Tall, gaunt, and particularly effective in horror and drama films--British actor Julian Sands was born in Otley, West Riding of Yorkshire, to Brenda and William Sands. He came to the attention of NBC when the network cast him in the made-for-TV Le soleil se lève aussi (1984) and then with Anthony Hopkins in the television film A Married Man (1983). Sands also got notice in his very small roles in Privates on Parade (1983) and La déchirure (1984). It wasn't until his funny and romantic role opposite Denholm Elliott in Chambre avec vue (1985) and then his unusual role in Gothic (1986) that audiences noticed him and were fascinated with his good looks and unusual but sometimes chilling appearance. He continued work on screen in Vibes (1988), Impromptu (1991) and Steven Spielberg's Arachnophobie (1990), until his most remembered role as Warlock (1989), directed by Steve Miner. The film was such a major success that he returned for the terrifying sequel, Warlock: The Armageddon (1993). His other credits include Le festin nu (1991), Vampire (1992) and the title role in Dario Argento's Le fantôme de l'Opéra (1998). Sands has more recently been in Stephen King's Rose Red (2002) and is also occasionally seen on the English stage.
