Julian Sands’ cause of death “undetermined”

One month after actor Julian Sands was confirmed dead, the corner report delivered the grisly and unsettling news that the cause of his death cannot be determined.

As per an officer in the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Coroner Department, “The cause is ‘Undetermined’ due to the condition of the body and because no other factors were discovered during the coroner’s investigation, this is common when dealing with cases of this type. This is the final determination.” Such wording only adds to the haunting and tragic scenario, conjuring images that are difficult to shake.

Julian Sands first went missing back in January while he was hiking in the Mount Baldy portion of the San Gabriel Mountains, an area noted for its dangerous conditions, especially in the winter when Sands was first reported missing. This led to several searches and hundreds of volunteer hours which ultimately turned up nothing. In late June, hikers came across a body that was later confirmed to be that of Sands, giving an admittedly expectedly devastating end of the search.

Not long before his death, avid outdoorsman Julian Sands gave an interview that acknowledged just how daunting such activities can be. “If you don’t really have the desire, the focus for climbing a route, if you’re not absolutely committed, it becomes much more dangerous and it’s a much more deflating experience.” He also said something that feels like an eerie premonition: “I’ve found spooky things on mountains, when you know you’re in a place where many people have lost their lives…You may be confronted with human remains and that can be chilling. It’s not necessarily supernatural, it’s possibly all too natural…”

Julian Sands was a fan favorite presence throughout his 40-year acting career, gaining prominence through work in films like The Killing Fields (1984) and A Room with a View (1985) before solidifying himself as a supernatural movie icon with Warlock (1989). Other credits include Arachnophobia (1990), Boxing Helena (1993) and Leaving Las Vegas (1995). His final movie, released between the time he went missing and his death, was Seneca – On the Creation of Earthquakes.

What is your favorite Julian Sands movie or performance?