Terence Stamp of Queer Classic ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ Dies at 87

Terence Stamp, a British actor widely known for his sophisticated villain roles, has sadly passed away according to a statement from his family.

While many may remember Stamp as the villain General Zod in the 1978 film Superman and its 1980 sequel, he is revered by the LGBTQ+ community for portraying Bernadette in the Australian queer film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in 1994. He received a Golden Globe and a BAFTA nomination for the role.

The plot follows two drag queens (played by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce) and a transgender woman, played by Stamp, as they adventure across the Australian Outback on a tour bus named Priscilla. In 2024, it was announced that the Oscar-winning Priscilla was going to receive a sequel, 30 years after the original groundbreaking cult hit. The film helped to introduce positive LGBTQ+ representation to the mainstream. Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert immediately cemented itself in ’90s queer pop culture.

Stamp was born in London’s East End in 1938, the son of a tugboat stoker. He lived through the bombing of the city during World War II before leaving school to work initially in advertising, eventually winning a scholarship to go to drama school.

Stamp was remembered by Priscilla co-star Guy Pearce in a moving statement on X. “Fairwell dear Tel,” Pearce wrote. “You were a true inspiration, both in & out of heels. We’ll always have Kings Canyon, Kings road & F’ing ABBA. Wishing you well on your way ‘Ralph.’”

The family said in a statement that Stamp died on the morning of Sunday, August 17. “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,” the family says. “We ask for privacy at this sad time.”

Photo courtesy of social media