Human remains have been found in the mountains where British actor Julian Sands went missing while on a hike.
The 65-year-old has been missing for five months after failing to return from a hike in the San Gabriel mountains in Southern California on January 13.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said civilian hikers had contacted authorities on Saturday morning after finding a body in the Mount Baldy region of the mountains.
A huge search operation was launched after the Yorkshire-born actor was reported missing on January 13.
However, poor weather including storms in the region delayed search efforts.
The remains have been transported to the coroner’s office for identification, the department said.
The identification process is expected to take about a week, police added.
Earlier in the week his family released a statement saying they will keep him in their hearts with “bright memories”.
They thanked those working “tirelessly” to find the Yorkshire-born actor - best known for 1985 film A Room with a View.
“We are deeply grateful to the search teams and co-ordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian,” said a family statement, issued on Wednesday by the sheriff’s department.
“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.”
Sands also starred in Leaving LasVegas and Warlock, as well as TV shows 24 and Smallville.
He is married to journalist Evgenia C itkowitz and has three adult children.