Topic: Terence Stamp

Terence Henry Stamp (born 22 July 1939) is an award-winning English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His titular role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer. His other major roles include, butterfly collector Freddie Clegg in The Collector, arch-villain General Zod in Superman (plus one of its sequel), drag queen Bernadette in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, harsh guy Wilson in The Limey, ghost antagonist Ramsley in The Haunted Mansion, Elektra's master Stick in Elektra, Pekwarsky in Wanted, Maxwell Smart's arch-villain Siegfried in Get Smart, council of high help Terrence Bundley in Yes Man and the July 20th plot Ludwig Beck in Valkyrie.

Stamp has won a Golden Globe, a Cannes Film Festival Award, a Seattle International Film Festival Award and a Satellite Award.

Stamp, the eldest of five children, was born in Stepney, London in 1939, the son of Ethel Esther (née Perrott) and Thomas Stamp, who was a tugboat captain. His early years were spent in Canal Road, Bow, in the East End of London, but later in his childhood the family moved to Plaistow, Essex (now Greater London). His brother, Chris, is a rock 'n roll impresario credited with helping to bring The Who to prominence during the 1960s. As his father was away for long periods with his job in the Merchant Navy, the young Stamp was mostly raised by his mother, grandmother and aunts. He grew up idolizing the film actor Gary Cooper after his mother had taken him to see Beau Geste at the age of three. He was also inspired by the 1950s avante-garde Method actor James Dean.