As the search for missing British actor Julian Sands continues, stars including Matthew Modine and Jon Cryer have posted messages of hope he will be found alive.
Sands, 65, was reported missing while hiking in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel Mountains and has not been seen in 10 days as temperatures in the area hover just above freezing.
Searches by local authorities will continue using “helicopters and drones, weather permitting”.
A Sands car was found on Thursday. It was near where he was reported missing around 7:30 p.m. local time on January 13.
Julian Sands sits on top of the Weisshorn in the Swiss Alps
Pictured: Julian Sands and wife Evgenia Citkowitz. Sands, 65, was reported missing around 7:30 p.m. local time on January 13 while on a hike in the Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel Mountains, as the search was conducted by local authorities using “helicopters and drones, weather permitting.” ‘ is continued.
Jon Cryer posted a message on January 19th
Matthew Modine also tweeted a message of hope on Jan. 19
As of Friday, ground crews were still unable to continue the search for Sands because of the danger of avalanches in the area.
The search has intensified lately as officers use cellphone forensics to pinpoint the actor’s whereabouts.
“Since then, there has been no new update or witness information as to his whereabouts,” Gloria Huerta, public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, told the BBC on Friday.
“The search from the air is resuming, but due to the freezing conditions and the risk of avalanches, we have not yet been able to resume the ground search,” said Huerta.
Cryer tweeted, “I hope against hope that this will be just one of his adventures. I am so sorry for his family and friends who are going through this.
Modine also took to Twitter to post: “#JulianSands is a wonderful man, husband, father and friend to so many.
“A gentle, kind soul. Let candles burn for his safe return from the mountain he loves.’
Fellow climber Sarah Crosby shared a tribute yesterday.
“I pray for Julian Sands who we met on Kilimanjaro,” she wrote on Twitter.
“He entertained us with Shakespeare and Keats and was the first to capture us as an engaged couple. He even carried a piece down the mountain to show it to us. He’s such a beautiful soul.’
Weather at Mount Baldy is currently around 3°C (38°F). There is a strong wind warning for Southwest California. The official guidance states: “Harmful winds could topple trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Traveling will be difficult, especially for high-end vehicles.”
On Friday, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said, “On January 15, 2023, phone pings indicated that Sands was headed to the Mount Baldy area.
“Additional phone pings from the mobile operator were attempted but were unsuccessful due to the lack of cell service and most likely a cell phone power outage.
“A delayed ping by the Apple iPhone operating system from Sands on January 14, 2023 provided a possible location on one of the trails leading to the summit of Mount Baldy. This area has been surveyed by ground surveyors and helicopters.’
The spokesman added: “Ground and air searchers were unable to find any evidence in the area to help locate Mr Sands. Because of the risk of avalanches and the road conditions, the ground crews were withdrawn from the mountain on Saturday evening.
“However, the search will continue using helicopters and drones, weather permitting. Additional ground searches will be planned as the weather improves and it is safe for our rescue crews.’
Sands is known for his roles in popular film and television shows including A Room With A View, 24 and Smallville.
He has three children and lives in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles with his wife, writer Evgenia Citkowitz.
Police had previously said they plan to continue searching for Sands and there is “no firm deadline” for completing their search mission.
Sands, 65, was reported missing by his family after disappearing into the dangerous mountain range. He can be seen in a recent picture provided to police by his family to aid in the search
A map of the area where Julian Sands, 65, was reported missing
The region is home to some of the most popular hiking trails in Los Angeles, California
His family reported him missing at 7:30 p.m. on January 13 and rescuers recovered a snow-covered car, which was towed away
On Thursday, the actor’s family members towed his car from a parking lot where it was found.
Authorities have “not set a date” for when soil searches will resume.
The incident is still classified as a search and rescue operation.
With winter storms battering California, weather conditions on the mountain have prevented attempts to help missing and injured hikers, including Sands.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had previously warned hikers to “think twice and heed warnings” as weather conditions in the area worsened.
The department reported that its search and rescue teams had responded to 14 calls on and around Mount Baldy over the past four weeks.
“It’s extremely dangerous and even experienced hikers get into trouble,” police said.
Actor Julian Sands was reported missing on January 13 after failing to return from a hike
Pictured: Sands and Helena Bonham Carter on the set of the award-winning 1985 film A Room With A View
Sands’ first major production was 1984’s The Killing Fields, the acclaimed historical drama about Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge (pictured alongside John Malkovich).
Julian’s son Henry – himself an experienced hiker – flew to California last week and is helping to find Mount Baldy.
Henry, 37, is said to have retraced the route his father took – about 40 miles from Los Angeles – but was also forced to abandon his efforts due to inclement weather.
A relative told Web on Saturday: “Henry has been in the US since the weekend helping with the search. The problem is that the weather is hampering rescue efforts.
“We are very concerned but we hope Julian is found safe and well. We’ll see how things develop over the next few days.
Federal and state authorities in the United States said Friday they would join the search amid worsening weather conditions and avalanche risks that have ground crews halting work.
Sands has previously spoken about his love of hiking and mountaineering, saying he’s happiest in 2020 “near a mountaintop on a gloriously cold morning.”