When human remains were found in the San Gabriel mountains in southern California at the end of June, they were confirmed as those of Julian Sands.
The British actor, 65, had been missing for more than five months, after failing to return from a hike in the Mount Baldy area on January 13.
Now his cause of death has been stated as “undetermined” – an officer from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department explained that Julian’s cause of death was stated in this way, due to the condition of the body.
He added that this is a common issue in such cases.
Julian was best-known for his breakout role in the 1985 romantic period drama A Room With A View, in which he starred alongside Helena Bonham Carter.
He later transitioned successfully to the horror genre, with appearances films including Gothic, Warlock and Arachnophobia.
The actor had been reported missing in January of this year, after he went out on a hike on California’s Mount Baldy.
While searches were carried out, Julian’s family released a statement saying they were continuing to keep him “in our hearts with bright memories”.
They said: “We are deeply grateful to the search teams and co-ordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian.
“We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer.”
Over the course of five months, search efforts were continuously hampered by poor conditions in the area and halted in March due to the risk of avalanches.
The sheriff’s department previously said that a total of eight searches specific to Julian by both ground and air had taken place.
Hikers found the remains of a body at the mountain on 24 June.
Julian was known for his love of the outdoors and hiking in the surrounding areas, and was considered an experienced and competent mountaineer by his friends.
His hiking partner and fellow actor, Kevin Ryan, previously told the PA news agency that he was “the most advanced hiker I know”.
“It’s what he did. His whole life he was climbing mountains. It was a true passion of his,” Ryan told PA. (OK!)