Tall, gaunt, and particularly effective in horror and drama films, British actor Julian Sands was born in Otley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, to Brenda and William Sands. He came to the attention of NBC when the network cast him in the TV miniseries Verloren und verdammt (1984) and then with Anthony Hopkins in the television film A Married Man (1983). Sands also got noticed for his very small roles in Hey, Soldat - dein Täschchen brennt (1983) and The Killing Fields - Schreiendes Land (1984). It wasn't until his funny and romantic role opposite Denholm Elliott in Zimmer mit Aussicht (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 - Die Jagd nach der glühenden Pyramide (1988), Verliebt in Chopin (1991) and Steven Spielberg's Arachnophobia (1990), until his most remembered role as Warlock - Satans Sohn (1989), directed by Steve Miner. The film was such a major success that he returned for the terrifying sequel, Warlock - Satans Sohn kehrt zurück (1993). His other credits include Naked Lunch (1991), Tale of a Vampire (1992) and the title role in Dario Argento's Das Phantom der Oper (1998). Sands has more recently been in Stephen King's Stephen Kings Haus der Verdammnis (2002) and is also occasionally seen on the English stage.
