Superman film legend Terence Stamp has died aged 87, his family has confirmed. In a statement, they announced the veteran actor died on Sunday morning, writing: “He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come. We ask for privacy at this sad time.” A cause of death has not been confirmed.

Stamp was best known for his role as arch-villain General Zod in the Hollywood films Superman and Superman II. He also starred in Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1968 film Theorem and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in 1994. One of his other well known roles was in Far From the Madding Crowd in 1967, in which he starred alongside Julie Christie. The pair were one of the most glamorous showbiz couples in the 1960s. He also went on to date supermodel Jean Shrimpton.

He also narrowly missed out on landing the coveted role of James Bond after failing to succeed Sean Connery. Following this, he appeared in Italian films and worked with director Federico Fellini in the late 1960s.

Stamp then took a break from acting as he moved to India to practise yoga, before eventually returning to Hollywood in the 80s to play his most iconic role of General Zod. He also voiced Superman’s father, Jor-El, in the TV series Smallville, adding further to his connection to the franchise .

He then starred in Valkyrie with Tom Cruise in 2008, The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon in 2011 and worked alongside director Tim Burton in a number of projects, as well as Finis Valorum in Star Wars.

Tributes have been flooding in on social media following the sad news of his passing, as one X user wrote: “Terence Stamp was much more than Zod … but at the same time one of the best comic book villains ever.” Another added: “Goodbye Terence Stamp – Sergeant Troy. You lived the life.”

A third penned: “Terence Stamp has passed away at age 87. Thank you, Terry…we will kneel today in your honor,” as a fourth lamented: “RIP Terence Stamp! A formative crush that luckily lead me into some wondeful corners of cinema. We were lucky to have an actor with such range and taste.”