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 Il sole sorge ancora (1984) and then with Anthony Hopkins in the television film A Married Man (1983). Sands also got noticed for his very small roles in Privates on Parade (1983) and Urla del silenzio (1984). It wasn't until his funny and romantic role opposite Denholm Elliott in Camera con vista (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 Il segreto della piramide d'oro (1988), Chopin amore mio (1991) and Steven Spielberg's Aracnofobia (1990), until his most remembered role as Warlock: Il signore delle tenebre (1989), directed by Steve Miner. The film was such a major success that he returned for the terrifying sequel, Warlock - L'angelo dell'apocalisse (1993). His other credits include Il pasto nudo (1991), Tale of a Vampire (1992) and the title role in Dario Argento's Il fantasma dell'opera (1998). Sands has more recently been in Stephen King's Rose Red (2002) and is also occasionally seen on the English stage.
