Peter Ustinov and William Wyler respectively.

His relationship with the model Jean Shrimpton in the mid-60s ensured both were key faces of the decade. Stamp became one of its most photographed people and a significant part of the new wave of working-class actors and musicians.