The passing of legendary British actor Terence Stamp at 87 has led fans to reminisce about his remarkable career and intriguing personal life. Renowned for his captivating performances in films such as Superman and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Stamp’s off-screen life piqued public curiosity as well.

While he never had children, his romantic life, including a marriage marked by a significant age difference, sparked interest among fans. Here, we explore the nuances of his family life, featuring firsthand accounts from those close to him.

Terence Stamp’s Marriage to Elizabeth O’Rourke

Stamp married only once, to Australian pharmacist Elizabeth O’Rourke on New Year’s Eve in 2002. At the time, he was 64, and she was 29, creating a 35-year age gap that captured media attention.

The couple met in the mid-1990s when Stamp visited a Bondi pharmacy where O’Rourke worked. Their romance was unconventional, but the actor later described it as “incredible fun”.

However, the marriage ended in 2008, with O’Rourke citing Stamp’s “unreasonable behaviour” as the reason for divorce. In a 2013 interview with The Times, Stamp humorously hinted at their disagreements, particularly over alternative medicine:

“When I was married, my wife was very scornful of it. Being a pharmacist, she thought it was a load of s**t. But if we both got a cold, mine was over in a day, whereas hers lasted for weeks. That pissed her off.”

Despite the split, Stamp remained private about the details, emphasizing that stability and traditional family life were never his priorities.

Did Terence Stamp Have Children?

Stamp never fathered biological children, a choice he attributed to his nomadic lifestyle. In his own words:

“A house and stability have never been for me. I haven’t had a permanent home for 15 years. I flit from friends’ houses to hotels. I don’t work for money, so I learn to live only with what I need.” 

Though he had no kids of his own, he shared a close bond with his nieces’ children, often describing the experience as akin to being a grandfather. One report noted:

“He had spent some amazing time with his niece’s children, and that experience seemed to be as similar as that of a grandfather to the actor.”

Stamp’s High-Profile Relationships Before Marriage

Before O’Rourke, Stamp was romantically linked to some of the most glamorous women of the 1960s, including supermodel Jean Shrimpton and actress Julie Christie. His relationship with Shrimpton, in particular, left a lasting mark. Reflecting on their breakup, he once said:

“When I lost her, then that also coincided with my career taking a dip.”

His brief fling with Christie even inspired The Kinks’ classic Waterloo Sunset, with the lyrics referencing “Terry and Julie” crossing the Thames.